Khofifah asserts EJIES 2026 as the centre for educational innovation
East Java Innovative Education Summit (EJIES) 2026 will be the largest centre for educational innovation in East Java, involving senior high schools (SMA), vocational schools (SMK), special needs schools (SLB), regional education offices, technical implementation units, and all education personnel, said East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa. “This is not merely a ceremony of awards, but a celebration of ideas and the courage to deliver change in the world of education.”
She noted EJIES 2026 attracted 24,727 applicants with 19,765 innovative works submitted for selection. Of these, 250 works advanced to the first stage, narrowing to 50 top works through assessment by academics from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS).
She added that EJIES provides a strategic space to birth innovative programmes to improve learning quality while recognising innovations with tangible impacts in educational environments. “Thanks to the panel of judges who have worked remarkably until they identified the top 25 EJIES 2026,” she said.
Khofifah hopes the innovations born from EJIES will not end as a competition, but will mature into a joint movement capable of delivering real impact for education in East Java. “Let all those who reach the top 50, and then the top 25, know that cross-unit collaboration—from SMA to SMK—is needed; there are things we must do—innovate after innovation,” she continued.
She emphasised that raising educational quality must be accompanied by a commitment to continuously adapting to the times through strengthening competences and inter-unit networks.
“We have to improve. Therefore, may these innovations serve as references for how we continue to refine, raise quality, competency and networking,” she added.
Khofifah remained optimistic EJIES could be a driver of educational transformation in East Java and generate best practices that could be a reference nationally and internationally. “With innovation, collaboration and the spirit of gotong royong, East Java will continue to be a centre for developing outstanding human resources toward Indonesia Emas 2045,” she stated.
She expressed appreciation to all education professionals who continue to deliver innovations across East Java. “Today, we celebrate our blessings. In mid-year, on 14 May, I released 1,790 SMK alumni ready to intern and work in 13 countries. Yesterday, together with the Minister of Education, we released 3,000 of our graduates from East Java who are ready for internships and work in 13 countries around the world,” she said.
Khofifah noted that by the first semester of 2026, the East Java government had released 4,960 SMK alumni to work in 13 countries. “Total in East Java up to Semester 1 of 2026 we have released 4,960 SMK alumni to work in 13 countries. This is good news for us all. Our SMKs are capable, and our SMKs can be great,” she added.
Meanwhile, Aries Agung Paewai, head of the East Java Education Office, said EJIES emerged from the conviction that innovation is the breath of education that opens global horizons. “Education anywhere must be able to meet current needs. The global world requires extraordinary changes,” he said. He stated that the education sector must adapt to global changes so teachers, educational staff, and school heads are continually expected to innovate. “Because innovation is the lifeblood of change and we hope it will be present in the school environment,” he added.
Andi Taufik, Secretary-General of the State Administrative Agency (LAN) of the Republic of Indonesia, praised East Java’s commitment to driving innovation in the education sector. “We are very grateful that East Java has set a very high standard for education,” he said. He viewed the culture of innovation in East Java as a crucial strength in facing global challenges. “We all see that all education professionals in East Java are invited to innovate because innovation is the only way to win,” he added.