Partnering with Industry, This Campus Strengthens Living Laboratory Learning Model

Amid the growing need for industry-ready graduates, Pradita University has introduced an industry-based learning breakthrough by partnering with Ascott International Management Indonesia and Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong. Through this collaboration, Tourism Study Programme students will not only learn in classrooms but will also undergo direct learning in the hotel’s operational environment for two semesters via the living laboratory concept.

The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement by Pradita University Rector Prof. Richardus Eko Indrajit, Country Director of People & Culture at PT Ascott International Management Indonesia Albertha Sekundarti, and General Manager of Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong Lut Abader, witnessed by Chair of the Pradita Indonesia Education Foundation Aida Halim.

This collaboration is a tangible implementation of the Outcome-Based Education approach applied by Pradita University, where educational success is measured not only by theoretical mastery but also by the real competencies students possess according to industry needs.

Aida Halim, Executive Director of the Education Unit at PT Summarecon Agung and Chair of the Pradita Indonesia Education Foundation, stated that higher education today must produce graduates who are not only academically excellent but also ready to face professional challenges from an early stage. “We want to create a learning environment that is more real, dynamic, and relevant to the current needs of the working world. Through the living laboratory concept, students not only learn theory in class but also experience firsthand how the industry operates daily. Students can understand how industrial operations run, learn to face challenges directly, while building a professional mindset early on. The hope is that collaborations like this can help produce graduates who are more work-ready, adaptive to change, and possess skills truly needed by the industry,” said Aida Halim.

The programme will begin implementation in September 2026 at Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong, as it possesses an operational ecosystem that allows students to gain comprehensive learning experiences, from guest services and event management to overall hospitality business operations.

Through the Integrated Learning programme, students will undergo two weeks of theoretical learning on campus and the following two weeks at Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong. This scheme will run continuously for two semesters during the students’ study period.

This learning model simultaneously strengthens Pradita University’s position as a higher education institution developing the living laboratory concept, making the business and industrial environment an integral part of the learning process. With this approach, the campus is no longer a space separated from the working world but is directly connected to the real industrial ecosystem.

Albertha Sekundarti, Country Director of People & Culture at PT Ascott International Management Indonesia, conveyed that synergy between education and industry is an important step in creating a sustainable talent development ecosystem. “This collaboration also provides various strategic benefits for Ascott. Besides supporting educational development, this partnership allows us to actively contribute to building strong and sustainable talent for Indonesia’s hospitality industry. We have the opportunity to share operational experience, service culture, and best practices we possess, while also gaining new perspectives from the academic world. We therefore express our appreciation for the trust given to Ascott and hope this partnership can continue to grow into a sustainable and positively impactful collaboration.”

This initiative complements various living laboratory programmes previously run by Pradita University, such as Cangopi, an integrated learning-based coffee shop operating in the SQP Hub commercial area of Summarecon Serpong since 2023. Each year, around 40 students from various study programmes are directly involved in managing the Cangopi business as part of the learning process.

With the support of PT Summarecon Agung Tbk, Pradita University also utilises various Summarecon areas and business units as real learning spaces for students across study programmes. This approach has proven to have a positive impact on graduate work readiness, with at least 33 students having been absorbed as employees through various industry-based learning programmes run by the university.

Going forward, the Living Laboratory concept based on Outcome-Based Education will continue to be expanded to various study programmes. Together with the PIJAR (Practitioners Teach) and SUAR (Summarecon Teaches) programmes, Pradita University continues to strengthen its position as an enterprise university that integrates the academic and industrial worlds to produce graduates who are competent, adaptive, and relevant to the evolving needs of the working world.