Pradita University Partners with Ascott to Develop Industry-Based Learning
Pradita University is strengthening its industry-based learning model through a collaboration with Ascott International Management Indonesia and Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong. This partnership enables students of the Tourism Study Programme to undergo direct learning within a hotel’s operational environment through a ‘living laboratory’ concept.
Aida Halim, Chair of the Pradita Indonesia Education Foundation, stated that higher education institutions must produce graduates who are not only academically excellent but also ready to face the challenges of the working world. ‘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 do not just learn theory in class, but also experience firsthand how the industry operates daily,’ Aida said in a press release on Wednesday (24/6/2026).
According to her, direct learning experience in the industry will help students understand business operations, face real challenges, and build a professional mindset from an early stage. The programme is scheduled to commence in September 2026 at Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong. The hotel was chosen because its operational ecosystem is considered capable of providing a comprehensive learning experience, ranging from guest services and event management to hospitality business operations.
Under the Integrated Learning scheme, students will undertake two weeks of theoretical study on campus followed by two weeks at the hotel. This pattern will run continuously over two semesters. Pradita University believes this learning model further strengthens the living laboratory concept it has been developing, which makes the business and industrial environment an integral part of the educational process.
Albertha Sekundarti, Country Director of People & Culture at PT Ascott International Management Indonesia, welcomed the collaboration. She noted that synergy between the education sector and industry is an important step in building a sustainable talent development ecosystem. ‘This cooperation allows us to actively contribute to building strong talent for the Indonesian hospitality industry, while sharing our operational experience, service culture, and best practices,’ she said.
This programme complements several living laboratory initiatives previously run by Pradita University. One of them is Cangopi, an integrated learning-based coffee shop that has been operating in the SQP Hub area of Summarecon Serpong since 2023. Each year, around 40 students from various study programmes are directly involved in managing the business as part of their learning process.
The collaboration with Ascott International Management Indonesia and Harris Hotel & Convention Serpong was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by Pradita University Rector 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.