UI Reinforces Sustainability Commitment at THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026
The University of Indonesia (UI) participated in the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026, held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD, Tangerang, Banten, from 22–25 June 2026. This international forum brings together universities, governments, industry, and various stakeholders to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through exhibition booths and active involvement in various discussion sessions, UI promoted international programmes, partnership opportunities in the field of sustainability, and green innovations created by its academic community. This participation serves as a momentum for UI to expand its global network, exchange knowledge, learn world best practices, and explore strategic collaborations with various international institutions.
One of the speakers from UI, the Vice Rector for Planning, Finance, and Resources, Ahmad Gamal, appeared in the “Smart Cities for a Sustainable Tomorrow” session on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. In the forum, he discussed the utilisation of artificial intelligence and real-time data for urban planning, strengthening infrastructure resilience against climate risks, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building a sustainable smart city ecosystem.
In his presentation titled “From Smart Technologies to Smart Urban Management: Lessons from Indonesia and the Global South”, he highlighted the paradigm shift in smart city development. According to him, the success of a smart city is no longer determined solely by technological sophistication, but by the ability to strengthen urban governance, promote sustainability, and create social justice.
“Based on the experience of Indonesia and the Global South, various urban challenges, such as flooding, spatial inequality, housing affordability, environmental degradation, and weak inter-institutional coordination, are often not caused by a lack of data, but rather by how we manage urban growth and translate information into effective policies and actions,” he stated.
Gamal also emphasised five key aspects of smart city development, including data-based spatial governance, management of urban growth, measuring success through sustainability indicators, strengthening city resilience against climate change, and reducing inequality so that the benefits of technology and development can be felt equally by all members of society.
He asserted that the evolution of the smart city concept shows a shift from a focus on data collection towards the ability to manage comprehensive urban transformation. The successful cities of the future will not be those with the most advanced technology, but those capable of utilising technology to create resilient, inclusive, and sustainable environments.
UI’s participation in the THE GSDC 2026 reflects the university’s commitment to contributing to the resolution of various global challenges. Through this forum, UI strengthens its role as a strategic partner in driving sustainable development both in Indonesia and at the global level.