UI Reinforces Sustainability Commitment at THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2026

Universitas 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 to 25 June 2026. This international forum brought together universities, governments, industries, and various stakeholders to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through an exhibition booth and active involvement in multiple discussion sessions, UI promoted its international programmes, partnership opportunities in the field of sustainability, and green innovations developed by its academic community. The participation served as a momentum for UI to expand its global network, exchange knowledge, learn from international best practices, and explore strategic collaborations with institutions worldwide. One of UI’s speakers, Vice-Rector for Planning, Finance, and Resources, Ahmad Gamal, presented in the session ‘Smart Cities for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. In the forum, he discussed the use 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 a paradigm shift in smart city development. According to him, the success of a smart city is no longer determined solely by technological sophistication, but rather by the ability to strengthen urban governance, promote sustainability, and create social equity. ‘Based on the experiences of Indonesia and countries in the Global South, various urban challenges such as flooding, spatial inequality, housing affordability, environmental degradation, and weak inter-agency 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: data-driven spatial governance, urban growth management, measuring success through sustainability indicators, strengthening urban resilience to 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 demonstrates a shift from a focus on data collection towards the ability to manage urban transformation comprehensively. The cities that will succeed in the future are not those with the most advanced technology, but those that can utilise technology to create resilient, inclusive, and sustainable environments.