UMS Secures Rp 1.3 Billion International Funding to Strengthen Sustainable Software Engineering

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has once again achieved international recognition. Both the Informatics Engineering undergraduate programme and the Master of Informatics Engineering programme at UMS have been selected as partners for the Sustainable IoT and Software Engineering Education for Green Skills project. The project secured €72,000, or approximately Rp 1.3 billion, in funding through the Team Finland Knowledge (TFK) Programme 2026 from the Finnish National Board of Education. Through this project, UMS will collaborate with two leading Finnish universities, LUT University and the University of Turku, to develop Internet of Things (IoT) and software engineering education that supports the strengthening of green skills oriented towards sustainable development. This success was achieved through a highly competitive selection process. For the TFK Programme 2026, a total of 152 proposals were submitted from various target countries, but only 26 projects received funding. The total value of the proposals submitted exceeded €10.9 million, while the total grant funds allocated amounted to €1,665,832. Head of the Informatics Engineering and Master of Informatics Engineering programmes at UMS, Dedi Gunawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., stated that the funding marks an important momentum for improving the quality of education and research at UMS. He explained that the Sustainable IoT and Software Engineering Education for Green Skills project will drive the development of learning innovations that integrate digital technology with the principles of sustainable development. ‘This collaboration will strengthen the curriculum, enhance lecturer capacity, open up joint research opportunities, and expand international networks that can provide direct benefits to students and the institution,’ Dedi said on Friday (3/7/2026). Secretary of the International Informatics Engineering Programme at UMS, Arini Nur Rohmah, S.Kom., M.Sc.Tech., conveyed that UMS’s involvement in this project represents international recognition of the quality of education and the cooperation networks that have been established. ‘This trust shows that UMS has the capacity to collaborate with international universities in developing sustainable technology-based education. It is also a strategic step to strengthen the internationalisation of the Informatics Engineering Programme,’ she said. Arini explained that the project focuses not only on technology development but also on how technology can provide solutions to various future sustainability challenges. According to her, the concept of green skills is an increasingly needed competency for global industry. Therefore, students will be equipped not only with technical skills in IoT and software engineering but also with an understanding of technology applications that support energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and responsible digital transformation. ‘Students will gain a more international learning experience through curriculum development, academic collaboration, and knowledge exchange opportunities with partners in Finland,’ she added. She further noted that the cooperation with LUT University and the University of Turku is expected to produce an educational model that is adaptive to technological developments while meeting the needs of global industry. The Team Finland Knowledge programme is a funding scheme by the Finnish Government aimed at strengthening cooperation between Finnish higher education institutions and those in various strategic regions, including Southeast Asia. Beyond building academic networks, the programme also encourages the emergence of new collaboration models capable of sustainably enhancing higher education capacity. Through this project, the three universities will jointly develop learning innovations that integrate digital technology with sustainability principles. The main focus is to produce graduates with competencies in IoT and software engineering, as well as a concern for the transformation towards a green economy. UMS’s success in becoming part of this international project further underscores the university’s commitment to expanding its global network, improving education quality, and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). In accordance with the decision of the Finnish National Board of Education, the grant implementation period will run from 1 August 2026 to 31 December 2028. During this period, UMS and its partners in Finland will carry out various collaborative activities to strengthen sustainable technology-based education while preparing digital talent ready to face future challenges.