EduAsiaNews, Malang – Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) reinforced its position as a hub for international educational collaboration by hosting the Indonesia–Australia Teacher Education Cooperation (IATEC) Annual Meeting 2026. Held from July 14–16, 2026, the forum resulted in the strengthening of strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Australia in teacher education development, encompassing collaborative research, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the implementation of deep learning in education systems.
The international gathering brought together university leaders, academics, researchers, government representatives, and education stakeholders from both countries to formulate a shared agenda aimed at enhancing the quality of teacher education and ensuring its adaptability to global challenges.
UM Rector Prof. Dr. Hariyono, M.Pd. emphasized that today’s educational challenges require universities to establish cross-border partnerships capable of generating innovations that have a tangible impact on improving educational quality.
“Education is not merely a process of transferring knowledge, but of cultivating critical, reflective thinking grounded in humanitarian values. Therefore, international collaboration is essential to producing educational innovations that remain relevant in a rapidly changing world,” he said.
According to Prof. Hariyono, the Indonesia–Australia partnership provides broader opportunities for higher education institutions to expand collaborative research, academic exchanges, institutional capacity building, and the development of innovative learning models that address the evolving needs of future education.
Over the course of the three-day meeting, participants engaged in Top Management Meetings, panel discussions, collaborative workshops, Triad Meetings, and the formulation of long-term cooperation plans. Key topics included curriculum development, teacher competency enhancement, inclusive education, the implementation of deep learning, and the integration of digital technologies and AI into teaching and learning processes.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Nunuk Suryani, M.Pd., Director General of Teachers and Education Personnel at Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, stated that global educational challenges cannot be addressed by individual countries alone, making international collaboration an urgent necessity.
“No single country can overcome today’s educational challenges independently. Partnerships enable us to learn from one another, strengthen our education systems, and prepare teachers who are equipped to meet the demands of the future,” she said.
She added that the forum aligns with Indonesia’s national education transformation agenda, which focuses on the implementation of deep learning, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into primary and secondary education curricula, the strengthening of digital literacy, and the enhancement of the Teacher Professional Education (PPG) program.
