JAKARTA - Chairman of the Nusantara Capital Authority (NCA) Bambang Susantono discussed with Northern Illinois University (NIU) President Dr. Lisa C. Freeman at the NCA Jakarta Office on January 9, 2024, addressing NIU's interest in participating in the provision of international education in Nusantara.

During the meeting, Dr. Lisa C. Freeman expressed NIU's desire to be part of Nusantara's development. "Northern Illinois University, with its unique expertise in public administration, political science, computer science, and sustainability, provides opportunities and compatibility to meet the educational needs in Nusantara," she said.

NIU plans to build educational facilities to establish graduate programs in Nusantara. Communicated through NIU's Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. Robert Brinkmann, he stated that NIU wants to study the development process in Nusantara.

"This program will provide mutual benefits for the development of Nusantara as a modern and sustainable city and also as international learning from the development process in NCA," added Robert.

Bambang Susantono explained that the development of Nusantara is part of the Indonesia Experiment. "The development of Nusantara as a sustainable forest city in line with global campaigns on sustainable development goals, climate change, and biodiversity is a living lab for the world," he said.

NIU has had close ties with the Southeast Asian region since the establishment of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies in 1963. Executive Director for Global Initiatives at NIU, Dr. Eric Jones, explained that many NIU alumni have become influential figures in Indonesia. "Among them, Ryaas Rasyid, Affan Gaffar, Andi Mallarangeng, Anies Baswedan, Ramlan Subakti, Riswanda Imawan, and Ikhlasul Amal are NIU alumni who have returned to Indonesia to contribute," he said.

Also present at this meeting was Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation at the NCA, Prof. Mohammed Ali Berawi, who explained the role of the Nusantara Institute as an opportunity for collaboration in research and education. "The development of research centers, from energy sector classification, social, environmental conservation, to information technology, will facilitate various initiatives and interests of global research institutions in the development of IKN," he concluded.

(Wednesday, January 10^th  2024)

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Source:Nusantara Capital Authority Public Relations