BATAM, Aug 8 – A new chapter in Malaysia, Indonesia academic cooperation was written when Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) undertook a collaborative visit to Universitas Internasional Batam (UIB). The meeting, held at the UIB campus, focused on building strong research alliances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through joint initiatives, curriculum development, and sustainable campus practices.
The Malaysian delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Shamsul Sarip, Deputy Director of UTM’s Centre for Campus Sustainability (CCS), accompanied by seven UTM sustainability experts, two representatives from UTM’s Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), and two academic staff from UniSZA. The team was received by UIB’s leadership, including Theodesia Lady Pratiwi, S.Pd., M.Hum, Head of the Office of International Relations, and Dr. Hendi Sama, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science, alongside UIB programme heads Dr. Stivani Ayuning Suwarlan (Architecture), Khoirul Anwar, S.Si., M.Si (Biology), and Dr. Yusra Aulia Sari (Civil Engineering).
Central to the discussions was the integration of AI as a catalyst for achieving sustainable development. FAI-UTM, presented research applications in environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and sustainable urban planning fields with significant impact on multiple SDG targets. UIB expressed strong interest in adopting these AI-driven solutions, particularly in smart city planning through AI-enabled data analytics to enhance energy efficiency, mobility, and waste management, as well as in environmental conservation initiatives such as predictive modelling for biodiversity protection and climate adaptation.
Both institutions also explored AI applications in biotechnology to address SDG-linked challenges, particularly in food security, public health, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, discussions highlighted the role of AI-supported education systems in promoting digital literacy and inclusivity, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education). This collaborative vision positions AI not only as a technological tool but as a strategic enabler that bridges innovation, sustainability, and societal impact across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
The meeting reaffirmed each university’s strong commitment to embedding the SDGs into academic, research, and operational frameworks. Key discussions focused on securing joint research grants targeting AI solutions for SDG implementation within the ASEAN context, co-hosting academic conferences to highlight AI’s role in sustainability science, and facilitating knowledge exchange in green campus initiatives such as renewable energy integration, water conservation, and zero-waste practices. Collaborative student mobility and staff exchange programmes were also identified as strategic avenues to foster cross-border expertise and innovation in sustainable development.
Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Shamsul Sarip emphasised that AI is more than a technological tool it is a transformative enabler that bridges innovation, policy, and societal impact to advance sustainability. As part of this shared vision, the partners highlighted the upcoming International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Its Applications (ICON-AI 2025), organised by the FAI at UTM, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 12–13 November 2025. The conference will serve as a premier platform for researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to exchange ideas, present cutting-edge AI innovations, and explore their role in driving sustainable development across the region.
A key outcome of the visit was the agreement to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTM, UniSZA, and UIB, establishing a framework for multi-year cooperation. This MoU will encompass joint research projects, co-hosted academic events, curriculum co-design, and the creation of thematic research clusters focused on aligning AI innovations with SDGs. The partnership is designed to foster long-term academic and research collaboration, enabling knowledge sharing and the development of impactful solutions that address both regional and global sustainability challenges.
This collaboration aligns with ASEAN’s vision of inclusive, innovation-driven, and sustainable education. By integrating Malaysia’s strengths in AI research with Indonesia’s expanding sustainability initiatives, the partnership aims to produce solutions that go beyond national boundaries, benefiting communities across the region. Moving forward, UTM, UniSZA, and UIB are committed to launching initiatives that not only advance scientific discovery but also generate tangible societal, economic, and environmental benefits, reinforcing the role of higher education as a driver of positive change.