The collaboration supports education development, teacher training, research, and community service for Indonesian communities in Sabah, Malaysia.
KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA — The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Negeri Semarang (FMIPA UNNES) strengthened its international network by signing an Implementation Agreement with Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu (SIKK), Sabah, Malaysia, on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The agreement represents a strategic step toward expanding collaboration in education, research, teacher professional development, and community service. The partnership specifically aims to support the improvement of educational quality for Indonesian communities in Sabah.
The collaboration follows the successful implementation of an international community service program conducted by the Physics Division team of FMIPA UNNES at the Community Learning Centre (CLC) Keningau and Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu.
The FMIPA UNNES community service team consisted of Dr. Budi Astuti, M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. Putut Marwoto, M.S.; Prof. Dr. Sugianto, M.Si.; Dr. Agus Yulianto, M.Si.; Sugiyanto, S.Pd., M.Si.; and Prof. Dr. Ani Rusilowati, M.Pd. The team provided academic mentoring and capacity-building activities for Indonesian teachers working at Community Learning Centres across Sabah.
The program at CLC Keningau was attended by approximately 50 participants representing several Community Learning Centres in the Keningau and Kota Kinabalu areas. The teachers participated enthusiastically in a series of academic sessions and innovative training activities.
The training focused on twenty-first-century learning, the implementation of STEM education based on Computational Problem Solving, and the development of teachers’ capacity to design innovative and learner-centered instruction.
The success of the community service program provided a strong foundation for FMIPA UNNES and SIKK to establish a more structured and sustainable partnership through the signing of the Implementation Agreement.
The agreement covers several collaborative programs, including continuous community service initiatives, teacher training and professional development, joint research, academic expert exchanges, and the development of learning innovations.
FMIPA UNNES and SIKK will also provide opportunities for lecturers, students, teachers, and education personnel to participate in academic activities that create measurable benefits for Indonesian communities in Malaysia.
A representative of FMIPA UNNES stated that the partnership forms part of the faculty’s internationalization strategy and reflects the implementation of the university’s three pillars of higher education, namely education, research, and community service.
Through its partnership with SIKK, FMIPA UNNES aims to contribute to improving the quality of Indonesian education abroad while strengthening UNNES’s position as an internationally recognized university committed to educational development.
Representatives of Sekolah Indonesia Kota Kinabalu expressed their appreciation for the commitment of FMIPA UNNES to strengthening the competencies of Indonesian teachers serving in Sabah. The mentoring program was considered valuable in introducing innovative learning strategies that respond to current developments in global education.
The collaboration also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Its contribution to SDG 4 is reflected in teacher training, professional capacity development, and the introduction of innovative learning approaches. Meanwhile, the cross-border partnership between FMIPA UNNES and SIKK demonstrates the implementation of SDG 17.
The signing of the Implementation Agreement is expected to initiate broader and more sustainable collaborative programs. The partnership is also expected to generate educational innovations, strengthen international academic networks, and improve learning quality for Indonesian students in Sabah, Malaysia.
