Sampoerna University Signs Cooperation Agreement with Institute of Science Tokyo to Expand Academic Collaboration

Jakarta, March 2, 2026 — Sampoerna University has officially signed an Agreement for Cooperation with the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), strengthening academic ties between Indonesia and Japan.

The agreement was signed on February 24, 2026, by Professor Naoto Ohtake, President and CEO of Science Tokyo, and Rector Wahdi Salasi April Yudhi together with President Marshall Schott representing Sampoerna University. The ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both institutions, including Professor Jun-ichi Takada (Executive Vice President for Global Affairs), Professor Naoya Abe (Head of GEDES), Professor Kazuaki Inaba (Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering), Ms. Noriko Ito (Deputy Head, Global Strategy), and Dr. Farid Triawan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Sampoerna University. This new agreement expands collaboration beyond student exchange to include joint research and publications, academic exchanges, participation in scholarly forums, information sharing, and faculty and student mobility, with specific initiatives to be implemented through mutually agreed programs.

President Schott emphasized the long-term value of the partnership, stating, “We are truly enthusiastic about the opportunities this new partnership creates. We look forward to deepening and strengthening our collaboration, particularly in joint research initiatives and faculty and student mobility programming. We are confident that our shared commitment to academic excellence and innovation will lead to meaningful and lasting outcomes for both of our institutions.”

The partnership highlights complementary strengths between the two institutions. While Science Tokyo is recognized for its excellence in advanced science and engineering, Sampoerna University brings a distinctive General Education (GE) approach that nurtures intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, interdisciplinary engagement, and intellectual humility. As President Schott noted during his visit, universities today must equip students not only with technical competencies but also with a strong epistemological foundation to address complex, multidisciplinary global challenges.

Through this agreement, both institutions reaffirm a shared vision to advance impactful research, sustainable academic initiatives, and meaningful cross-cultural collaboration.