TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Monash University Indonesia held its third graduation ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Jakarta on Saturday, July 19, 2025. This graduation ceremony was particularly special because it was attended for the first time by the new President and Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Monash University, Professor Sharon Pickering, who succeeded former Monash President Professor Margaret Gardner AC in 2024.
Following the graduation ceremony, Monash University President and VC Sharon Pickering, Monash University Indonesia Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Matthew Nicholson, and Monash University Indonesia Chief Operations Officer (COO) Tantia Dian Permata, took the opportunity to speak with journalists. During this event, Monash University reaffirmed its commitment to advancing education in Indonesia through teacher capacity development, cross-sector collaboration, and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-based instructional technology.
The Only International University with a Full Operating License
As the only international university in Indonesia with a full operating license, Monash University views its presence in Jakarta as a concrete step towards advancing national goals, from digital transformation to public health and educational equity.
Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sharon Pickering said that the university's physical presence in Indonesia is a crucial means of fostering communication across various education sectors.
“This gives us the opportunity to build relationships with government ministries, schools, and all relevant education authorities,” Pickering said.
She stated that because of these relationships, Monash has been able to understand the direction of Indonesian education policy from the outset, including changes to the curriculum and teaching system.
Preparing High-Quality Teachers
Pickering also emphasized the importance of teacher preparation as a foundation for high-quality teaching. She noted that Indonesia has 3.2 million teachers who need ongoing training assistance in areas such as artificial intelligence, classroom management, and educational leadership.
"We want to ensure that our professional development, our experience in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), classroom management, counseling, and other areas, including leadership development, can be provided to all these teachers in all the contexts in which they work," she said.
Pickering continued that Monash has also just announced an investment of A$60 million to build one of the fastest AI supercomputers in Australia, an initiative that will drive digital transformation.
She explained that for the deployment of such digital transformation, professional development for teachers is critical, and Monash believes that their knowledge of AI and teacher education, training for current and future educators, can be combined to improve the quality of Indonesian teachers.
Micro Studio With Macro Facilities
Monash University Indonesia Chief Operations Officer, Tantia Dian Permata, said that her campus now has a Micro Studio, a learning studio with state-of-the-art facilities for creating high-quality educational materials.
"Micro Studio is a dedicated studio that we developed on our campus, it is very high-tech and useful for developing more cutting-edge teaching materials," she explained.
In the Micro Studio, she added, learning and teaching will be conducted for teachers on how to teach more innovatively.
Bridging Education with the Needs of the Workforce
When asked about the readiness of Monash University graduates for the Indonesian workforce, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University Indonesia, Prof. Matthew Nicholson, explained that an industry advisory board is actively involved in the curriculum development process at Monash, which will enable all students to be immediately ready for the workforce upon completion of their education at Monash.
"At Monash Indonesia, all of our teaching staff are 100 percent PhD holders, and they all conduct what we consider research-based teaching," Nicholson said.
Nicholson also added that Monash ensures that all students are encouraged to complete their studies with practical experience working on real-world cases in the industry.
As a result, Matthew guarantees that Monash University graduates are ready to enter the workforce and can perform at a very high level immediately after graduation.
"And only through deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the industry can this be achieved," he added.
Editor's Choice: Bali Students Win Monash University's 'Change It Challenge', Head to Global Finals
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia to Equip Thousands of Outermost Schools with Satellite Internet and Solar Power
5 hari lalu
Access to electricity and the internet remains a challenge in Indonesia's 3T areas for optimal education.
Indonesia and France Strengthen Partnerships in Science and Education
5 hari lalu
Indonesia and France strengthen their strategic partnership in various fields, including science, technology, and education.
Singapore to Recruit 1,000 New Teachers Every Year
10 hari lalu
Singapore is set to recruit 1,000 new teachers annually for the next few years
Asian Universities Rise in Global Sustainability Leadership Rankings
10 hari lalu
Amid global SDG funding gaps, Asian universities are stepping up as leaders in sustainable finance, driving research & innovation to shape up future.
BI Reveals the Cause of Bangka Belitung's Decline in Deflation
14 hari lalu
Bank Indonesia's (BI) Bangka Belitung Representative Office says the monthly deflation was caused by 12.58 percent decrease in education price index.
Minister Declares July 7 as Indonesian Librarian's Day
16 hari lalu
Minister of Elementary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu'ti has officially designated July 7 as Indonesian Librarian's Day.
7 Inspiring Indonesian Educational Villages to Explore During School Holiday
18 hari lalu
Tourist villages can be a good option for family destinations during school holidays. There are tourist villages in Yogyakarta, Bali, and Lombok.
Prabowo Urges Ministers to Open More Medical Faculties to Tackle Doctor Shortage
25 hari lalu
President Prabowo Subianto has called for an increase in the number of medical faculties as part of efforts to address Indonesia's short
World Bank Grants Yemen $30 Million to Support Education and Digital Payments
30 hari lalu
In addition to Indonesia, the World Bank injects a US$30 million grant for Yemen. What is it for?
10 Most Liveable Cities in 2025 Revealed: Copenhagen Takes the Top Spot
33 hari lalu
Explore the most liveable cities in 2025, ranked by the Economist Intelligence Unit across 30 indicators of key categories, including stability.
