Observing Global Best Practices in Higher Education: Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D. Leads the International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon in a Strategic Knowledge-Seeking Visit to Deakin–Lancaster University Indonesia within the Global Discourse of the ThinkTNE Forum 2026
Bandung, February 4, 2025 – Under visionary leadership and a strong commitment to global academic excellence, Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., Director of the International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, led a knowledge-seeking visit to Deakin University – Lancaster University Indonesia in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. This visit was conducted as part of an academic observation agenda and was accompanied by a strategic meeting with several British Council delegates who were participating in the ThinkTNE Forum 2026. During this visit, the Global Engagement Team from the International Office of UIN SSC was introduced to Lancaster University’s global ecosystem under the Deakin framework, which has established international branches across Malaysia, China, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, and India. Reflecting on the importance of such exposure, Lala Bumela stated, “This visit allows us to observe how a globally distributed university maintains academic integrity, innovation, and relevance across diverse socio-cultural contexts.”
In an era marked by rapid digital transformation, cross-border education, and increasingly complex global challenges, higher education institutions are compelled to rethink traditional academic models. Issues such as unequal access, relevance of curricula, global employability, and the alignment between academic knowledge and societal needs continue to challenge universities worldwide. Lancaster University’s global presence emerges as a response to these disruptions, offering a model that navigates internationalization not merely as expansion, but as a structured and values-driven academic system.
Through intensive discussions and institutional presentations, the visit opened a dialogue on how global universities balance academic standardization and local contextualization. The International Office team observed how Lancaster University positions itself with the ambition to be recognised as a globally leading, progressive partnership, contributing positively to social, cultural, and economic development across nations. Emphasizing the reflective nature of the visit, Lala Bumela Sudimantara remarked, “We are not here to initiate collaboration, but to learn, to listen, and to understand how global best practices can inspire institutional growth within our own context.”
Lancaster University Indonesia offers a range of future-oriented academic programs, including Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Cyber Security, Bachelor of Business Analytics, and Bachelor of Commerce. These programs are structured around comprehensive learning outcomes that emphasize communication skills, critical thinking, digital literacy, knowledge and capabilities, global citizenship, self-management, problem-solving, and teamwork. Such outcomes illustrate how academic programs are designed not only to transmit knowledge, but to cultivate adaptable, ethical, and globally competent graduates.
For UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, this visit serves as an important reflective mirror in strengthening its own internationalization strategy. As a cyber-based university operating within a multicultural academic environment, UIN SSC continuously seeks insights into how curriculum design, learning outcomes, and institutional governance can remain relevant in the global academic landscape while preserving its unique identity. The observations gained from Lancaster University’s global operations provide valuable perspectives for enhancing academic quality, student experience, and institutional resilience without compromising UIN SSC’s foundational values.
This knowledge-seeking visit reaffirms that international exposure does not always begin with formal collaboration, but with humility, observation, and intellectual openness. It represents a strategic effort by the International Office of UIN SSC to broaden institutional horizons and to prepare for future global engagement grounded in understanding rather than imitation. Concluding the visit, Lala Bumela Sudimantara stated, “Learning from global best practices is a moral responsibility for institutions that aspire to serve society better, and this visit is one of our steps toward that long-term vision for UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon.”
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir