ITB and the Morotai Regency Government Discuss Strategic Digital Technology Collaboration in an Audience Meeting
Bandung, stei.itb.ac.id – A team from the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (SEEI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), conducted a visit to Universitas Pasifik (Unipas) Pulau Morotai as part of community service activities as well as to fulfill an invitation to deliver a public lecture. In addition, on September 11, 2025, Prof. Nana Rachmana Syambas and his team also held an official audience meeting with the Government of Pulau Morotai Regency to discuss strategic directions for the utilization of digital technology in education and regional governance.
The audience meeting was attended by the Regent of Pulau Morotai, Rusli Sibua; Vice Regent Rio Christian Pawane; Regional Secretary of Morotai Regency, Muhammad Umar Ali; and Assistant III Rajak Lotar. The rectorate of Universitas Pasifik Pulau Morotai, who had previously accompanied the public lecture activities, were also present, including Rector Irfan Hi. Abd. Rahman, Vice Rector II Aminullah Thaib, and Vice Rector III Amrin Sibua. This meeting marked the engagement of two parties—local government and higher education institutions—in formulating a joint agenda for Morotai’s development through digital innovation.
On the occasion, Prof. Nana emphasized the importance of collaboration between universities and local governments to strengthen local capacity, particularly in the field of education. One of the ideas discussed was the expansion of digital technology implementation that was initially planned for SMKS Bumi Moro as a pilot school, so that it could be extended to other schools across Morotai. Through cooperation between the Morotai Regency Education Office and the Communication and Informatics Office, it is expected that digital infrastructure can be strengthened to ensure more equitable education quality throughout the region.
Prof. Nana also emphasized that ITB has a long track record of partnering with local governments to directly assist communities with solutions tailored to local needs. As a concrete example, SEEI ITB has collaborated with the government and communities in Southeast Maluku Regency, particularly in Tual City, in developing an Internet of Things (IoT)-based water quality monitoring system and seaweed drying facilities. The system utilizes buoys for environmental data collection and a remote dashboard that helps fishermen and seaweed farmers determine optimal planting times and detect potential diseases early, thereby minimizing the risk of crop failure. This example illustrates that when collaboration between universities and local governments is designed with attention to local needs and human resource development, it produces not only technical solutions but also sustainable, tangible benefits for coastal communities.
The Regent of Morotai, Rusli Sibua, welcomed the proposals presented and expressed readiness to discuss them further with relevant regional agencies. In line with this, Universitas Pasifik stated its commitment to following up on the outcomes of the meeting together with ITB through various forms of future collaboration. The audience meeting concluded with an invitation from the Regent for the ITB team to directly experience the natural beauty and local potential of Morotai, which constitute an important part of regional development.
This meeting is expected to serve as a starting point for cooperation between ITB, Unipas, and the Government of Pulau Morotai Regency. Through this synergy, the utilization of digital technology is directed not only toward technical aspects, but also toward addressing challenges such as equitable education, enhanced government capacity, and the sustainable social and economic development of the Morotai community.