UKDW, PPPK Petra Collaborate to Advance Christian Education in Indonesia
Amid pressing challenges in Indonesia’s education sector—including unequal access, a crisis of character development, and the erosion of spirituality in the digital age—collaboration among Christian educational institutions has become more urgent than ever.
Responding to this call, Universitas Kkristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta and the Petra Association for Christian Education and Teaching (PPPK Petra) Surabaya have formalized a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement was signed on May 22, 2025, at PPPK Petra’s Secretariat Office in Surabaya.
This collaboration is more than a meeting between two institutions—it represents a convergence of vision and purpose to deliver high-quality education rooted in Christian values and responsive to contemporary needs.
UKDW, founded in 1962, is one of Indonesia’s leading Christian universities, widely recognized for its commitment to education grounded in love, justice, and social transformation. PPPK Petra, established in 1951, oversees more than 38 schools from kindergarten to senior high school in Surabaya, and is regarded as a benchmark for quality Christian education in Eastern Indonesia. Over the decades, PPPK Petra has produced thousands of alumni who live out their faith through their professional endeavors.
UKDW was represented by Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., along with Head of Marketing Veronica Tiara, S.Kom., CPS, Domestic Cooperation Officer Christina Angelina, S.I.Kom, and Promotion Officer Hugo Christ, S.M.
“We believe this is a time when Christian educational institutions must support one another. Through this MoU, UKDW is committed to supporting PPPK Petra with faculty service initiatives, guest teaching programs, mental health support, and character and spiritual development activities,” said Rector Wiyatiningsih.
PPPK Petra welcomed the partnership enthusiastically. The signing was attended by the association’s Board Chair I, Ir. Ika Iskandar Itamurti, along with other key leaders including the Secretary I, Deputy Director of Education, HR Manager, and Public Relations and Partnership team.
“We share the same spirit with UKDW: to educate with heart and shape Christian character. Many UKDW alumni have joined our teaching staff, and we’ve seen first-hand the quality and integrity they bring,” said Ir. Ika Iskandar Itamurti.
Through this partnership, both institutions are committed to human resource development, enhancing education quality, and creating inclusive learning spaces that empower a new generation of accomplished, professional, and values-driven young people in a pluralistic world.
As an open and collaborative institution, UKDW continues to build partnerships with various organizations in support of national education priorities—offering value-based and spiritually grounded solutions for Indonesia’s future.
In addition to its agreement with PPPK Petra, UKDW also conducted official visits to two top-performing schools in Surabaya: Kalam Kudus Christian High School and Frateran Catholic High School.
During the visits, the Rector reaffirmed UKDW’s readiness to serve as a strategic partner to schools by supporting student development, teacher empowerment, and academic innovation. The university offers a range of engagement programs, including faculty-led community service, mental health seminars, and other relevant training initiatives.
The visit concluded with the signing of an MoU between UKDW and Frateran Catholic High School, alongside a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by UKDW’s Head of Marketing and Frateran’s Vice Principal for Public Relations. [tiara/tr.drr]
