Banda Aceh, October 29, 2025 – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Syiah Kuala University (FMIPA-USK) welcomed an official visit from the Head of the Sabang City Tourism Office, HARRY SUSETHIA, S.T., M.T. The visit marked an important step toward exploring strategic collaboration between academia and local government in strengthening the tourism sector through digital innovation.
The meeting, held at the FMIPA-USK campus, was attended by Dean of FMIPA-USK, Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, S.Si, M.Tech, and Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Partnership, Dr. Ir. Wira Dharma, S.Si, M.Si, M.P. The discussion focused on potential cooperation in developing a web-based tourism platform to support the digital promotion of Sabang’s leading destinations.
During the discussion, both parties agreed that digital transformation is essential in adapting to the changing behavior of modern travelers. Digital tourism promotion enables information about destinations, culture, and local attractions to reach a wider audience quickly and more engagingly across the globe.
Dean Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin highlighted that the university has great potential to become a strategic partner in tourism technology development. Through various research programs, student innovations, and interdisciplinary collaboration, FMIPA-USK is committed to supporting local governments in realizing a smart and sustainable tourism ecosystem for Sabang.
One of the key highlights of the visit was a presentation by FMIPA-USK students, showcasing their innovative project Jaksabang.com. This digital platform serves as an integrated tourism portal that features Sabang’s destinations, culinary experiences, culture, and event calendar in an interactive and user-friendly format.
Jaksabang.com has previously achieved national recognition as a technology-based innovation that supports regional tourism development. In their presentation, the students demonstrated how the system can be integrated with real-time data and interactive features to help tourists plan their visits to Sabang more efficiently.
The Head of the Sabang City Tourism Office, HARRY SUSETHIA, S.T., M.T., expressed his appreciation and admiration for the students’ creativity in developing digital solutions relevant to local needs. He stated that platforms like Jaksabang.com represent a real-world model of collaboration between universities and local governments in accelerating tourism digitalization.
“Collaborations like this are crucial to enhancing the competitiveness of our tourism destinations. I hope that the partnership between the Sabang Tourism Office and FMIPA-USK will continue, allowing student innovations to be implemented and bring tangible benefits to the community,” said HARRY SUSETHIA.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ir. Wira Dharma, S.Si, M.Si, M.P., emphasized that this activity reflects the faculty’s ongoing efforts to encourage student involvement in real-world, partnership-based projects. He noted that such collaborations not only strengthen the relationship between academia and government institutions but also provide valuable experiential learning opportunities for students.
With shared enthusiasm for innovation and collaboration, FMIPA-USK and the Sabang Tourism Office are committed to moving forward together toward a new era of digital tourism. Both institutions hope this partnership will become a model of synergy between academia, government, and youth in building a creative, inclusive, and sustainable tourism ecosystem in the westernmost part of Indonesia.
With shared enthusiasm for innovation and collaboration, FMIPA-USK and the Sabang Tourism Office are committed to moving forward together toward a new era of digital tourism. This partnership directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) reinforcing the joint vision of building a creative, inclusive, and sustainable tourism ecosystem in the westernmost part of Indonesia.
