Jakarta, 28 September 2026 – As digital technologies continue to transform the way we live, work, and learn; we recognize the growing importance of understanding how these technologies can contribute to sustainable development and inclusive growth. In line with our commitment to co-creating the intelligent society, our Internationalization team organized the Sustainable Development Goals International Webinar Series known as the UN SDG Webinar Series, bringing together experts from our international partner universities and the BINUS academic community from 23-25 September 2026 to exchange global perspectives on “Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Inclusive Growth.” 

Preparing students for a rapidly evolving digital landscape requires more than technical knowledge alone. It also involves developing adaptability and critical thinking needed to navigate constant technological change. During the webinar, Dr. Neil Perez Balba, Executive Director for Technology and Chief Digital Officer at Lyceum of the Philippines University – Laguna (LPU-Laguna), shared insights on digital literacy, workforce readiness, sustainable development, and artificial intelligence awareness. 

Drawing from his extensive experience as an esteemed International IT and Engineering consultant, Dr. Balba emphasized the importance of equipping students with competencies that enable them to make the most of digital opportunities while addressing the challenges that come with them. 

“The users, especially young users, need to wisely utilize your knowledge and the ability to use these digital technologies confidently, safely, critically, and responsibly for learning, work, communication, problem-solving, and innovation. And by empowering people with digital skills today, we will build the sustainable economy of tomorrow,” he added. 

As artificial intelligence becomes a part of everyday life, Dr. Balba encouraged students to view it as a tool that complements, rather than replaces, human judgment. While AI can assist in analyzing information and generating insights, he stressed the importance of critically evaluating its outputs. Before relying on AI-generated content in academic or professional work, users should verify its accuracy, relevance, potential bias, and any information that may have been overlooked. 

An insightful discussion emerged when students raised concerns about the environmental footprint of AI, particularly the water consumption required to cool the systems and data centers that power it. Addressing the issue, Dr. Balba emphasized that while AI depends on significant physical resources, it also has the potential to create efficiencies across various activities. He encouraged students to weigh both the opportunities and environmental implications of AI as part of responsible technology adoption. 

While the discussion highlighted the importance of using digital technologies responsibly, it also raised another important question: how can these technologies be leveraged to support sustainability within higher education? Shifting the conversation from awareness to implementation, the webinar series welcomed Dr. S. Harihara Sitaraman, Associate Professor and Head of the Office of Internal Quality Assurance and Compliance at VIT Bhopal University, India. 

With his expertise in computer science, cybersecurity, digital forensics, academic quality assurance, and digital transformation, Dr. Sitaraman shared insights into how digital technologies can enhance academic pathways while contributing to more sustainable educational practices.  

“By connecting technology with real needs, digital tools can widen access to education, help students solve community problems, and make collaboration possible across universities, disciplines, and countries. Through these opportunities, technology can support more inclusive and sustainable approaches to learning and development. Ultimately, we can maximize these benefits by continuing to educate, innovate, and collaborate,” he explained. 

Inspired by the discussion, students were eager to learn how they could further strengthen their digital literacy and contribute to a more digitally inclusive society. In response, Dr. Sitaraman encouraged them to engage with communities that have less digital experience than limiting their interactions with peers who are already comfortable with technology.  

He suggested practical ways for students to strengthen their digital literacy while helping others do the same. These included organizing digital literacy initiatives, joining technical communities, sharing digital skills with those who have less experience using technology, and creating accessible learning resources. To make information easier to understand and reach wider audiences, he also highlighted how AI and design tools can be used to convert complex topics into concise notes, flashcards, audio explanations, and content tailored to different languages and learning preferences. 

As digital transformation continues to shape the future, the insights shared by Dr. Balba and Dr. Sitaraman reminded participants that technology delivers its greatest value when it is used responsibly, collaboratively, and with a clear purpose to address real-world challenges while advancing to sustainable and inclusive development. 

Author: Mita Adhisti | Editor: Yusuf Rifai