EXPERTS

BINUS University collaborates with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-profit organisations to address social, educational, and environmental challenges through student volunteering programmes, research collaborations, and the development and delivery of educational resources. In 2025, these collaborations connected students, academics, NGO partners, and communities through social innovation initiatives, sustainability research, community engagement, and educational programmes.

1. Student Volunteering Programmes

BINUS University facilitates student engagement with NGOs through programmes that encourage active participation in addressing community needs. One example is the BBS Social Innovation Camp, conducted in collaboration with Indorelawan, ISCO Foundation, Kelasekitar, and Komunitas Jendela Jakarta. Through this initiative, students worked with NGO partners to identify community needs and challenges and develop proposed interventions using the Design Thinking approach. The programme provided students with practical experience in social innovation and community engagement while supporting NGO-led community development initiatives.

Another example is the Empowering Expo: Gen Z for Impact, held on 29–31 October 2025 at BINUS @Alam Sutera. Organised through Teach For Indonesia (TFI) and the Student Support Office (SSO) BINUS @Alam Sutera, the event brought students together with six NGO participants: Yayasan Hati Suci, Red Nose Foundation, Yayasan Teman Baik, Bagi Dunia, PKBM Ekatapadi, and Global Peace Foundation. Through exhibition booths and direct discussions with NGO representatives, students learned about social programmes and explored opportunities for collaboration, volunteering, and internships. The event provided a platform for students to engage with organisations working in education, humanitarian support, and community development.

2. Research Programmes

BINUS University also engages in research activities involving researchers affiliated with non-profit research institutions to generate knowledge relevant to sustainability and responsible business practices. One example is the 2025 research article entitled The Impact of ESG Factors on Investment Decisions: Exploring the Interplay between Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Governance, and Financial Performance, published in the Journal of Ecohumanism.

The publication includes researchers affiliated with BINUS University and Indonesia Palm Oil Strategic Studies (IPOSS), an organisation involved in palm oil research and policy studies. The research examines environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, sustainability reporting, corporate governance, and financial performance. Its findings contribute to discussions on sustainable business practices, corporate accountability, and responsible investment.

3. Development and Delivery of Educational Resources

BINUS University collaborates with NGOs to support educational access and improve learning opportunities for underserved communities. In 2025, BINUS worked with the ISCO Foundation through a community engagement programme supporting children from urban poor communities. The collaboration included assistance, training, and evaluation for ISCO’s learning programmes, helping strengthen the delivery of educational support through learning centres and develop children’s academic and non-academic skills.

BINUS University also collaborated with Yayasan Buddha Tzu Chi through an Environmental Education and Waste-Sorting Programme held on 7 February 2025. Involving Teach For Indonesia, Tzu Chi, and the BINUS Student Support Office, the programme combined student engagement with educational activities on waste management, waste sorting, and the environmental impacts of waste. Through practical learning and community participation, the initiative helped raise environmental awareness and encourage responsible waste-management practices.

These initiatives demonstrate BINUS University’s engagement with NGOs and non-profit organisations through student volunteering, research activities, and educational programmes. By connecting academic expertise and student participation with the work of external organisations, BINUS supports community development, knowledge sharing, educational access, and environmental awareness.

BINUS University, through the BINUS Center of Excellence in Sustainability (BIC-SUS), collaborates with RMIT University, Australia, to review international sustainability practices, conduct comparative research, and adapt international frameworks to the Indonesian context. In 2025, this collaboration focused on sustainable procurement, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, sustainability reporting, and Indonesia’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.

The collaboration combines international academic expertise, research, and stakeholder engagement to examine how sustainability frameworks and practices implemented internationally can be adapted to Indonesia’s business environment, regulatory framework, and institutional needs. The key activities include:

• International Knowledge Exchange and Benchmarking

On 4 July 2025, BIC-SUS hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Forum featuring Professor Prem Chhetri from RMIT University. The forum provided a platform for academic and stakeholder discussions on sustainable business practices and the integration of sustainability into institutional strategies. It enabled BINUS to review international approaches and consider their relevance to Indonesian institutions and businesses.

• Adaptation of the Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index (SPDI)

A central activity of the collaboration is the adaptation of the Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index (SPDI), a framework developed through RMIT research to assess corporate sustainable procurement disclosures. Originally launched in Australia, the framework provides a basis for evaluating transparency in corporate procurement practices.

To support the development of SPDI in Indonesia, Professor Prem Chhetri has begun collaborating with two BINUS University academics: Professor Yanthi R. L. Hutagaol, Head of BIC-SUS, with expertise in finance, and Dr. Marko S. Hermawan, a BIC-SUS member and Head of the International Business Management Program, with expertise in accounting. Together, they aim to adapt the SPDI framework to Indonesia’s business practices and regulatory environment.

This work illustrates how an international research framework can be reviewed and contextualised for application in another country, with the aim of strengthening transparency, accountability, and sustainable procurement practices among Indonesian businesses

• Comparative Research on ESG and the Low-Carbon Transition

The collaboration also encompasses research and knowledge exchange on ESG frameworks, sustainability reporting, and Indonesia’s transition towards a low-carbon economy. Discussions have examined energy-transition targets, regulatory challenges, data availability, and institutional readiness, drawing on international perspectives, including Australia’s experience.

By connecting academic research with industry and policy stakeholders, these activities help identify challenges in implementing sustainability practices and inform the development of recommendations suited to Indonesia’s business and regulatory context.

Overall, the BINUS–RMIT collaboration demonstrates how international collaboration, comparative research, and knowledge exchange can support the review and adaptation of sustainability best practices. Through benchmarking, the contextualisation of international frameworks, and research-informed stakeholder engagement, BINUS works with RMIT to explore practical approaches to sustainability that respond to Indonesia’s specific needs.

BINUS University initiates and participates in cross-sectoral dialogue by bringing together stakeholders from academia, government, NGOs, industry, researchers, practitioners, and local communities to discuss sustainability challenges and explore collaborative solutions. In 2025, BINUS engaged in scientific conferences, multi-stakeholder initiatives, community engagement activities, and international forums addressing sustainable development, environmental challenges, innovation, and community empowerment.

1. International Conference on Community Development (ICCD) 2025

BINUS University co-organised the 7th International Conference on Community Development (ICCD) 2025 in collaboration with Universitas Mercu Buana, Universitas Sahid, Universitas Budi Luhur, and Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo (Beragama). Held on 14 October 2025, the conference adopted the theme “Leveraging Digital Technologies and Innovative Products for Sustainable Communities.”

The conference brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and discuss how digital technologies and innovative solutions can support sustainable community development. The event also featured a keynote address by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Dr. A. Muhaimin Iskandar, alongside international academic speakers.

BINUS contributed 16 community engagement papers, demonstrating how academic research and community-based initiatives can inform practical approaches to social challenges. Through collaboration among universities and engagement with government and academic stakeholders, ICCD 2025 provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and the exchange of ideas on sustainable community development.

2. ICOBAR–FIDI Joint Scientific Forum 2025

BINUS University organised the ICOBAR–FIDI Joint Scientific Forum 2025 in collaboration with the Ikatan Ilmuwan Indonesia Internasional. The forum brought together researchers, academics, innovators, and members of the international scientific community to exchange knowledge and discuss global challenges, environmental resilience, innovation, and sustainable development.

Through scientific presentations and interdisciplinary discussions, the forum facilitated knowledge exchange across research fields and encouraged collaboration in addressing complex sustainability challenges.

3. Sustainable Island Development Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

BINUS participated in a multi-stakeholder dialogue on sustainable island development, involving government institutions, academics, youth, entrepreneurs, and local communities. The dialogue addressed interconnected issues such as sustainable tourism, environmental conservation, education, women’s empowerment, digital innovation, and local economic development.

By bringing together stakeholders with different areas of expertise and responsibilities, the initiative provided a platform to exchange perspectives, identify local challenges, and discuss collaborative approaches to sustainable island development.

4. Empowering Expo: Gen Z for Impact

BINUS University facilitated engagement between students and NGO partners through the Empowering Expo: Gen Z for Impact, held on 29–31 October 2025. Organised through Teach For Indonesia (TFI) and the Student Support Office (SSO) BINUS @Alam Sutera, the event featured NGO exhibitions and sharing sessions covering education, environmental sustainability, health, community empowerment, volunteering, and social impact.

The participating organisations included Yayasan Hati Suci, Red Nose Foundation, Yayasan Teman Baik, Bagi Dunia, PKBM Ekatapadi, and Global Peace Foundation. Through direct interaction with NGO representatives, students learned about community initiatives, discussed social and environmental challenges, and explored opportunities to contribute through volunteering and collaboration.

5. THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2025

BINUS University participated in the THE Global Sustainable Development Congress 2025, an international forum focused on advancing sustainable development through higher education and cross-sectoral collaboration. The congress provided opportunities to engage with perspectives from universities, policymakers, government representatives, NGOs, and industry on global sustainability challenges and approaches to advancing the SDGs.

Through its participation, BINUS had the opportunity to exchange knowledge, learn from international sustainability initiatives, and explore approaches that could inform its research, education, and institutional sustainability activities.

Overall, these activities demonstrate BINUS University’s engagement in cross-sectoral dialogue through collaborative conferences, scientific forums, multi-stakeholder initiatives, direct engagement with NGOs, and participation in international sustainability events. By connecting stakeholders across different sectors, BINUS supports knowledge exchange, collaborative problem-solving, and the development of approaches to sustainability challenges that reflect diverse perspectives and community needs.

BINUS University participates in international collaboration involving sustainability data analysis, measurement frameworks, and comparative assessment. Through the BINUS Center of Excellence in Sustainability (BIC-SUS), BINUS collaborates with RMIT University, Australia, on sustainability research and the development and adaptation of methods for assessing corporate sustainability disclosures and sustainable procurement practices.

This collaboration contributes to sustainability-related data measurement by examining how corporate sustainability information can be assessed systematically, how reporting gaps can be identified, and how business practices can be compared against international benchmarks. These activities provide evidence that can help identify areas for improvement in sustainable business practices and support broader sustainability objectives.

1. BINUS–RMIT International Research and Collaboration

BIC-SUS collaborates with RMIT University on sustainability research, ESG measurement, and sustainable procurement. Through academic collaboration and stakeholder engagement, the institutions have examined sustainability indicators, corporate disclosure practices, data availability, and challenges associated with Indonesia’s transition towards a low-carbon economy.

These discussions have addressed the alignment of ESG frameworks with energy-transition targets, sustainability reporting, regulatory requirements, and the availability of reliable data. This work highlights the importance of consistent indicators and comparable information in assessing sustainability-related business practices and informing evidence-based decisions.

2. Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index (SPDI)

A key measurement initiative associated with the BINUS–RMIT collaboration is the Sustainable Procurement Disclosure Index (SPDI), a framework developed through RMIT research and initially launched in Australia in 2023.

To support the development of SPDI in Indonesia, Professor Prem Chhetri of RMIT has begun collaborating with two BINUS University academics: Professor Yanthi R. L. Hutagaol, Head of BIC-SUS, with expertise in finance, and Dr. Marko S. Hermawan, a BIC-SUS member and Head of the International Business Management Program, with expertise in accounting. Their collaboration aims to adapt the SPDI framework to Indonesia’s business practices and regulatory environment.

SPDI provides a structured approach to measuring corporate disclosures on sustainable procurement. Specifically, it supports the assessment of the completeness of reported information, the identification of disclosure gaps, and comparisons of sustainable procurement disclosures across companies. Adapting the framework to Indonesia also provides a basis for comparing local corporate reporting practices with international approaches while taking local regulatory and business conditions into account.

These measurements are relevant to sustainable development because they help assess the transparency of corporate procurement practices and identify opportunities to improve responsible sourcing and sustainability reporting.

3. SPDI-AI: AI-Driven ESG Data Analysis

Complementing the SPDI framework, BIC-SUS has introduced SPDI-AI as an AI-driven approach to analysing corporate sustainability disclosures. The system uses machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and data analytics to process information contained in sustainability reports and related corporate disclosures.

Its intended measurement capabilities include:

• Data extraction: identifying relevant sustainability and ESG information in corporate reports.
• Disclosure assessment: evaluating the presence and completeness of information relating to sustainable procurement and ESG practices.
• Scoring and benchmarking: supporting the assessment and comparison of corporate disclosures across companies and sectors.
• Disclosure gap analysis: identifying missing, incomplete, or insufficiently reported information.
• Comparative analysis: supporting comparisons with relevant international benchmarks.

These methods can make sustainability disclosure assessment more systematic and help researchers identify areas where corporate reporting and transparency could improve. SPDI-AI complements the broader research agenda by supporting data analysis, although its development should be distinguished from the BINUS–RMIT collaboration on SPDI unless joint development is explicitly documented.

Overall, BINUS University’s collaboration with RMIT and its related sustainability measurement initiatives contribute to the systematic assessment and comparison of corporate sustainability data. Through the adaptation of SPDI and the use of AI-driven disclosure analysis, BINUS supports the evaluation of sustainable procurement practices, the identification of reporting gaps, and comparisons with international benchmarks. These activities contribute to the broader SDG agenda by strengthening the evidence base for more transparent and responsible business practices. The measures focus on corporate sustainability disclosures rather than directly measuring all SDG indicators.