The School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), continues to strengthen its international academic presence through a strategic research collaboration involving partners from Greece and the United Kingdom. Led by Ilma Aulia Zaim, Ph.D., SBM ITB has been awarded the EQUITY 2025–2026 International Collaborative Research Grant to conduct a cross-national study entitled “Civic Pride and Collective Identity: A Cross-National Investigation of Indonesia and Greece.”
The project brings together researchers from three countries- Indonesia, Greece, and the United Kingdom- to investigate how civic pride and collective identity are formed and expressed in different cultural contexts, specifically in Bandung, Indonesia, and Rethymno, Greece. The collaboration also seeks to generate practical recommendations for policymakers and tourism stakeholders in fostering civic pride as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
Building a Three-Country Academic Partnership
The international research team consists of Ilma Aulia Zaim, Ph.D.– School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia), Dr. Dimitrios Stylidis– Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace (Greece), Dr. Matina Terzidou – Senior Lecturer, Middlesex University London (United Kingdom), and Anak Agung Ayu Rias Pradnyadewi – Research Assistant, MSM SBM ITB.
While involving scholars from three institutions, the initiative is centered on SBM ITB through the leadership of Ilma Aulia Zaim, PhD, as the principal grant recipient and representative of the institution. Dr. Stylidis is internationally recognized for his expertise in destination marketing, tourism impacts, and sustainable tourism development, with publications appearing in leading journals such as Tourism Management and Journal of Travel Research. Meanwhile, Dr. Terzidou’s research focuses on religious tourism, heritage tourism, and tourism impacts, with publications in journals including Annals of Tourism Research and Journal of Sustainable Tourism.
Advancing Research Through Academic Mobility
A key component of the project was the implementation of reciprocal academic visits that integrated teaching, research collaboration, and scholarly publication activities.
In February 2026, Ilma Aulia Zaim, Ph.D., completed an academic visit to Democritus University of Thrace in Greece from 1 to 20 February. During her stay, she taught postgraduate modules on Research Methods and Destination Branding.
In addition to teaching, her visit included intensive research team meetings, field discussions, data collection, and manuscript development sessions aimed at producing a publication in a Q1 journal. This visit also fostered meaningful knowledge exchange between Indonesian and Greek scholars and strengthened the institutional ties between SBM ITB and Democritus University of Thrace.
In April 2026, Dr. Dimitrios Stylidis visited SBM ITB from 5 to 16 April 2026 as part of the reciprocal mobility program. During his visit, he taught the Hospitality and Tourism Marketing module and actively participated in collaborative research meetings, manuscript development workshops, and data analysis sessions. He also contributed to publication planning and served as a guest speaker at the launch of the book Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism: With Case Studies from Indonesia. His presence provided valuable opportunities for students, faculty members, and researchers to engage directly with a leading scholar in tourism marketing and destination management.
The collaboration continued in June 2026 through Ilma’s academic visit to Middlesex University, London, from 4 to 19 June 2026. During this period, she taught Research Methods, conducted collaborative research meetings with Dr. Matina Terzidou, and continued manuscript writing and publication activities. The visit concluded with the presentation of the research findings at the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME) Conference, hosted by the University of Surrey, further strengthening the project’s international academic impact. The visit also coincided with a notable achievement for SBM ITB and Indonesian scholarship, as Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism: With Case Studies from Indonesia, co-authored by Ilma Aulia Zaim, PhD, Moch Nalendra, Dr. Gallang Perdhana Dalimunthe, Nenden Dianawati, and John Prawiro, has successfully passed the British Library’s curation process and has been accepted into its collection, making the publication accessible to scholars and readers through one of the world’s most renowned research libraries.
Creating Long-Term International Impact
Beyond its academic outputs, the collaboration aims to establish a long-term research partnership linking SBM ITB, Democritus University of Thrace, and Middlesex University London. Through joint teaching, researcher mobility, collaborative publications, and conference participation, the initiative demonstrates how international partnerships can generate meaningful academic and societal impact.
The project is expected to produce a publication in a Q1 international journal, International conference presentations, expanded research networks across Europe and Southeast Asia, and enhanced global visibility and reputation for SBM ITB.
As universities increasingly work across borders to address complex societal challenges, this collaboration reflects SBM ITB’s commitment to advancing internationally relevant research while contributing practical solutions for sustainable tourism development and community well-being.
Through this partnership connecting Indonesia, Greece, and the United Kingdom, SBM ITB continues to strengthen its role as a globally engaged institution dedicated to impactful research, academic excellence, and international collaboration.
