Dr. Sahat Hutajulu, a lecturer at the School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung (SBM ITB), has successfully secured the EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) Triple/Quadruple Helix Models (TQHM) Grant through the AQHIRE (ASEAN Quadruple Helix Initiative for Renewable Energy) project. In this project, Dr Sahat leads a research collaboration across ITB faculties and with various partners in the ASEAN region.
The research will be conducted for one year, starting in September 2026, and will involve collaboration with partners in Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia. According to Dr. Sahat, this grant is part of the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, which aims to strengthen sustainable connectivity between the European Union and ASEAN through cooperation in education, economics, sustainability, and digital transformation.
One of the main issues the AQHIRE project aims to address is the gap between the rapid industrial demand for green jobs and the readiness of vocational education graduates to meet that demand. He believes that the development of the green industry is progressing much faster than vocational institutions can match the competencies of their graduates.
“Green jobs are now a necessity, but vocational education still needs acceleration to produce graduates with the appropriate skills. Through this project, we want to help accelerate the development of green skills so that vocational graduates are better prepared to meet industry needs,” explained Dr. Sahat in Bandung (August 7).
To address this challenge, the AQHIRE project adopts a Quadruple Helix Model approach that brings together government, universities, industry, and civil society (NGOs). According to Dr. Sahat, the involvement of all actors from the outset will produce more comprehensive and impactful solutions than if each party worked alone.
In addition to producing policy recommendations and strengthening regional collaboration, this project is expected to be a strategic step for ITB to advance its role as a pioneer of the green transition in Indonesia, particularly by developing vocational education competencies that align with future industrial needs.
In the long term, the team aims to establish sustainable collaborations between universities, government, industry, and vocational institutions, including the development of three certification modules in the green transition area that the community and workforce can utilize to improve their competencies.
For Dr. Sahat, securing a competitive grant at the ASEAN level also demonstrates the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration. He hopes that students and young researchers will not hesitate to build networks across various faculties and scientific fields, as diverse perspectives are key to producing internationally recognized innovations.
