Western Sydney University cements ties with Indonesia with formal opening of Surabaya campus
Western Sydney University has celebrated the formal opening of its state-of-the-art campus in Surabaya, Indonesia – giving both local and international students the opportunity for a world-class education.
The campus is located in Pakuwon Tower in the heart of Surabaya, East Java – a city that is serving the needs of a fast-developing Indonesian economy.
Having its first intake of students in September last year, the campus is an important commitment by Western Sydney University to establish a long-term presence in Indonesia – strengthening its ties with the south-east Asia region and taking Western Sydney to the world.
Senior representatives of the University, including Chancellor Professor Jennifer Westacott AO and Vice-Chancellor Professor George Williams AO, joined with Australian and Indonesian government officials with industry and institutional partners, and students for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the campus’s formal commencement.
The vertical campus features world-class facilities and offers internationally recognised degrees in high-demand fields, including business, data science, information and communications technology, and computer science. From September 2025, the University will deliver two new undergraduate specialisations in cyber security and business analytics and its flagship postgraduate programs in data engineering, information communication technology, and business administration (MBA). Additionally, plans for an Executive Education Program for professionals as well as a PhD program are underway to further support Indonesia’s research capacity.
Students will gain real-world experience through partnerships offering opportunities for professional excellence through work-integrated projects, placements, and industry exposure. They will also benefit from the University’s highly successful Launch Pad tech start-up incubator co-located at the campus, which offers entrepreneurial training, short courses, and skill development programs in collaboration with industry, driving innovation and economic growth.
The new Indonesian campus builds on the University’s long-established partnership with UEH University in Vietnam, along with plans to establish a campus in India.
Chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO; Acting Governor, and Australian Consul-General to Surabaya, Mr Glen Askew; with Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO and Professor Amir Mahmood, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Provost, Indonesia
Chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, said the Surabaya campus significantly extends the University’s international reach and strengthens its position as a global education leader.
“The Surabaya campus continues the University’s proud history of opening up access to a world-class and high-quality higher education. It also represents incredible opportunity for strengthening the mutually-beneficial partnership between Australia and Indonesia,” said Professor Westacott.
“Part of the University’s ambitious commitment to our students and global partners, our new international campus will create life-changing opportunities for Indonesian students – giving them the chance to study locally, graduate with a globally-recognised degree and secure the best jobs.
“Importantly, the campus and these programs will also build local skills’ capability and help drive excellence, employment growth, trade and investment that can support Indonesia’s economic and social transformation.”
Vice-Chancellor, Professor George Williams AO, Western Sydney University is excited to be bringing Western’s world-class facilities, teaching, research, industry collaboration and community engagement to Surabaya.
“This technology-rich campus is designed to promote high levels of interactivity and engagement, with purpose-built spaces and designated skills labs that support students in their learning and development, as well as fostering opportunities for collaboration with local business and industry,” said Professor Williams.
“As the University ranked number one in the world for social, economic and environmental impact for three years in a row, the Surabaya campus also has a strong focus on entrepreneurship, sustainability and climate resilience.
“We have plans for the campus to host a Centre of Excellence as a hub for Sustainable Development Goals’ related research which can have an impact in the local community and across Indonesia.”
“I am delighted that Western Sydney University has launched the first international campus in Surabaya, opening up new opportunities for Indonesian students to access a world-class Australian education,” said Australia’s Chargé d’Affaires to Indonesia, Gita Kamath. “This new campus continues the long history of close cooperation in education between Australia and Indonesia, strengthening the deep, personal connections between our two countries.”
With students having just completed orientation for next semester, classes at the campus are due to get underway from next Monday 17 February.
More information about studying at the Surabaya campus and preparations for the next intake in September can be found at https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/indonesia.
ENDS
13 February 2025
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