On November 2^nd, 2020, the IsDB attended an online conference on the Handover of the Integrated Laboratories, Agro-techno park Complex and Auditorium of the State University of Jember, East Java, financed by the IsDB. The State University of Jember is part of the Four Higher Education Institution Project or the IDN 1008 Project, along with University of Malang, University of Mulawarman and University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. The project will contribute to the Strategic Government Objective to improve the competitiveness of the universities in Indonesia as measured by the increase in Indonesian Higher Education Innovation Index rank also to contribute in achieving the Quality of Education in 2030.

The IDN 1008 project scope includes the construction of around 30 new buildings of approximately 150,000 m², as well as supporting infrastructure, equipment, and furnishing. The Project targets to provide 147,000 students with higher quality and more relevant education, through advanced research, development of 46 new curricula, training of 450 staff and lecturers. Another important aspect of the project is the development of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the four Universities, where each University becomes a center of excellence for advanced research and establishes national and international networks in their respective areas.

The event was attended by key officials from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Bappenas, Ministry of Finance and the Executing Agencies as well as the representatives of the State University of Jember using a strict Covid-19 protocol. During the conference, Mr. Salah Jelassi, Regional Head of the IsDB Group Regional Hub Indonesia delivered welcoming remarks and congratulated the Ministry of Education and Culture and the management of the University for achieving this important milestone. In his welcoming remarks, he said, “Up to now the IsDB Group has supported 198 projects in Indonesia with finance worth of more than US $5 billion in addition to various capacity development knowledge program for Indonesia. In the higher education sector, IsDB possess one of the largest portfolio with projects involving more than 30 State and State Islamic Universities with the financing of US $1 billion.”

In addition to the partial hand-over of the buildings, University of Jember established a Center of Excellence in Agricultural Biotechnology and Health and obtained recognition from the Ministry of Research, Technology as one of the best National Center of Excellence in the country. The Center of Excellence has been producing:

• 14 featured-research topics (multidisciplinary) in collaboration with 42 researchers (national and international),
• 34 scientific publications,
• 10 books,
• 10 Intellectual Properties,
• 10 featured-products/prototypes like genetically modified sugarcane (virus-resistant), healthy rice (Golden rice), synthetic sugarcane seed, including the prototype of antigen protein of malaria vaccine.