Depok — Could Depok become Indonesia’s next international city? That’s the question on the table after the Depok City Government visited Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on Thursday, July 23, 2026, to discuss a potential partnership rooted in culture and education.

The Depok City Government delegation was represented by Muhamad Yusuf, S.Pd., Head of Junior High School Development at the Education Office; Eko Herwiyanto, M.Si., Head of the Youth, Sports, Culture, and Tourism Office; Dr. Drs. H. Dadang Wihana, M.Si., Head of the Regional Development, Research and Innovation Planning Agency (Bapperida); and Fathir Fajar Sidiq, Ph.D., Head of the Regional Research and Innovation Division.

One of the key proposals put forward by the Depok City Government during the meeting was the UIII Mengajar (UIII Teaches) program. The proposal was warmly received by UIII’s officials, including UIII Rector Prof. Jamhari, who sees the program as mutually beneficial for both UIII and the Depok City Government.

The concept behind UIII Mengajar is to give UIII students the opportunity for community engagement by teaching at several schools across the city. A similar initiative has previously been carried out by UIII’s international students, but this time the program is expected to build closer ties, given its direct location in Depok.

Responding to the plan, Head of UIII’s Office of Student Affairs and International Services, Muhammad Yazid, Lc., explained that the themes to be covered could include foreign languages — such as English, Arabic, and French — as well as diversity.

Beyond UIII Mengajar, the meeting also touched on several other agendas, including the optimization of Rumah Cimanggis and plans to hold a Cultural Week at UIII in partnership with the Depok City Government. The event is intended to introduce Depok’s culture to a wider audience while also promoting UIII.

Responding to the series of planned collaborations, UIII’s University Secretary, Dr. Chaider S. Bamualim, expressed his optimism.

“This whole series of programs could become a real opportunity to drive the internationalization of Depok city,” he said.

The collaboration between UIII and the Depok City Government is expected to bring benefits to both parties. Beyond that, the planned programs are also hoped to become a valuable experience for UIII students — both international and local — to get to know the city of Depok more closely.