Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has opened opportunities for collaboration with Positive Technologies in areas such as academic capacity building, professional training, joint research, and national digital resilience programs.
This development emerged from a visit by a delegation from the Moscow-based global cybersecurity research company on Wednesday (Jun. 11) at the UGM Central Office.
As an initial commitment to this strategic partnership, UGM and Positive Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement includes the development of academic programs, non-degree training, knowledge exchange, and research collaboration in cybersecurity and information technology.
UGM Vice-Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, stated that UGM welcomes the opportunity to cooperate, especially in the development of both degree and non-degree training programs. He sees great potential in integrating cybersecurity technology into curriculum development.
“We would like to further explore the curriculum offered by Positive Technologies and the possibility of aligning it with ours. Perhaps we can jointly create a curriculum that is more relevant to current industry needs,” said Dr. Hadmoko.
In addition, UGM and Positive Technologies discussed potential short-term training programs for faculty and students, as well as access to a global community of cybersecurity professionals.
“A number of UGM students are expected to be sent to PT’s headquarters in Russia for internship opportunities,” he added.
Alexander Udalov, Head of Educational Programmes and Projects at Positive Technologies, introduced his company’s portfolio and experience as a cybersecurity solutions provider established in 2002.
One of the standout collaboration proposals was the development of cyber range-based training simulations. This virtual platform replicates real-world industrial network systems.
“We have over 600 machines in our cyber range, covering 12 industry sectors such as energy, logistics, and transportation,” he explained.
He noted that this cyber range enables students and young professionals to safely practice responding to Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks.
Vice Dean for Academic, Student Affairs, and Cooperation at the UGM Faculty of Law (FH UGM), Professor Adrianto Dwi Nugroho, welcomed the partnership as a step toward strengthening national cybersecurity resilience.
“We view cybersecurity not only from a technical standpoint but also from the perspective of national policy, defense, law, and politics,” he stated.
Following the signing with UGM, the Positive Technologies delegation visited the UGM Faculty of Philosophy. During the visit, the faculty introduced its rich tradition of global philosophical thought, including influences from Russian philosophers such as Nikolai Berdyaev and Mikhail Bakhtin.
This intellectual connection serves as a potential foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the context of ethics and the philosophy of technology.
In addition to philosophical discussions, the Faculty of Philosophy also presented its ongoing studies and research on artificial intelligence (AI) from ethical and ontological perspectives.
“We acknowledge that technological developments, including AI and cybersecurity, cannot be separated from philosophical considerations. Therefore, we position our faculty as a space for critical reflection on the implications of technology for humanity and society,” said Dr. Rodinal Khair, a lecturer at the Faculty of Philosophy.
The meeting opened up space for insightful dialogue on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing digital-era challenges. Positive Technologies welcomed this perspective and expressed interest in further exploring cooperation, particularly in developing ethical frameworks for security technologies and the use of AI in social systems.
Author: Rahma Khoirunnisa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto