Jakarta – The Nahdlatul Ulama University of Indonesia (Unusia) has established a partnership with the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) of the Republic of Indonesia through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) on Wednesday (November 11). This partnership serves as a step toward strengthening the implementation of the *Tri Dharma* (the three pillars of higher education) while simultaneously fostering the advancement of democracy and the integrity of the electoral process.

The visit and the signing ceremony were attended by Unusia Rector Dr. Fariz Alnizar, DKPP Chairman Heddy Lugito, Dean of the Faculty of Law Dr. Ahsanul Minan, M.H., Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science Musaid Purnomo Juwono, as well as various faculty members and administrative staff from Unusia. The MoU was signed by Fariz Alnizar and Heddy Lugito, while the Cooperation Agreement was signed by the Dean of the Unusia Faculty of Law, Dr. Ahsanul Minan, and the Secretary of the DKPP, Drs. Syarmadani, M.Si.

In his remarks, Unusia Rector Dr. Fariz Alnizar expressed his appreciation for the partnership. He hopes that the collaboration between Unusia and the DKPP will not merely remain an agreement on paper, but will instead be realized through strategic programs that provide tangible benefits to both institutions and the broader public.

Fariz explained that Unusia is developing a vision centered on "community development." According to him, it is not enough for a university to simply function as a producer of knowledge; it must also ensure that the knowledge developed creates a direct impact on improving the quality of life for the community.

"A university is not just an institution tasked with producing knowledge; beyond that, it must also generate an impact," he stated. He added that the partnership with the Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) serves as a step toward broadening Unusia’s contributions—not only in education, research, and community service, but also in fostering a better democratic climate. According to him, strengthening democracy must go hand in hand with enhancing the integrity of—and public trust in—the individuals who operate the system.

Meanwhile, DKPP Chairman Heddy Lugito welcomed the collaboration with Unusia. He expressed hope that this partnership would create broader opportunities for contribution, particularly in education, research, and various other collaborative endeavors. He further emphasized that ethics serves as a vital foundation for building democracy and upholding the integrity of election administration.

This partnership is expected to open up wider avenues for collaboration between the Unusia academic community and the DKPP. A range of initiatives can be developed, including joint research, academic seminars, curriculum development, and the involvement of practitioners in teaching activities and student internships. Consequently, Unusia students and the broader academic community will have the opportunity to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of how elections are administered and how democratic ethics are enforced.

Through this synergy, Unusia hopes that the knowledge cultivated on campus will make a more extensive contribution to society. The collaboration with the DKPP represents an effort to promote a democracy rooted in integrity, foster a more robust legal system, and strengthen public trust in the administration of elections.