King's College London

King’s College London has officially launched its new transnational education programme in the Special Economic Zone of Singhasari in East Java on Wed, 28 May 2025. The launch was attended by British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey, Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President International, Engagement and Services, King’s College London, David Santoso, Chair of King’s College London Singhasari Foundation, and Summer Xia, Country Director of British Council Indonesia.

Delivered from the Singhasari Special Economic Zone (SEZ) the King’s College London and Singhasari Partnership programme will provide high quality Master’s programmes in MSc Digital Economies and MA Digital Futures. This partnership, which is supported by funding from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme, aligns with Indonesia’s priority sectors and supports East Java’s ambitions to become a regional hub for innovation and education.

The Chair of King’s College London Singhasari Foundation, David Santoso opened the event, followed by a welcome from Vice-Chancellor & President of King’s, Professor Shitij Kapur, who thanked those who had made the partnership possible saying “May I start by giving my special thanks to the Indonesian Government for joining us, and for choosing King’s as the Special Economic Zone education partner. In doing so, you have made King’s the first Russell Group university to provide place-based transnational education in Indonesia — a distinction we are honoured and proud to hold."

Professor Kapur also celebrated the first cohort of students already undertaking their MSc Digital Economies programmes, “As the inaugural class, you are at the forefront of our vision; the trailblazers who will shape the legacy of this programme and lead the way for those who will follow in your footsteps.”

King’s College London and Singhasari Partnership, welcomed its first cohort of students in September 2024 led by King’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and is expected to expand its offer in the coming years to incorporate more faculties at King’s, further strengthening the opportunities available to students. The King’s courses are delivered through hybrid learning on a campus commissioned by the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in the Regency of Malang, East Java.

Senior Indonesian government officials, including Madam Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, the Governor of East Java Province; and Professor Fauzan, Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, shared keynote speeches about the partnership and the future of higher education in Indonesia, with the gathered guests. Professor ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President International, Engagement and Services, King’s College London also spoke with guests about King’s strong and proud history of impactful partnerships with Indonesia.

Dominic Jermey, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste said “The opening of King’s in Singhasari is a real demonstration of the UK’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s human capital development through world-class education. The UK is home to world-class universities offering a wide range of education and research expertise and I am incredibly proud to see King’s College London establish a new partnership with the Singhasari Special Economic Zone which takes our collaboration to the next level.

“Education is one of the important elements discussed by President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when they met in London last year. The two leaders agreed to revitalise our relationship and strengthen the relationship between the UK and Indonesia through a new, deeper Strategic Partnership. 

Summer Xia, Country Director Indonesia and Director South East Asia, at the British Council, said “This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for higher education in Indonesia. Through the British Council Going Global Partnerships programme, we are proud to support King’s College London in bringing world-class education to East Java—offering life-changing opportunities to students and strengthening the region’s role as a hub for innovation. This is more than a transnational education (TNE) initiative—it’s a shared commitment between UK and Indonesia to preparing young people with the global outlook, creativity, and skills needed to thrive in the digital age. We look forward to seeing this collaboration grow, fuelled by mutual trust, ambition, and a vision of inclusive excellence.”