The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) continues to demonstrate its active role in advancing national education through its participation in the Garuda Transformation Excellence School Program (SUGT). This initiative, launched by the government, aims to establish a high-quality secondary education ecosystem capable of preparing Indonesian students to compete at the global level.

As one of the universities entrusted to mentor participating schools, ITB—through its implementing unit, the Directorate of Joint Preparatory Education (Direktorat Persiapan Bersama, DITSAMA)—has dedicated focused efforts to guide two selected institutions: SMA Taruna Nusantara (Magelang) and SMAN Siwalima (Ambon). The mentorship encompasses a wide range of aspects, including academic strengthening, character development, and school management enhancement.

Designed as a comprehensive program, this initiative targets student capacity building in various dimensions, including preparation for international university admissions (IELTS and SAT), essay writing workshops, interview simulations, and the development of soft skills and personal character. In addition to students, teachers and education staff also receive intensive training in college counseling, differentiated learning management, and adaptive curriculum development.

ITB’s approach emphasizes collaboration and participation, engaging interdisciplinary expertise across academic units. Faculty members, students, and professional partners work hand in hand to support the transformation process with a spirit of sustainability and inclusivity.

Maintaining implementation quality remains a top priority. Therefore, the program is regularly monitored and evaluated by several national supervisory institutions. As of November 2025, monitoring and evaluation activities have been conducted by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) on October 29, 2025, the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) on November 3, 2025, and the Inspectorate General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology from November 3–7, 2025. These evaluations assess not only administrative compliance but also the substantive achievements and real impacts of the program on the mentored schools.

ITB’s participation in this initiative reaffirms its commitment to delivering tangible impact and extending its reach across the nation, including to eastern Indonesia—regions that often face challenges of access and educational equity. Through the spirit of collaborative growth, ITB seeks not only to transfer knowledge but also to foster a learning culture rooted in diversity, independence, and global competitiveness.

Amid increasingly complex educational challenges, initiatives such as SUGT stand as models of constructive collaboration. ITB hopes that this experience will not only produce graduates ready to compete on the international stage but also strengthen Indonesia’s secondary education ecosystem toward a more inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable future.