UNP Informatics Lecturer, Randi Proska Sandra, Becomes a Visiting Research Fellow at Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Trondheim, Norway – Randi Proska Sandra, a lecturer from the Informatics Study Program, Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP), has completed a research stay as a visiting research fellow for approximately five months at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway. He joined SFU ExcITEd (Centre for Excellent IT Education), pioneered by the Institutt for datateknologi og informatikk (Department of Computer Science), with a research focus on IT Education for Sustainability and Digital Future. Randi’s own research is related to programming education and sustainability. SFU (Sentre for fremragende utdanning) is a Centres for Excellence in Education initiative by the Norwegian government through NOKUT, with only eight such centers throughout Norway.

During his time at NTNU, Randi actively engaged in various academic activities that enriched his knowledge and expanded his professional network. The opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas with professors at NTNU as well as fellow Indonesians pursuing studies and careers in Norway was a very valuable experience. He also had the chance to present his research findings, attend various courses and workshops discussing the latest research methodologies in computer science. Furthermore, his participation in the Spring School as part of the EU-funded BIAS Project, coordinated by NTNU, provided a new perspective in his research.

Beyond academia, He also participated in the Startup Preschool organized by Startup Migrants in collaboration with NTNU. In this forum, he interacted with various startup founders from diverse backgrounds and presented his business ideas, broadening his understanding of the entrepreneurial ecosystem for immigrants. In this event, he also learned how to transform research findings into business ideas.

This journey extended beyond Norway. While attending a Spring School in Estonia that brought together academia, industry, and government, Randi had the opportunity to discuss with the Deputy Mayor of Tallinn—the capital of Estonia—and with representatives from several Estonian ministries. He also took the time to visit Tehnopol and meet with its Head of AI. Tehnopol is a leading science and business park in the Baltic region that serves as an incubator for many start‑ups.

Reflecting on his experience, Randi stated, “The opportunity to learn and collaborate with experts at NTNU and interact with various stakeholders in Estonia has significantly broadened my horizons. I am very impressed by the spirit of innovation and collaboration fostered here. The Scandinavian and Baltic countries have a unique approach to research and innovation management. I hope this experience can positively contribute to the research and development of specific Informatics-related fields at UNP.”

This activity is expected to open collaborative opportunities between UNP and NTNU, open avenues for research collaboration and student exchange, and inspire the academic community at UNP.