MEDAN, Indonesia, 26 June 2025: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has further solidified its position in the field of regional computing and information technology by successfully organising the 10th International Conference on Computing and Informatics (ICOCI 2025) at the Santika Dyandra Hotel & Convention, Medan, Indonesia, yesterday.
The conference organised by the School of Computing (SoC), UUM gathered numerous scholars, researchers and academic leaders from diverse countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Oman, to engage in discussions aimed at fostering a more inclusive and ethical future for technology.
In his opening, UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan, underscored the importance of aligning today’s technological advancements with human values.
“We must not solely take pride in the sophistication of intelligent and autonomous systems. We also need to prioritise ethics, empathy and sustainability at the heart of technological development,” he said.
ICOCI 2025 also served as an important platform for the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between UUM and several prominent Indonesian universities, including Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU) and Universitas Sangga Buana. These agreements emphasise collaboration in joint research, postgraduate programmes and mobility of staff and students.
“This collaboration further enhances UUM’s long-term partnership with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (KEMENAG), as well as the established twin Master programmes with UIN Ar-Raniry, UIN Raden Fatah, UIN Sunan Ampel and UIN Sunan Gunung Djati,” he said.
In addition, UUM has also garnered active participation from additional organising partners, including the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Oman and UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, who are collectively dedicated to advancing the digital transformation agenda within regional higher education.
The Vice-Chancellor of UUM also highlighted the significant achievement of UUM’s Computer Science and Information Technology programmes, which are now acknowledged in international rankings, demonstrating its commitment to excellence and its influence on a global scale.
This success also contributes to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in enhancing digital infrastructure and promoting quality education.
Dr Mohd Foad encouraged all participants to persist in their innovative efforts with empathy and to lead with integrity, aiming to foster a more just, inclusive and sustainable digital future.
“Technology ought to enhance civilisation, rather than to merely generate algorithms. This is where we all contribute,” he said.
