To support inclusive and relevant education, KREASI Morotai, implemented by the Stimulant Institute, has established a strategic partnership with Universitas Pasifik Morotai (Unipas). The partnership was formalized through the signing of an agreement on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, with strong support from the academic community. Unipas Rector, Irfan Hi. Abd Rahman, emphasized the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and civil society organizations in addressing children’s needs in a rapidly changing era.
The collaboration focuses on strengthening educational institutions in Morotai, particularly in child protection, contextual curriculum development, and integrating sustainability and social inclusion values into the learning system.
“This partnership is not just a formality. It is a collective movement to create child-centered education that responds to local challenges,” said Program Manager of KREASI Morotai, Margaretha R. Y. Djelalu.
During the academic discussion that accompanied the signing, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at Unipas, Iswandi Wahab, stressed the importance of instilling environmental awareness in children from an early age.
“Morotai needs a generation that cares about the environment. The KREASI Program can be an entry point to build this awareness from the school level,” said Iswandi.
This input was well received by KREASI, which reaffirmed that climate change and environmental conservation are indeed central to its educational approach.
As a first step, the collaboration will begin with a joint curriculum review to identify gaps between existing learning materials and the real needs in the field. This process will refer to the National Curriculum with a deep learning and differentiated learning approach, ensuring that teaching materials are not only academically robust but also contextual and applicable.
Unipas academics will play an active role in developing responsive teaching materials, training lecturers and teachers, and integrating issues such as child protection, social inclusion, and sustainability into the teaching process. In addition, KREASI Morotai will provide technical assistance and organize workshops to equip educators with child rights-based and context-sensitive pedagogical approaches.
As part of the long-term implementation, Unipas students will also be involved in teaching practice activities directly in KREASI program intervention areas. This approach not only strengthens the connection between theory and practice but also opens opportunities for students to become agents of change in their own communities.
The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Unipas, which is currently developing a new curriculum, has expressed its commitment to involve KREASI Morotai as a strategic partner in the process. The resulting curriculum is expected to be not only academically relevant but also highly sensitive to the social and environmental issues faced by children in Morotai.
The collaboration between KREASI Morotai and Universitas Pasifik Morotai represents a strategic step in building education that prioritizes not only knowledge but also social awareness and ecological responsibility. More than just a partnership document, this initiative reflects a collective commitment to shaping an education system that champions the future of children and the sustainability of the region.
Writer: Ayutama Putri Jordy; Editor: Andika Ramadhan
Photo: Ayutama Putri Jordy/KREASI/Stimulant Institute/Save the Children