Jatifest returned this year after previously being held in 2023. One of the main programs of Jatifest 2026 was the Open House Unit (OHU), which served as a platform for new students to learn about the various Student Activity Units (UKM), student associations, and student organizations within ITB.

More than 70 Student Activity Units and 25 student organizations were introduced through OHU. Students could explore a wide range of activities spanning the arts, sports, science, social engagement, education, culture, and many other fields. Among the participating organizations were the ITB Student Choir, Ganesha ITB Basketball Unit, Taekwondo, and Aksantara ITB.

In addition to student organizations, faculty and school booths were also available, allowing students to learn more about each faculty and school’s academic fields, characteristics, activities, and flagship programs. The presence of diverse disciplines within one area also offered a broader picture of ITB’s academic ecosystem and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

At Jatifest 2026, several faculties and schools presented hands-on activities. The School of Life Sciences and Technology (SITH), for example, offered activities such as kimchi making, honey lemon preparation, kombucha making, the Takakura composting method, and mushroom growing media preparation. Meanwhile, the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD) ITB organized creative activities including hand-building ceramics, cross-stitch workshops, wire jewelry making, and printmaking.

ITB Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., said the theme “Ruang Bertemu, Ruang Bertumbuh” reflects the importance of an academic atmosphere shaped by encounters, interaction, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

“This festival is designed to show that ITB is not only about classrooms and laboratories. What is equally important is building an excellent academic atmosphere,” he said.

Through various Student Activity Units and activities outside the classroom, students can meet peers from different academic backgrounds, take part in competitions, and develop creativity and innovation together.

Prof. Tata also encouraged students to make the most of the many opportunities available throughout their studies at ITB. In doing so, students are expected not only to achieve strong academic performance but also to gain experiences and lessons beyond the classroom that play an important role in their personal development.

Meanwhile, Dian Permanasari, Expert Staff to the Minister of Creative Economy for Research, Education, and Institutional Relations, delivered remarks on behalf of Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya.

In the remarks, the Ministry of Creative Economy expressed its appreciation for the organization of Jatifest 2026. A creative ecosystem, it noted, grows when ideas and creativity intersect with science and technology, and when talents are given opportunities to collaborate.

“It is through these encounters that an idea can grow into a work and eventually create value,” she said.

Universities are considered to hold an important position within this ecosystem. Campuses not only provide education but also serve as places where ideas, research, technology, innovation, talent, and intellectual property are developed, all of which form the foundation for the growth of the creative economy.

ITB is also one of 14 universities involved in the Creative Economy Higher Education Consortium, a collaborative platform aimed at strengthening the contribution of higher education institutions to the development of Indonesia’s creative economy.

“A campus is not merely a place that produces graduates. It is a place where ideas, research, technology, innovation, and talent are born. Therefore, it is important for universities to become increasingly connected with industry, communities, government, and the market,” she said.

With the spirit of “Ruang Bertemu, Ruang Bertumbuh,” ITB Jatifest 2026 demonstrated that the campus experience is shaped not only by classrooms, laboratories, assignments, and examination results. Encounters, student activities, creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and interaction with society also form part of the academic atmosphere that can shape character, generate ideas, and encourage students to transform their ideas into impactful works.