Jakarta, INTI - Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) and REFO Indonesia have explored opportunities to collaborate on the use of Gemini AI to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) literacy and skills among the university community, particularly faculty members, administrative staff, and students.
The discussion took place on September 21 at the Rector’s Meeting Room on the eighth floor of Graha Rektorat as part of UM’s efforts to promote the safe, ethical, and responsible use of AI technology in higher education.
The meeting was attended by UM Vice Rector IV, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Munjin Nasih, S.Pd., M.Ag., and university officials. REFO Indonesia, a professional development partner of Google, expressed its support for UM in expanding the use of Gemini AI through training and mentoring programs for faculty members and students.
The discussion followed earlier communications held between May and June 2026 with UM’s Head of the Subdirectorate of Data and Information, Dr. Tomi Listiawan, S.Si., M.Pd.
Prof. Ahmad Munjin Nasih expressed his appreciation for the information provided by REFO Indonesia regarding the use of Gemini AI in higher education.
“The information presented will serve as a consideration for future policies regarding the use of Gemini at UM,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of continuously introducing Gemini AI to the university community so that the available technology can be utilized effectively. Beyond supporting faculty activities, the technology can also assist students with a range of academic needs.
Data Security and Responsible AI Use
Data security was another key topic discussed during the meeting. REFO Indonesia explained that data management differs between institutional accounts and personal Gmail accounts.
Institutional accounts operate under enterprise education policies, meaning data used through these services is managed differently from data associated with personal accounts, including in relation to its use for public AI model training. This distinction is an important consideration when implementing AI to support academic activities.
REFO Indonesia also introduced the Gemini Academy program through a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach. Under the program, lecturers can become Gemini Academy Fellows and share their knowledge and skills in using Gemini with students in their respective classes.
Students can also take on the role of Gemini Academy Master Trainers, helping expand awareness and knowledge of Gemini among their peers.
Strengthening AI Skills and Ethics
Developing AI capabilities among university members also focuses on ethical and secure technology use. Key areas of concern include academic integrity, critical thinking, gaps in AI literacy, data security, as well as potential bias and AI hallucinations, referring to outputs that do not accurately reflect factual information.
Pepita Holy Gunawan, a core member of the REFO Indonesia team, said that as of 2026, REFO Indonesia had certified approximately 14,000 educators across Indonesia.
Through Gemini Academy, AI literacy development is not limited to technical skills. The program also emphasizes understanding how to use AI responsibly and appropriately.
Through the collaboration discussions, UM continues to strengthen AI literacy and competencies among its academic community as part of its technology-driven higher education transformation.
The adoption of Gemini AI is expected to support learning and academic activities while encouraging the safe, ethical, and responsible use of technology.
The initiative is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, particularly efforts to expand access to skills development and technology literacy. Strengthening AI literacy is also part of preparing the academic community for technological developments that are increasingly influencing education and the future of work.
Conclusion
The collaboration between UM and REFO Indonesia highlights the growing importance of AI literacy in higher education. Through Gemini Academy, the initiative combines practical AI skills with responsible use, data security, academic integrity, and critical thinking, helping prepare educators and students for an increasingly AI-driven academic and professional environment.
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