The APIE (Asia Pacific Internet Engineering) program concluded its e-Workshop series and Core Course Batch 8 on 11 April 2026 with a milestone session featuring APIE alumni as guest lecturers for the first time. The e-Workshop series is the synchronous component of the APIE Core Course.
Throughout the series, participants engaged with guest lecturers from across the Internet ecosystem, including Mariko Kobayashi (APIDT, WIDE Project), Sheryl ‘Shane’ Hermoso (APNIC), and Shin Shirahata, who contributed sessions on Internet governance, the Internet ecosystem, and network infrastructure.
Alief Fauzan (ITB), Nguyen Thuy Quynh (HUST), Ahmad Zaky Hafizzany (UNHAS), and Syifani Adilllah Salsabila (UB) shared their experiences after APIE, connecting learning with real-world practice in the Internet and telecommunications industry.
Alief Fauzan (ITB)
They also highlighted how the program can open pathways to further engagement through fellowships and initiatives with organizations such as APNIC, APAN, ICANN, and APNG Camp.
“[…]APIE is a safe and supportive environment for beginners to learn and grow.”
Nguyen Thuy Quynh (HUST)
The session reflected the strength of the APIE community, with alumni continuing to contribute as teaching assistants and supporting upcoming activities, including the next APIE Camp in Hanoi.
Following the completion of the Core Course, eligible participants from this batch will have the opportunity to apply for the upcoming APIE Camp at VNNIC headquarters in Vietnam.
* Feature image caption: (from the left) Kasyful Amron (UB), Rizal Setya Perdana (UB), Eko Setiawan (UB), Eliko Akashi (Keio University), Goki Miyakita (Keio University), Agung Setia Budi (UB), Prof. Achmad ‘Abazh’ Basuki, Bayu Priyambadha (UB)
On 9 April 2026, as part of the SOI Asia DHASH Project, a recent visit brought together Brawijaya University, Indonesia (UB) and Keio University, Japan (Keio) to advance collaborative efforts in digital cultural heritage preservation. DHASH, a Digital Humanities (DH) focused Open Science project, involves multiple universities across APAC and supports communities in documenting, preserving, and sharing cultural resources sustainably.
During the visit, UB and Keio team members engaged in practical consultations and meetings using the Voyager platform, focusing on the on-the-ground application of digital preservation methods. Discussions covered hands-on use of Voyager, reviewed existing workflows, and explored strategies for sustaining cultural resource documentation in the Malang district.
A central part of this visit focused on conceptualising an APAC-origin digital preservation platform. Members explored essential elements for such a platform, collaborative workflows, and meaningful milestones to guide its development. The discussion also addressed the preservation and use of Candi structures—ancient temple complexes in Indonesia, many dating back to the Majapahit period. While originally built as Hindu (and sometimes Buddhist) temples, many of these sites no longer retain their original form, making documentation and digital preservation increasingly important.
By digitally documenting and reconstructing these cultural assets, the project aims to generate both local and global outcomes. Locally, such efforts contribute to strengthening community identity, supporting heritage education, and enabling sustainable cultural tourism. Globally, they expand access to cultural data, facilitate comparative research, and contribute to the development of shared digital preservation methodologies.
Notably, UB’s robust institutional network, combined with its integration of interdisciplinary expertise, provides a strong foundation for advancing rich and comprehensive digital preservation of these cultural assets. This capacity also positions UB to contribute to the development of a regional digital platform for cultural exchanges across APAC, serving as a key driver in enabling high-quality documentation and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The visit ultimately reinforced the project’s broader vision: Building a more resilient society in APAC by safeguarding cultural knowledge and enabling its sustainable use across generations. Expected results include the creation of digital archives, the strengthening of collaborative networks, and the enhancement of local capacity for cultural data management. For more about DHASH and its activities, please visit:https://dhash.space/
The APIE (Asia Pacific Internet Engineering) program recently held its ninth camp at Universitas Brawijaya (UB) in Malang, Indonesia, bringing together students from across the Asia-Pacific for an intensive, hands-on learning experience in Internet engineering. This marks the fourth APIE Camp hosted at UB (including two pilot editions), reflecting their continued commitment to the program.
The five-day program covered topics from network deployment and virtualization to DNS, IoT, and cloud computing, concluding with an industry visit and student presentations in Surabaya. The camp also highlighted the growing role of local teaching assistants and early-career faculty in supporting delivery.
This camp was made possible through the collective efforts of many partners. Special thanks to Universitas Brawijaya and its dedicated teams for their continued commitment to hosting and supporting APIE, to neuCentrIX for enabling the industry visit, and to APNIC and the APNIC Foundation for their ongoing support. Together, these contributions continue to strengthen learning opportunities across the region.
From February 23 to March 1, 2026, six participants from Indonesia (ITB), Japan (Keio), Malaysia (UM, USM), Nepal (TU), and the Philippines (UP Diliman) came together in Tokyo, Japan, for the EBA Innovation City Fieldwork, hosted by Keio University.
As part of SOI Asia’s efforts to support collaborative and practice-based learning across the region, the fieldwork explored how future society can be shaped through the responsible and sustainable use of emerging technologies—particularly in relation to human relationships, cities, and resilience.
Throughout the program, participants engaged with a range of stakeholders across Tokyo who are contributing to the development of future society. These interactions provided insights into areas such as mobility, communication, education, inclusivity, and digital infrastructure, helping ground their ideas in real-world contexts.
On the final day of the program in Tokyo, participants worked on building dioramas that gave shape to their visions of future cities. Combining evidence-based approaches with human-centered design, these outputs reflected both individual perspectives and shared discussions developed throughout the fieldwork.
This fieldwork highlights how regional collaboration and hands-on learning can support participants in exploring complex challenges and imagining possible futures together.
The program will conclude with an online final presentation: March 31, 2026, 18:15–19:15 (UTC+9)
Millions of people speak Javanese and Sundanese across Indonesia, yet these languages remain underrepresented in global voice technologies. As speech-based systems continue to grow, ensuring that diverse languages are included has become an increasingly important challenge.
To contribute to this effort, SOI Asia recently concluded a three-month collaboration supporting the inclusion of Javanese and Sundanese on Mozilla’s Common Voice platform — an open initiative that collects voice data to help make speech technologies more inclusive and accessible.
The team of coordinators, fellows and mentors: (from the top left) Achmad Husni Thamrin (SOI Asia),Marcos Sadao Maekawa (APNIC Foundation), Kirana Ajeng Pratiwi Nurdin(ITB), Heidi Schan Andriana (ITB), Abdur Rohman Muhammad (UB), Gilang Ramadhan (UB), Ratno Wahyu Widyanto (UB), Eueung Mulyana(ITB), Achmad ‘Abazh’ Basuki (UB).
This collaboration was an initiative brought forward by the APNIC Foundation and coordinated through SOI Asia, engaging students and faculty members from partner universities in a shared effort that combined language, technology, and community contribution.
The main outcomes of the collaboration were the localization of the Common Voice website and the preparation of more than 300 prompts for spontaneous speech recordings, enabling the platform to accept contributions in both Javanese and Sundanese. As a result, both languages were successfully opened for contributions on Common Voice in early February.
Mozilla’s Common Voice main website in Javanese.
Beyond the technical outcomes, the experience also carried a strong personal dimension. During the wrap-up session, several participants reflected on how the process allowed them to reconnect with their linguistic roots — revisiting everyday expressions, involving family members in discussions, and rediscovering the cultural depth of their own languages.
Spontaneous Speech interface in Sundanese.
For SOI Asia, this collaboration also highlights the important role that technology can play in supporting language preservation. By contributing to an open dataset like Common Voice, participants are helping ensure that underrepresented languages are not left behind as speech technologies continue to evolve.
At the same time, the initiative reflects SOI Asia’s broader approach of creating opportunities for universities and communities to engage with real-world digital ecosystems through collaboration. In this case, the contribution extends beyond technical work, bringing together cultural knowledge, local context, and collective effort.
While the formal collaboration has concluded, the platform remains open, and continued contributions will be essential to further grow these language datasets. SOI Asia also looks forward to sharing this experience with the wider community in upcoming activities.
In January 2026, Universitas Brawijaya (UB) hosted a pilot edition of the APIE Advanced Camp in Malang, Indonesia, structured around two advanced technical tracks: BGP and Wi-Fi engineering.
The first phase (January 8–10) focused on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), reinforcing a critical component of Internet infrastructure. Participants engaged in advanced iBGP/eBGP deployments, carrier-grade troubleshooting, and data center routing scenarios using Mininet-IPLab. Group presentations required teams to present and defend their routing policies and design choices.
The second phase (January 12–14) shifted toward wireless networking, where participants conducted site surveys, analyzed RF environments, and deployed Wi-Fi Access Points in practical configurations, concluding with design defense presentations.
By strengthening the BGP pathway and integrating hands-on wireless deployment, this pilot Advanced Camp expands the depth and coherence of APIE’s learning trajectory. It also demonstrates UB’s leadership in shaping advanced technical capacity-building initiatives within the SOI Asia network.
The program was implemented through collaboration among UB, SOI Asia, Keio University, APNIC, and local technical partners.
SOI Asia participated in APRICOT 2026 in Jakarta, engaging across technical workshops, regional coordination meetings, and community exchanges throughout the conference.
Inxignia at the Masterclasses
APRICOT masterclass and Inxignia teams
The week began with the introduction of Inxignia digital badges at the BGP Masterclasses. For the first time, the SOI Asia micro-credential platform was adopted beyond its own network, issuing verifiable badges to participants who successfully completed technical tasks. The initiative highlighted growing interest in recognizing demonstrated skills in community-based learning environments.
Regional Coordination at the AP* Meeting
At the AP* Meeting, regional stakeholders reflected on infrastructure deployment, capacity building, and sponsorship alignment across the ecosystem. Discussions emphasized the importance of measuring long-term impact beyond technical implementation and improving coordination and transparency in community support mechanisms. The exchange reflected a maturing regional environment focused on accountability and sustained engagement.
Advancing Technical Depth: APIE Advanced Camps
UB and SOI Asia teams prepare for the talk. Husni (SOI Asia) delivered on the main stage.
During a lightning talk session, the new APIE Advanced Camps on BGP and Wi-Fi were introduced. Co-designed with Universitas Brawijaya and piloted earlier this year, the advanced camps represent a deeper technical track within the APIE learning pathway, responding to demand for higher-level specialization.
Community Conversations and Collaboration
Beyond the scheduled sessions, SOI Asia met with partners, institutions, and technical community members from across the region. Conversations were marked by positive and constructive feedback on APIE and Inxignia initiatives, along with interest in future collaboration. Exchanges with peers navigating similar challenges — from program sustainability to community engagement — provided valuable insights and shared learning.
From structured sessions to informal discussions, APRICOT 2026 once again demonstrated its role as a gathering space where technical expertise, educational innovation, and regional coordination intersect.
Featured image caption: (from the left) Kasumi Ochi (UNESCO), Fereshteh R. Najafabadi (UNESCO), Achmad Husni Thamrin (SOI Asia), Engin Koncagul (UNESCO), Noriatsu Kudo (Keio University), Marcos S. Maekawa (APNIC Foundation), and Fitrie A. Nurritasari (UNESCO).
The SOI Asia delegation visited the UNESCO Jakarta office for what was initially planned as a brief exchange of updates. The meeting quickly evolved into a forward-looking discussion on potential areas of collaboration across Open Science, digital credentials, and inclusive knowledge systems.
Open Science emerged as a central theme, with shared recognition of the need to strengthen capacity, transparency, and regional participation in research practices across the Asia Pacific. The discussion highlighted opportunities to connect technical communities, academic institutions, and policy frameworks in more integrated ways.
Particular interest was expressed in SOI Asia’s experience with digital micro-credentials through Inxignia, especially as UNESCO continues exploring accessible, online learning and recognition mechanisms. The Evidence-Based Approach (EBA) initiatives were also discussed as complementary pathways for structured collaboration and knowledge exchange.
While the visit began as a routine update, it concluded with clear enthusiasm for deepening engagement and identifying concrete next steps.
The conversation reaffirmed the value of sustained dialogue between technical education networks and international organizations working at the intersection of science, culture, and inclusive digital development.
*Feature image caption: (in the from line, from the left) Aftab Siddiqui (APRICOT/APNIC Foundation), Andrei Ferrian (SOI Asia), (in the back) Achmad Husni Thamrin (SOI Asia).
At APRICOT 2026 in Jakarta, Inxignia digital badges were issued during the BGP Masterclass — marking the first time that credentials from the SOI Asia micro-credential platform were adopted beyond the SOI Asia community.
Participants who successfully completed the technical tasks at the end of the workshop received verifiable digital badges in addition to certificates of participation. Rather than recognizing attendance alone, the badges validated demonstrated skills and learning outcomes.
Feedback from the APRICOT team indicated strong engagement from participants, with many showing clear commitment to completing the required tasks in order to earn their badges. The presence of a verifiable credential appeared to reinforce both motivation and accountability in the learning process.
Originally developed to support learning mobility and recognize diverse educational experiences across the SOI Asia network, Inxignia uses Open Badges standards to make technical achievements visible beyond formal education settings. Its adoption at APRICOT signals a broader relevance for digital credentials in community-based technical training across the Asia Pacific.
As short courses, workshops, and collaborative programs continue to shape how Internet professionals build skills, meaningful recognition mechanisms become increasingly important. The integration of Inxignia at APRICOT 2026 reflects a growing ecosystem interest in validating learning in flexible, accessible ways.
SOI Asia participated in APAN 61, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, contributing to regional discussions on Internet education, capacity building, and collaboration across Asia and the Pacific. This participation followed the strengthening of SOI Asia’s relationship with the APAN community after the MoU signed at APAN 59 in Yokohama, and reflected continued engagement through joint sessions and partner collaboration.
SOI Asia–led session on learning pathways
SOI Asia led a dedicated session titled Designing Learning Pathways for the Next Generation Internet Engineers, facilitated by Noriatsu Kudo, lead of the APIE program. The session highlighted SOI Asia’s approach to capacity building through collaboration among universities, research and education networks, industry, and learning communities.
Learner perspectives were provided by Arnab Nath (BUET) and Syifani Adilllah Salsabila (Universitas Brawijaya), both APIE alumni. Syifani also participated in APAN 61 as a fellow, bringing a learner-centred perspective grounded in both academic study and regional community engagement. They reflected on how APIE enabled cross-border peer learning, engagement with communities and industry, and access to opportunities beyond formal academic programs.
From the industry perspective, Christoff Visser (IIJ – Internet Initiative Japan) shared how industry partners are contributing to the development of new curriculum components for the APIE Advanced Camp, alongside efforts to promote internship opportunities that support learners’ transition from training to practice.
The session concluded with a focused exchange on learner progression and mobility, including how universities, communities, and shared digital credentials can support smoother transitions across programs and learning pathways.
Keynote contribution at the Closing Ceremony
At the APAN 61 Closing Ceremony, Achmad Husni Thamrin represented SOI Asia with a keynote on digital credentials. The presentation introduced SOI Asia’s work on portable digital credentials and discussed how shared recognition mechanisms can support learner mobility, skills visibility, and progression across programs, institutions, and communities.
Partner and community engagements
APAN 61 also provided opportunities to reconnect with SOI Asia partners and collaborators, including Bani Lara and Franz de Leon (ASTI), and Karma Jamyang (DrukREN). These exchanges focused on ongoing collaboration and future directions related to research and education networking in the region.
Dihan (on the left) and Shamim (on the right), from The Team Phoenix.On the left, Shankar Karuppayah, from BitRanger.
SOI Asia also met with Shankar Karuppayah, founder of BitRanger and an ISIF Grant recipient from Malaysia, to discuss community-driven initiatives and the longer-term impact of regional learning programs. In addition, discussions with Shamim Reza and Dihan Islam Olif from The Team Phoenix, another ISIF Grant recipient in Bangladesh, covered updates on cybersecurity community activities, university engagement, mentorship, and fellowship initiatives.
The team also caught up with Thy Boskovic (APNIC) and Jamie Gillespie, a cybersecurity specialist who has previously contributed to the APIE e-Workshop series as a lecturer, exchanging views on community engagement and capacity-building efforts in the region.
Through its participation in APAN 61, SOI Asia reinforced its engagement with the APAN community and regional partners, and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting inclusive, connected, and sustainable learning pathways for Internet education and practice across Asia and the Pacific.
