<![CDATA[Internationalization of higher education and capacity building for academic staff are strategic efforts to enhance institutional quality, global competitiveness, and societal impact. This community engagement program aimed to strengthen academic collaboration between Universitas Palangka Raya (UPR), Indonesia, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) through benchmarking activities, academic discussions, and field studies at the Bangi Botanical Garden. The program was implemented from 7 to 11 December 2025 using an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach that emphasized identifying, mobilizing, and optimizing institutional assets, including academic expertise, research facilities, and biodiversity resources. Data were collected through institutional coordination, interdisciplinary academic dialogues, field observations, and reflective evaluation. The results indicate improved lecturers’ understanding of international academic practices, research-based curriculum development, and the utilization of botanical gardens as living laboratories for education, research, and community engagement. The program generated impacts in the form of strengthened international academic networks, enhanced academic staff capacity, increased opportunities for collaborative research and green entrepreneurship, and reinforced implementation of the three pillars of higher education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi) in support of sustainable development.]]>
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