JK Receives Special Award from NIU, Recognized as a Connector Between Indonesia and the United States

DEKALB, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia's 10th and 12th Vice President Jusuf Kalla received an award from Northern Illinois University (NIU) on Tuesday evening (20/10/2026) local time in DeKalb, Illinois, USA.

The award was given in recognition of JK's role as a key figure in connecting Indonesia with the United States.

"During his two-week stay at Northern Illinois University, Jusuf Kalla served as a strong bridge connecting Indonesia and the United States. Beyond that, he became a bridge to the world as NIU students come from various regions globally," said NIU President Lisa Freeman, as quoted in a statement on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

"His presence provided an opportunity for our academic community to learn directly from the experiences and perspectives of a leader with global experience," she added.

While at NIU, JK delivered a series of lectures covering various issues, from democracy and regional autonomy to conflict resolution and the challenges of green energy transition.

As a guest lecturer, he also shared his experiences addressing development and peace issues with the university's students and academic community.

Concluding his lecture series at NIU, JK presented on the theme Making the Green Transition Work: Industry, Technology, and Jobs in Indonesia’s Political Economy, discussing the challenges of achieving a green energy transition while considering industry, technology, and job creation.

In his speech, JK emphasized the importance of global cooperation to face various crises and global uncertainties.

"In the current global crisis and uncertainty, global cooperation is the way to seek solutions. No country is immune to problems. Therefore, countries need to collaborate to tackle shared challenges," JK stated.

After completing his agenda at NIU, JK is scheduled to continue his lecture series at Harvard University on October 22 and Yale University on October 23, 2026.