www.unesa.ac.id
Unesa.ac.id., SURABAYA—President of the Republic of Indonesia Ir. H. Joko Widodo opened the XXIX Campus Convention and the XXV Annual Meeting of the Indonesian Chancellor's Forum (FRI) which took place at Graha State University of Surabaya (UNESA) Campus II Lidah Wetan, Surabaya, on Monday-Tuesday, 15-16 January 2024.
"I have just visited 3 countries, from the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam. I arrived in Jakarta in the afternoon, this morning I went from Bogor to Surabaya specifically for the Indonesian Chancellors Forum," said President Jokowi in front of the ranks of Ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet and around 800 university leaders throughout Indonesia.
According to him, universities have a strategic role for the country. The Chancellor also has a very big role. The President said that some time ago he visited two universities in Washington, DC and San Francisco, United States.
It turns out that more than half of the campus students he visited came from China. From Indonesia there are only around 5 students. This fact shocked him and made him think that human resources were the key to China being able to leapfrog and surpass other developed countries.
"I was taken to the faculty or department of robotics and AI. More than half of the students were from China. This means they learning AI, they learn robotics for the deep sea, medicine, manufacturing, they learn everything," he explained.
Focus on Improving Human Resources
Reflecting on that, Indonesia must prepare a strategy to strengthen human resources, because in the next 5-10 years Indonesia will get a demographic bonus. Superior human resources are the key and that is what must really be prepared.
Indonesia's abundant natural resources are not enough to make Indonesia a developed country. Quality human resources, science and technology and innovation are needed to increase the added value of natural resources. This important task is in higher education, the task of the chancellors, the task of the lecturers and the task of all parties.
Researchers, he continued, also need to be increased. Universities must become research institutions that are in line with industry through matching funds. Universities have large lecturers, as well as research staff and students to develop science and technology and innovate in solving the nation's problems.
The President emphasized the urgency of research and the position of universities as the key to the progress of research and innovation in Indonesia. He will order BRIN to become a research orchestrator together with Bappenas to design research needs, answer the challenges that will be faced and to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the future.
Most importantly, the key to research is in College. Not at BRIN, but at its research universities. That's what is starting to be shifted, BRIN as the orchestrator, the university is the key to research.
"This means that Mr. Nadiem (Nadiem Anwar Makarim Minister of Education and Culture, ed.) has increased the budget. It's okay to start this year. But start big first . "Whoever the next president will come will want to continue that," he said.
The President invited all universities to strengthen collaboration and synergy and produce more solutions to realize the progress of the Indonesian state.
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Commitment to Strengthen Research and Human Resources
Chairman of FRI for the 2022–2023 period, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih SE., MT., Ak., appreciated the government's support regarding university budgets, especially for research. In accordance with President Jokowi's direction, FRI will continue to encourage improving the quality of human resources and responding to Indonesia's various challenges.
“Our HDI is still 73 and we hope that in 2024 it will reach 83 to become a developed country. The average number of our schools is 9 or 9 years, while in developed countries it is 13 years. Our PISA scores are still low, let alone research. "There are many things that need to be increased and this requires investment because it is directly related to the quality of our human resources," he said.
Meanwhile, as chairman of the committee, UNESA Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nurhasan, M.Kes., or Cak Hasan said he was ready to follow up on President Jokowi's directions regarding improving human resources, research and innovation. It is hoped that starting this year universities will start running in terms of innovation and adaptation.
The party is committed to implementing the president's direction to build and design human resources with the demographic bonus we have in the future. It must be focused and truly designed so that it meets our collective hopes for a golden Indonesia. "Through this forum, recommendations will also be produced. "We (FRI) were asked to help formulate human resources because that is in universities," said Cak Hasan.
On the first day of this forum, the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M.Soc.Sc., Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek), Nadiem Anwar Makarim, B.A., M.B.A. Apart from that, there was also a keynote speaker "Inclusive and Sustainable Investment Strategy" from the Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia, S.E.
There was a directive on "Transformation of Higher Education to Support Inclusive and Sustainable Human Development for the sake of "Creating Superior People Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045" which was conveyed by Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., DIC., Ph.D., Director General of Higher Education and Technology. Governor of East Java Dr. Dra. Hj. Khofifah Indar Parawansa, M.Si., was also present. []
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Reporter: Saputra/Rafa Afifah/Sindy Riska
Editor: @zam Alasiah*
Photo: Public Relations Team Documentation
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