Starting 2025, IPB University Designs Strategy for Development of Social Research and Innovation
The Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI) of IPB University held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) themed Research Development Strategy and Social Innovation. This hybrid event was held through Zoom Meeting and offline at the Rector’s Conference Room I, Andi Hakim Nasoetion (AHN) Building, IPB Dramaga Campus.
The FGD aimed to strengthen social-humanities (soshum) research to improve social research and innovation. Vice Rector of IPB University for Research, Innovation, and Agromaritime Development, Prof. Ernan Rustiadi opened the event by highlighting IPB’s publication target in 2025 which reached 2.700 Scopus publications.
To achieve this target, Prof Ernan emphasized the importance of equitable research performance, especially in the social sciences, which still faces the challenge of low productivity and researcher interest.
Director of Research and Innovation, Prof Sugeng Heri Suseno, also conveyed the need for research integration in teaching and cross-field collaboration to maximize the potential of 1.500 lecturers and 30.000 students at IPB.
In the discussion, the main speaker, Prof Hermin Indah Wahyuni from Gadjah Mada University, emphasized the importance of social science as a catalyst for scientific innovation. “Social science is not just a complement, but an essential element in holistic public policy,” she said.
Dr Irfan Syauqi Beik, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM) IPB University added the need for social research impact indicators to measure contributions to society.
Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema) IPB University, Prof Sofyan Sjaf underlined the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration to create concrete solutions to social problems. He also emphasized the need for cross-field laboratories to strengthen action research, including the development of Precision Village Data as a national big data model.
The discussion was interactive with various inputs, such as Dr Widyastutik’s (Secretary of the International Research Institute for Social, Economic and Regional Development) suggestion regarding the strengthening of social research data, and Prof Anna Fatchiya (Chair of the Department of Communication Science and Community Development) on the need to increase research schemes for social and humanities fields.
The FGD closed with strategic recommendations, including training on social research methodology, strengthening interdepartmental collaboration, and increasing social research funding. These ideas are expected to accelerate the contribution of social humanities research to make IPB University a world-class leading research institution. (IAAS/RUM)
