Prof Ernan Rustiadi Speaks at AHEC: IPB University Should Lead Universities in Southeast Asia

Vice Rector of IPB University for Research, Innovation and Agromaritime Development, Prof Ernan Rustiadi spoke about Academia and Industry Connectivity for Enhancing the Quality of International Mobility in Higher Education in the Asian Higher Education Conference (AHEC) online event (14/6).

Besides Prof Ernan, the speakers who also gave speeches were Kitti Settha Pandita Cham Prasidh, (Senior Minister, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Cambodia), Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh (Minister of Education, Brunei), Hon Angelo Jimenez (President of University of the Philippines) and Mr. Evan Daryl Smith (Group CEO of Astro Malaysia Holding Berhad).

In his presentation, Prof Ernan conveyed the importance of connectivity between academia and industry. This is because what is happening now is like there is no connectivity between the two.

Currently in Indonesia, he said, of the many innovations, only 10 percent are utilized by the industry. Thus, innovation only stops at publications and research journals, but does not flow into the industry. According to him, this happens because there is a lack of synchronization between universities and the industrial world.

“One of the factors is the lack of vision, so there is no connectivity. What the university expects, such as financial support, research, and various inputs that support the curriculum, do not exist in the industrial world. Meanwhile, the industrial world considers that research must be the answer to market needs,” he explained.

Furthermore, Prof Ernan explained about the success of IPB University in developing the Science Techno Park (STP) area which was created to help the process of downstreaming innovations that are ready to be commercialized by the industry. In the forum, he mentioned that IPB University through STP has been able to commercialize innovation by 35 percent.

Prof Ernan also discussed the performance map of research and innovation in Southeast Asia/ASEAN. He said that Indonesia in terms of publications is the largest country in Southeast Asia. However, in terms of quality and journals that flow into the industry, Indonesia is relatively behind other Southeast Asian countries.

“We have big homework,” said Prof Ernan. According to him, universities in the Southeast Asian region should connect with each other, get to know each other better and increase student and lecturer mobility activities. This effort, he said, is so that there is mutual recognition of potential and sharing of experiences.

“ASEAN can progress together if we work together. Not all science and technology (iptek) must be brought from outside countries. It can also be done in ASEAN if we recognize each other’s potential,” he said.

Prof Ernan hopes that through this Asian Higher Education Conference forum, as the best university in ASEAN (version of The QS World University Rankings by Subject Agriculture and Forestry 2023), IPB University can take an important role to lead other universities in the Southeast Asian region. (dh/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)