Ditmawa IPB University and BUMN Hold Booktalk “Elephant Learns Flamenco”
The Directorate of Student Affairs (Ditmawa) of IPB University in collaboration with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) held a Booktalk Roadshow Elephant Learns Flamenco: SOEs Agile Dancing to Realize Golden Indonesia 2045 with the theme “Togetherness and Competitiveness”. This activity was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM), IPB Dramaga Campus (5/11).
Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria, in his speech explained the four pillars of leadership, namely being able to lead yourself (lead self), lead others (lead other), lead change (lead change), and lead the future (lead future).
“What is hard today is not leading yourself, not leading others, but leading change, how we can bring organizations to adapt to change, to survive. More importantly, if you want to be a future leader, then the focus is on leading the future,” he said.
Vice Rector of IPB University for Education and Student Affairs, Prof Deni Noviana at the event added, collaboration between academics, government and the private sector is key in creating real change.
“IPB University believes food sovereignty cannot be achieved alone. Of course, in this case the synergy between IPB University and BUMN in the agricultural sector is one of the real proofs, where strategic partnerships can provide very significant benefits for agricultural development in our country,” he said.
On this occasion, Prof Deni also advised students to become individuals who contribute to change. “Be a leader who has the value of courage, resilience, and focus on big goals for the wider community. Be a person who not only pursues achievement, but also has a vision to bring positive change,” he said.
This activity presented Dr Mohammad Abdul Ghani (President Director of PT Perkebunan Nusantara/PTPN III Persero), Gusrizal (Vice President Director of PT Pupuk Indonesia Persero), Yuswohady (Author of the book Elephant Learns Flamenco), and Dr Sofyan Sjaf (Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University).
Dr Abdul Ghani explained how the strategy offered by PTPN III in supporting sugar self-sufficiency and food self-sufficiency. The strategy is carried out through the approach of strengthening the ecosystem and empowering farmers.
“One of PTPN’s business focuses is to encourage sugar production from 5 tons to 8 tons per hectare to achieve the 2028 sugar self-sufficiency target,” he said.
The author of Elephant Learns Flamenco, Yuswohady, who is familiarly called ‘Mas Iwon’, explained that this book takes a unique perspective in looking at SOEs that are “giant” in size but are expected to move agilely and powerfully on the global stage, like an elephant learning to dance flamenco. SOE Minister Erick Thohir himself described SOEs as “elephants” because they consist of 41 companies that manage assets worth IDR8,978.1 trillion and employ more than one million people.
“To realize this vision of the future, our SOE Minister describes it as an elephant learning to dance flamenco. That is why I titled this book Elephant Learns Flamenco,” said Mas Iwon. (AS/Rz) (IAAS/Hap)
