The Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi, said that he was very open and welcome to have collaboration with universities in developing the country’s transportation sector.
This was conveyed by Budi Karya when delivering a scientific speech on the theme of Transportation System Development Towards Fair and Sustainable Development in celebration of the 74th Technical Higher Education Day (HPTT), on Monday (17/2) at Grha Sabha Pramana UGM.
He said college education had an important and strategic role in preparing quality generation.
“University is a storehouse of science, research, and innovation. However, what is the use of the potential if there is no both transportation access and access to be used by the community,” he said.
In the era of technological disruption, Budi considers it is important to synergize with universities. The government is ready to coordinate and collaborate closely with academics and the private sector to create synergies and tangible results.
“The Ministry of Transportation is very open to collaborating with universities and other innovation institutions,” explained the alumni of the Faculty of Architecture UGM.
He cited as an example the holding of the TransHub Challenge which is a digital-based business idea competition for the transportation industry for the general public to support the development of start-ups in the transportation and logistics sector. Also, collaboration with digital companies in the Ministry of Transportation’s strategic programs to the development of the transportation sector vocational schools.
Budi Karya hopes that tertiary institutions must be able to be the driving force of the nation’s competitiveness. Therefore, universities must be able to make various breakthroughs, innovations, and downstream research results to the industrial world.
“The world of higher education must act as a driving force for competition. Indonesia has the opportunity to compete because basically, it is very potential,” he explained.
On that opportunity, he also explained about the fair and sustainable aspects that must be owned by transportation infrastructure. According to him, transportation must contain a just meaning for the prosperity and welfare of the people. In this case, the Ministry of Transportation continues to develop, namely the sea toll, air toll, pioneer ships, pioneer airports, as well as new infrastructure development.
Meanwhile, in developing sustainable transportation it continues to strengthen innovation. One of them is by using environmentally friendly technology in the transportation sector, such as the development of green ports in the Lamongan Bay terminal, electric trains and electric cars.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering UGM, Prof. Nizam, conveyed the 2019 Dean Report. On that occasion, Nizam explained various achievements of the UGM Faculty of Engineering over the past year in various fields ranging from research, education, community service, to human resources.
The Herman Johannes Award was also presented in the field of basic chemical industry development given to Ir. Wardijasa, an alumnus of the UGM Chemical Engineering Study Program, who for more than 57 years devoted himself to the advancement of the chemical industry. He is not only a figure who is directly involved in the growth and development of the chemical industry in Indonesia but until now he has remained faithfully devoted to being the guardian of the chemical industry in the country.
The next award is given to Prof. Koichiro Watanabe from Kyushu University. The award in the field of research development and collaboration was given to Koichiro Watanabe for supporting the research and collaboration development program between FT UGM and various universities in Japan for more than 20 years. During that period many achievements in international programs, human resource development, as well as laboratory tools at FT UGM.
Author: Ika
Photo courtesy: Firsto AP
Translator: Natasa