Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education, Prof. Mohamad Nasir, Ph.D., Ak., said innovation was key to improving competitiveness of the state’s economy.
“The winning countries are not those that have a big population and resources but those that make innovations,” said Minister Nasir on Monday (2/7), delivering scientific remarks during the 30th anniversary celebration of Magister in Management study programme of Faculty of Economics and Business (MM FEB UGM) in the Auditorium of Sukadji Ranuwihardjo at MM FEB UGM Yogyakarta.
Minister Nasir said Indonesian competitiveness was still low or at 36 from 137 countries in 2017 according to the Global Competitiveness Index (CGI).
“Singapore ranks third, Malaysia 23, Thailand 32. It is terrible for Indonesia,” he said.
The low level, he said, was from its higher education, among others. The quality of graduate and competence is lower than those in the neighbouring countries.
Scientific publication is also low. Until 2014 the number of scientific publication was merely 4,000, while Singapore 19,000 and Malaysia 28,000.
“But with improved systems, in 2017 the number of publication in Indonesia reached as high as 18,500, above Thailand at 16,800. And in 2018 we outnumbered Singapore,” he said.
Currently, Malaysia still tops the rank among ASEAN in international journals. The Minister has targeted that by 2019, Indonesia would top the list. His office is now preparing measures to achieve the goal, such as by increasing budget for research to encourage quality publications.
“This is for all universities while State Owned Legal Entity Universities are prioritised,” he said.
The Minister further asked MM FEB UGM to make innovation, not using old systems for generating graduates in this disruptive era. The students are also asked to prepare and make use of the rapid technology development.
After the remarks, a launching was done by Minister Nasir of a book titled Management Cases of Indonesian Companies.