WARTAKOTALIVE.COM, JAKARTA- The achievements of the University of Indonesia (UI) in being included in the 10 best universities in Southeast Asia according to the January 2023 edition of the world university ranking system “Webometrics” are not everything. Secretary of UI doctor Agustin Kusumayati said there are things that are more important than “ranking”.
What is it? The following is an exclusive interview with the Depok Tribune team (Warta Kota Network) with Agustin.
At the final session, Agustin was accompanied by Maurice Efroza (Faculty of Engineering UI), one of UI’s outstanding students. The following are the results of the interview that took place at the UI Depok Campus, West Java, last Thursday (23/2):
UI’s various achievements cannot be separated from the role of its students. Can you explain their position from the campus point of view?
Agustin Kusumayati (AK): As students, their main task is of course to study, but learning is not only in the classroom. They need socialization and getting along with people. That’s why they need to play, in a positive sense, to get added value for themselves and society. Education at UI is indeed directed at building student personalities, both physical health (sports), intelligence, art and community service. There are many activities carried out for the development of the quality of these students. This month (February–red) I visited UI students who were conducting “Indonesia Teaches” activities in Nganjuk, East Java. There are 60 people who teach elementary school children and 40 people as supporting teams such as building a library. There are many such activities. So academics are sharpened, character is built and activities are encouraged to get to know the community better. To hone intelligence, our challenges are not only in the country but foreign universities. Students take part in foreign competitions to improve competence. Almost every week there are stories on the deans’ WA (WhatsApp), my son won here, my son won there, and so on.
For Maurice, what are some of your accomplishments?
Maurice (M): Thank God, quite a lot. I once participated in community service in Bogor Regency, assisted with research and currently has my own research at the Faculty of Engineering. I have also participated in the World Engineering Olympiad representing UI and Indonesia. So for the Tri Dharma of higher education, I have done it in a balanced way. Speaking of my research, it’s in the field of material energy. I made a battery out of coffee waste. For the UI electric bus, I helped the Faculty of Engineering team to make and design the right, safe and usable battery for the future. Apart from that, there is also joint UN research on energy mix. There, we researched the use of electricity in Indonesia for waste management. For example, making a wooden table from used goods that have a sale value with the help of nuclear energy.
What is UI’s support for this research like?
M: Research is quite expensive. UI provides a lot of administrative support, incentives, and capital for research. It’s called research, it has outputs such as journals, patents and publications. So UI does not only help administratively but also grants and incentives. Research at UI refers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Coincidentally, my research is related to SDGs number 8, related to good economy. From there, we make it more specific to the fourth point, namely material resource efficiency (efficient use of materials). Most of my research is related to the use of waste. In Indonesia, there are a lot of raw materials (raw materials) that produce a lot of waste. Instead of using continuously extracted materials, why not use waste so that it supports global sustainability. I personally want to make as much impact as possible. Indeed, this impact is rather difficult to qualify or quantify. But as much as possible can help everyone, such as MSMEs. It’s called goals, no matter how small the contribution is definitely very helpful.
Back to Mrs. Agustin. You said earlier that student activities are positive play. What did Maurice do in that category?
AK: Yes. Research has become part of his hobby, so it can be said to be a positive game but it gives results. But not only that, there are also students who are interested in extracurricular activities in art, sports or automotive. Then we motivate them to join the competition. We often win car racing competitions. We usually send two teams. There are those who win because of speed, there are also because of fuel efficiency. So we give challenges that make children happy. UI students are extraordinarily creative. Sometimes in a research project we only provide seat money and laboratory facilities. But they can collect donations from anywhere to support the research. So the real funds to finance the research are ultimately far from the budget allocated by UI.
Specifically for Maurice, in Javanese philosophy there is a saying, “If he is in front he is an example, in the middle he is an inspiration, in the back he is a motivator”. Maurice has been in all of these positions. He became the one who pushed his younger siblings. When he was still doing activities he became an inspiring leader. Then he also became a role model. He can be an example, inspiration and motivator. I’m sure students like Maurice can perform all roles so that we can grow together. Foster, love, foster.
Lastly, what are the future UI goals?
AK: The target is definitely there and the question of ranking is always dynamic. The ranking is a position relative to a set of universities participating in the ranking. So the most important thing is to build a culture among lecturers, students and educational staff to ensure that we do our best. We try to be better every day. In the jargon of quality assurance, it is no longer quality assurance but quality improvement. The culture is the most important to build, develop and use ranking as its tools. Don’t make ranking your goal. If ranking is the goal, then all means will be justified. (ron/m36/eko)
