Every August, Indonesia is reminded that independence is not a gift,\nbut the result of a long struggle requiring courage, sacrifice, and a\nvision for the future. However, 81 years after independence, the form of\nthe struggle has changed. We no longer face physical colonisation, but\nnew challenges: technological dependency, global talent competition, and\nrapidly shifting industries. In the digital era, a nation that is merely\na user of technology will always lag behind those who create it.\nTherefore, independence today must be interpreted as the ability to\nstand on our own competence, produce innovation, and create solutions\nfor the nation\u2019s problems.<\/p>\n
Higher education institutions must not only be places where students\npursue academic degrees. Campuses must be spaces for the birth of ideas,\ninnovation, research, and tangible works capable of answering society\u2019s\nneeds. As Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM) marks its 25th anniversary, the\ncrucial question to answer is not just about the length of the journey\ntravelled, but the scale of the impact delivered. A university\u2019s success\ncan no longer be measured solely by the number of graduates it produces.\nThe more important measure is whether those graduates can create change,\nsolve industry problems, build new businesses, and contribute to\nnational development.<\/p>\n
Technological change is happening very rapidly. Artificial\nIntelligence (AI), Data Science, Cybersecurity, the Internet of Things\n(IoT), and digital business transformation have altered nearly every\nsector of life. The industrial world no longer just needs graduates who\nunderstand theory. Industry requires individuals who can adapt, think\ncritically, solve problems, and create innovation. For this reason,\ntechnology education must not stop at the ability to use applications or\nunderstand basic concepts. Students must be encouraged to become\ncreators of technology. They must have the courage to build new systems,\ndevelop digital solutions, create startups, and deliver technology that\nprovides tangible benefits.<\/p>\n
This is the spirit continuously developed by UNM as a Digital\nBusiness Campus. We believe that technology is not merely a tool, but an\ninstrument for creating change. Students should not just be technology\nconsumers; they must be prepared to become innovators who lead digital\ntransformation. The world of education cannot operate in isolation.\nHigher education institutions must build an ecosystem that connects\nlearning, research, industry, and the needs of society. Students need\nspace to experiment. Lecturers must continue to produce relevant\nresearch. Collaboration with industry must be expanded so that students\nunderstand real-world challenges, as the best learning occurs not only\nin the classroom but also through experience facing actual\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
In the field of information technology, for instance, students need\nto understand that the knowledge they acquire has a significant impact\non people\u2019s lives. Artificial intelligence can help solve health\nproblems. Data analysis can aid better decision-making. Cybersecurity is\na crucial foundation for maintaining public trust in the digital age.\nTechnology must possess humanitarian value. Innovation must have a\npurpose. And education must deliver impact. The 25th anniversary of UNM\nis not just a number. It is a momentum to strengthen the commitment that\nhigher education must remain relevant to the changing times. The\nchallenges are growing, but so are the opportunities. We want to see\nmore UNM students capable of producing technological works, more\ngraduates becoming outstanding professionals, more startups born from\nstudent ideas, and more research providing solutions for society.<\/p>\n
The growth of a university is not just about the number of students\nor the extent of its facilities. True growth is when a campus can bring\npositive change to its surrounding environment. A great university is\nnot just one that is widely known, but one whose existence provides\nmeaning. Every student comes to higher education with a dream. Some want\nto be programmers, data scientists, entrepreneurs, professional experts,\nor build their own technology companies. The university\u2019s task is not to\ndetermine their dreams, but to pave the way so those dreams have the\nopportunity to be realised. Therefore, the spirit of \u2018Turning Dreams\ninto Achievements\u2019 is not just a slogan. It is a commitment to providing\neducation that opens opportunities, builds competence, and creates a\ngeneration ready to face the future.<\/p>\n
In the 81st year of Indonesia\u2019s independence and the 25th year of\nUNM\u2019s journey, let us encourage the younger generation not just to\nfollow change, but to be the drivers of change. Indonesia needs more\ntechnology creators. Indonesia needs more digital innovators. Indonesia\nneeds a generation that dares to dream and has the ability to make those\ndreams a reality. Because the future belongs not only to those who can\nkeep up with the times, but to those who dare to create a new era.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/digital-independence-its-time-to-become-creators-of-technology-1786348344", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }