Deputy Minister: Universities Must Deliver Tangible Impact for Regional Development

Singaraja, Bali (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Fauzan has stressed that universities must deliver tangible impact for society and regional development. “A campus is not enough if it merely produces graduates and research; it must also become part of the solution to the various problems faced by society,” said Wamendiktisaintek Fauzan in Buleleng, Bali, on Monday. The statement was made whilst attending the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Bali Higher Education Consortium at the Auditorium of Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha). The consortium involves 14 public and private universities in Bali that have education study programmes. He also expressed hope that this consortium would become a collaborative platform to strengthen the role of higher education in addressing various educational challenges on the Island of the Gods. According to Fauzan, a nation’s progress is largely determined by its seriousness in building education and developing human resource (HR) capacity. “Universities have many experts and great potential. Through collaboration, all of that potential can be translated into real solutions for society. This is the essence of an Impactful Campus,” said Wamendiktisaintek Fauzan. Meanwhile, Undiksha Rector Prof. I Wayan Lasmawan welcomed the formation of the academic consortium for higher education programmes in Bali. Lasmawan assessed that inter-campus collaboration is a strategic step to strengthen the contribution of universities in resolving various educational issues in Bali.