Minister: Universities Play Strategic Role in Producing Top Talent

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto has emphasised that universities have a strategic role in producing excellent talent, while also delivering solutions to various national problems through impactful education, research, and innovation. During the 63rd anniversary celebrations of Universitas Darussalam (Unida) Gontor in Ponorogo, East Java, on Sunday, he stressed that Indonesia requires human resources who are not only excellent in science but also possess integrity, good character, and a spirit of contributing to society. “This nation needs breakthroughs from universities. Not only in scientific publications, but problems in the regions must be solved by research results, theses, and dissertations from universities,” he said in a written statement. Minister Brian praised the contribution of Pondok Modern Gontor, which for a century has consistently produced national cadres with integrity and noble character. He noted that amidst the various challenges facing the nation, Indonesia needs more leaders with strong character who are not easily tempted by personal interests. He also stressed that Gontor’s educational philosophy aligns with the policy direction of ‘Diktisaintek Berdampak’ (Impactful Higher Education, Science, and Technology), which aims to make science a means of providing real benefits to society. He expressed hope that Unida Gontor could become a driving force for development in Ponorogo Regency through various directly applied innovations, ranging from waste management, agriculture, and health to urban planning. “A progressive university not only produces graduates and scientific publications but is also able to make a real contribution to its surrounding environment,” he said. On the occasion, the minister welcomed the launch of Unida Gontor’s Faculty of Medicine and expressed hope that the faculty would produce doctors with a spirit of dedication who are willing to serve in areas still lacking health workers. He also praised the ‘100 Doctors for 100 Years of Gontor’ programme as a strategic step in improving the quality of human resources at the university. He stressed that Indonesia’s progress can only be achieved if the mastery of science and technology goes hand in hand with integrity, morals, and religious values. The minister encouraged Unida Gontor to strengthen the downstreaming of research results through the development of startups and innovation-based industries so that academic works can provide wider benefits to society. “A progressive campus must have startups and industries that can become a place to produce or continue innovative works on campus, so they do not stop at books or papers, but are downstreamed into a more advanced industry,” he said.