Minister urges universities to deliver science-based solutions for national development

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto has invited professors to intensify efforts in seeking breakthroughs, stating that the key to a nation’s progress lies in its independence and the ability of its people to deliver solutions through science and technology. Speaking in Jakarta on Sunday, he said the world is currently facing various global challenges that affect the economic resilience of many countries. Dependence on energy, technology, and resources from other nations underscores the importance of building national self-reliance through mastery of science, research, innovation, and improved governance. He stressed that higher education institutions have a strategic role in producing breakthroughs that address national development challenges, including strengthening energy security, downstream industrialisation, technological transformation, and enhancing governance efficiency. These challenges, he noted, require science-based solutions born from collaboration between academics, researchers, and the government. A distinguished university is one that delivers impact for society. Meanwhile, Mindriany Syafila, Chair of the Council of Professors for State Universities with Legal Entity Status, explained that building a healthy campus is not merely about a physically healthy environment, but also encompasses mental resilience, social harmony, and ecological sustainability as the foundation for producing quality graduates and agents of change for the community.