Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Opens Energy Transition Collaboration Options with UN ESCAP

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is opening opportunities for educational and research collaboration related to the energy transition with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). In a statement in Jakarta on Friday, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto affirmed that the government continues to encourage the involvement of higher education institutions in addressing various national development challenges through research, innovation, and academic studies. “President Prabowo has directed that universities be heavily involved in various studies. So for every strategic policy, the President always requests at least a second opinion from university studies,” he said. Minister Brian also conveyed that the energy transition is one of the issues receiving government attention. He highlighted efforts being pushed to reduce dependence on energy imports and the importance of human resource support that meets the future needs of the energy sector. Brian stressed the important role of universities in preparing talent capable of addressing national development needs, including supporting the future development of the energy sector. Meanwhile, UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida S. Alisjahbana said her organisation is currently running the Energy Transition for Green Growth and Prosperity programme, which is one of the priority agendas in the Asia-Pacific region. Indonesia is one of the focus countries, along with Thailand, in the implementation of the programme. Through cooperation with the ASEAN Secretariat and various other strategic partners, she continued, UN ESCAP is conducting a series of discussions with ministries, agencies, industry players, and relevant stakeholders in Indonesia. This is done to obtain input on various aspects of the energy transition, including human resource capacity development needs. Both parties also exchanged views on the importance of study and analysis support in the policy formulation process. Kemdiktisaintek welcomed the various collaboration opportunities discussed in the meeting, including in the fields of study, research, and capacity building that support national and regional development agendas.