Reviewing the education mission: ITB's intellectual and cultural role

Kusmayanto Kadiman, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, West Java

Since the early phase of its development, the Bandung Institute of Technology, or ITB-BHMN (henceforth termed ITB), has created many ties -- in various ways and forms -- with other social agents in this country, and thereby has implemented social changes. As an academic institution that has participated in scientific discovery, technological innovation, and artwork creation, ITB's function and performance within society need to be addressed and assessed within a framework in which science, technology and art constitute the core intellectual elements.

With this in mind, a meaningful interpretation of ITB's function should be developed within the cultural domain, namely, to cultivate a rich and articulative intellectual culture within society, in a way that enables society to enhance its capacity to address and solve present problems and to project its fate.

From the ITB's point of view, we understand the present societal crisis as that of lacking a strong and rich intellectual basis for developing society's capacities, leading to society's inability to sustain itself or to attain an influential position and role in the global arena.

This unfortunate situation has sidelined Indonesia in discourses about future issues and our own future fate. Therefore ITB must make effective efforts to revitalize the role of science, art and technology in social economic development and cultural enrichment.

We have learned from our past that such endeavors will incur social risks, which, if not understood and anticipated thoroughly, may lead to undesirable or even harmful consequences for society.

Our past has told us that the belief that science and technology are value-free or neutral is illusive. This illusion has led to a widening gap between ITB and the rest of society in the ways of looking at ourselves (as a society), of setting goals, projecting our future fate and addressing current societal problems.

ITB has become ignorant about our own society, and has made itself inaccessible to it. In short, ITB has become alien to the rest of society, and vice-versa. In such a situation, the power of scientific knowledge, if not managed under the guidance of wisdom, may lead us to deviate from the very mission of science, technology and art itself, that is, the perfection of human beings and the attainment of a prosperous society. Under the darkness of ignorance, this power will become an effective weapon for destruction.

To meet its academic and social mission, several key steps will be undertaken by ITB: Revitalization of its internal network, strengthening and enrichment of its external network, and the translation of paradigms.

The first step includes undertaking necessary measures to eliminate structural or formal obstacles in the path of collective intellectual growth and achievement within ITB.

Network enrichment includes the creation of new and enriched ties with the rest of society, and within global domains. Translation of paradigms includes learning the various frames of thought of relevant parties, and translating it back-and-forth into the context of ITB.

The bottom line is, ITB has to learn a lot more about the rest of society and respond accordingly, and make itself accessible to people. In addition, ITB will also need to uphold a stronger commitment and to undertake a more active role in the improvement of human rights, promotion of social justice and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.

To be more precise, within the near future ITB will establish and invest in a number of new research or cultural activity centers. Each center will be led by experienced and noble leaders or managers.

The centers must identify, enroll and mobilize potentialities within faculties (academic and non-academic staff and students), and all elements in the wider society. The agendas made by the centers will be targeted at meeting the present demand for high quality and culturally enriched education, knowledge-intensive socio-economic practices and influential participation in international discourses on the future of humanity and civilization.

Our teaching methods and curricula will be improved via continuous research on education, with the aim of enhancing the skills of logical/philosophical thinking and promoting critical thinking. Cultural activities will focus on nurturing entrepreneurship on campus, promoting dialog and awareness of social political issues.

In undertaking such efforts we are not unaware of the risks involved and the obstacles standing in our way. Therefore the importance of having a sense of relatedness must be emphasized, that is, that each of us affects and is affected, needs and is needed, one-by-another.

We have to see the diversity among us as a rich potentiality, and articulate ourselves to unleash this collective intellectual heritage. We have to go through all the necessary complexities, and in due course become a well-organized community endowed with high intellectuality and morality, that is, the trustworthy ITB of our beloved society.

The above are highlights of the writer's scheduled presentation on Saturday, when he will be installed as ITB's new rector, the first rector elected following advertisements for the position. The new recruitment process followed last year's government policy of autonomy in education, making ITB a state legal body (BHMN) together with three other higher learning institutes.