Safrizal emphasises intellectual trusteeship in USK professor inauguration
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Syiah Kuala University (USK) Safrizal Zakaria Ali emphasised that the position of professor is not the endpoint of a career, but rather a gateway to greater responsibilities in fulfilling heavier intellectual trusteeship.
“Teaching is more than imparting knowledge: it is inspiring change. Learning is more than absorbing facts: it is acquiring understanding,” said Safrizal in a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Safrizal’s statement, who also serves as Director General of Regional Administration Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs, quoted William Arthur Ward, while emphasising that knowledge must not stop merely as an academic achievement.
He conveyed this during the Open Session of the Academic Senate of Syiah Kuala University (USK), held at the Event Hall of the Academic Activity Center (AAC) Prof. Dr. Dayan Dawood, M.A., in Banda Aceh. The event also marked the inauguration of six new professors and the reaffirmation of moral academic commitments.
“Knowledge is not merely a towering monument of academic career achievement like a lighthouse; on the contrary, it is like drops of dew moistening the parched earth in the dry season. Becoming an entity that is bright and enlightening, and an entity that lives and sustains life,” he stated.
He also reminded the importance of academic integrity and urged the professors to become moral exemplars for society.
“Maintain academic integrity at the highest level. Because when the campus loses its integrity, public trust in scientific knowledge itself collapses. In an increasingly pragmatic world, professors must remain moral exemplars, clarifiers amid the clamour, and guides when society loses direction,” said Safrizal.
Safrizal also expressed appreciation to the families of the professors who supported their long journey of academic service.
“Truly, a professor is never born alone. Behind every great scholar, there is always a family that struggles silently,” he said.
The six professors inaugurated are Prof. Dr. Zumaidar (Plant Biology), Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Ilham Maulana (Inorganic Chemistry), Prof. Dr. Vivi Silvia (Microeconomics), Prof. Dr. Rizwan (Shipbuilding Engineering), Prof. Dr. dr. Iskandar Zakaria (Interventional Radiology), and Prof. Dr. Drs. Ir. Tarmizi (Computational Mathematics).
The inauguration was also attended by USK Rector Prof. Dr. Mirza Tabrani, Academic Senate Chairman Prof. Dr. Ir. Abubakar, officials from the Aceh and Banda Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum, fellow professors, community figures, students, and media representatives.