EduAsiaNews, Jakarta — Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta officially inaugurated Prof. Husni Teja Sukmana, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., as Professor in the Field of Artificial Intelligence during an Open Senate Session held at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Wednesday (January 14, 2026). The inauguration marks Prof. Husni as the first professor of artificial intelligence within the State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN).
In his inaugural address entitled “The Utilization of Artificial Intelligence in Supporting National Sovereignty,” Prof. Husni emphasized that artificial intelligence should not be viewed merely as a technological advancement, but as a strategic instrument for strengthening national sovereignty. According to him, amid global digital transformation, sovereignty is no longer determined solely by territorial boundaries, but also by control over data, algorithms, and computational infrastructure.
“A country that does not master technology risks becoming merely a consumer and even losing control over its own resources,” Husni said. He added that data must be positioned as a national asset, while artificial intelligence serves as a key lever for enhancing national competitiveness.
Prof. Husni also presented several AI-based research projects derived from local challenges that have been directly implemented in the field. He noted that AI-based sovereignty can only be achieved if technological development is grounded in national needs and managed independently. As an example, he highlighted the importance of building and safeguarding national datasets, such as those related to marine wealth and tropical forests—resources in which Indonesia has a unique comparative advantage.
Husni’s academic journey began in his senior high school years, when his interest in scholarship was demonstrated through the establishment of the Wahana Siswa Gemar Matematika (Forum of Students Enthusiastic about Mathematics). He later pursued his undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, supported by a scholarship from the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
He completed his master’s degree in Computer Science at Sun Moon University, South Korea, before earning his doctoral degree in 2009. His dissertation was entitled “A Study of Flexibility and Reusability in Integrated Prototyping for Embedded Systems.”
Beyond his academic activities, Prof. Husni has held various institutional leadership roles. Since 2022, he has served as Secretary General of the Association of Higher Education in Informatics and Computer Science. Previously, he held positions as Secretary of the Informatics Engineering Study Program and Head of the Center for Information Technology and Data Systems (PUSTIPAN) at UIN Jakarta from 2010 to 2015.
Currently, Prof. Husni serves as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. He is also actively involved in social and community engagement as Vice Chair of the Indonesian Association of Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI), South Tangerang Regional Chapter.
This inauguration is expected to strengthen the role of PTKIN institutions in advancing science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in alignment with Indonesia’s national development priorities. (**)
