EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – The Indonesian Association of Communication Science Lecturers and Researchers (ADPIKI) has called for strengthening the role of lecturers as academic authorities through the development of impactful original research, in response to the growing challenges in an increasingly dynamic and data-driven higher education landscape. This issue was highlighted during the ADPIKI Masterclass Forum Toward Action, held virtually on Friday (April 24, 2026).
ADPIKI Chairman, Heri Budianto, emphasized that lecturers can no longer rely solely on their role as instructors, but must also establish academic authority through tangible contributions to research. “Today’s lecturers must elevate their role—not merely as ‘teachers,’ but as recognized academic references through credible and impactful research,” he stated.
He further explained that strengthening a research culture is key to addressing the challenges posed by increasingly critical students and the ease of access to information in the digital era. According to him, academic authority is no longer determined by degrees or titles, but by a track record of scientific contributions that can be verified and utilized by the academic community.
Professor of Communication Studies at Padjadjaran University, Engkus Kuswarno, noted that the establishment of ADPIKI should not be seen merely as the formation of a new organization, but as an important momentum for consolidating communication scholarship in Indonesia. He stressed that ADPIKI serves to bridge the gap between lecturers and researchers—who have long been fragmented—while strengthening their position as a unified epistemic community with authority in knowledge production.
“ADPIKI must be understood as an epistemic space, not merely an administrative one. It represents a collective effort to reorganize the knowledge base, strengthen scientific legitimacy, and ensure that communication science has a tangible impact on society,” Engkus stated.
Furthermore, he highlighted that amid the dynamics of an information-based society, communication scholars play an increasingly strategic role in shaping the quality of public discourse and policy. In his view, ADPIKI has the potential to evolve into a center for research consolidation, a driver of academic standardization, and a policy think tank capable of promoting communication science–based policymaking in a more systematic and impactful manner.
Meanwhile, Amiruddin Saleh, Professor of Development Communication at IPB University, emphasized in his presentation that research is the primary source of academic legitimacy that distinguishes lecturers from mere content deliverers. He explained that research enables lecturers to provide data-driven learning and real-world case studies relevant to contemporary developments.
“Original research serves as the fundamental foundation for building academic authority. When lecturers are able to produce new knowledge that can be tested and applied, that is when their scholarly position is recognized,” Amiruddin stated.
He further added that the integration of research and teaching will create a more productive academic ecosystem, where classrooms become not only spaces for knowledge transfer, but also laboratories for ideas and innovation. This approach is considered capable of enhancing the quality of graduates while strengthening the contribution of higher education institutions to knowledge-based development.
Through this forum, ADPIKI encourages lecturers to begin with simple steps, such as conducting small-scale research, building collaborations, and gradually targeting scientific publications as part of a sustainable strategy to strengthen academic authority.
