EduAsiaNews, Bandung –The event featured Dany Amrul Ichdan, Deputy President Director of PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (Persero) or MIND ID, and was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. (H.C.) H. Muhaimin Iskandar, M.Si.
Higher Education as a Driver for Indonesia’s Advancement
In his opening remarks, the Rector of ITB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., emphasized that Indonesia possesses significant potential for accelerated growth, particularly with the demographic bonus and its strategic position in global geopolitics.
He highlighted the essential role of universities in producing graduates who are willing to take risks and work hard for the nation’s progress.
“ITB’s primary mission is to educate graduates who can drive national progress—those willing to take risks, work tirelessly, and contribute to the common good. Academics must engage with practitioners in industry, government, and society,” he stated.
Coordinating Minister Muhaimin: Green Economy Offers Major Empowerment Opportunities
In his address, Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar stressed the importance of cross-sector and intergenerational collaboration to generate strategic ideas with tangible impact.
He underscored that economic transformation must be inclusive and community-empowerment oriented. According to him, the green economy and sustainable development present significant opportunities to improve public welfare if managed with the right approach.
“Collaboration is crucial for producing intellectual work that is rare, inspiring, sharp, and analytical—daring to introduce new ideas that are grounded and beneficial for the nation,” he said.
Muhaimin emphasized that Indonesia must avoid remaining in a mediocre position. Efforts by government, universities, and industry should focus on increasing productivity and creating value-added outputs based on innovation.
8-8 Strategy for 8 Percent Growth
During his lecture, Dany Amrul Ichdan presented a strategy to drive economic growth up to 8 percent through the strengthening of eight priority sectors: defense, creative economy, pharmaceuticals, digital and electronics, maritime, food security, renewable energy, and critical minerals.
He noted that Indonesia has abundant natural resources and human capital, but this potential must be strategically orchestrated to generate real value.
He explained the “8 Accelerators” concept as growth engines, including quality investment, smart industrial zones, integrated logistics, state budget as an industrial driver, pro-competitiveness fiscal policy, high-value exports, domestic market strengthening, and orchestrative leadership.
“The nation will not move up a class through dreams or slogans alone. It requires bold execution, unwavering discipline, and leadership capable of uniting government, industry, and the people in a single rhythm of effort,” he stated.
He added that leadership must not only formulate a vision but also orchestrate policies so that they are synchronized on the ground and produce measurable results.
Dany also emphasized that economic sovereignty must go hand in hand with intellectual sovereignty. Resource management cannot rely solely on natural wealth; it must be supported by intelligence, innovation, and the courage to make strategic decisions.
With this spirit of collaboration, the “Indonesia Moves Up a Class” initiative is expected to move beyond discourse into a collective movement toward high-quality economic growth with broad societal impact.
The first Studium Generale of the 2025/2026 academic year was attended by over 1,000 students from ITB campuses in Ganesha, Jatinangor, and Cirebon. The discussion session was moderated by Jagat Pirayani, Ph.D., a lecturer from the Business and Finance Expertise Group, ITB School of Business and Management (SBM).
