Distinguished Guests,
Chair and Members of the Board of Trustees,
Chair and Members of the Academic Senate,
Chair and Members of the Forum of Professors,
Senior Rectors,
Vice Rectors, Deans and Vice Deans, Directors,
National figures, leaders of higher education institutions, industry partners, and government representatives,
Alumni, faculty members, students, and the entire ITB academic community,
Esteemed invited guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
May peace be upon us all,
Om Swastiastu, Namo Buddhaya, Salam Kebajikan.
Today, we commemorate an important milestone in the history of higher education in Indonesia—105 years of Engineering Higher Education. This long journey began with the establishment of the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng in 1920, which has since grown and evolved into what we now know as the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). It has become the cradle of engineering higher education across the archipelago and has produced countless graduates who have served as pioneers and drivers of Indonesia’s national progress.
We recognize figures such as Ir. Soekarno and Ir. Djoeanda, national leaders; Prof. Rooseno, the Father of Indonesian Concrete; Prof. Iskandar Alisyahbana, the Father of Satellite Technology; Prof. B.J. Habibie, the Father of Aerospace Technology; and Dr. (HC) Nyoman Nuarta, whose monumental works of art have enriched our civilization.
ITB Today: Part of History, Driver of the Future
The success of our graduates is not solely the result of their hard work and perseverance. It is also the fruit of prayers, unwavering support, and the sacrifices of loved ones. This achievement has been made possible as well by state subsidies, alumni contributions, and the support of many parties who ensure that education at ITB remains accessible while maintaining its quality.
Today, the world is changing at an extraordinarily rapid pace. Science and technology are advancing not in decades, not even in years, but in days, hours—perhaps even minutes. This unprecedented speed is transforming not only how we work and live, but also how we learn and teach. New challenges are emerging, along with new questions: How can universities remain relevant in an ever-evolving knowledge landscape?
A Whole Academic Citizen: Beyond Technical Competence
In light of these developments, academic citizens can no longer rely solely on technical expertise. The future demands whole individuals—those who are intellectually capable, socially aware, sensitive to the consequences of design and analytical decisions, and guided by moral values.
We must ask ourselves: For whom are science and technology developed? How do they contribute to social justice and planetary sustainability? How can science, technology, art, and business become pathways of service rather than merely instruments of technical progress?
Envisioning ITB: A University One Hundred Years from Now
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am not a fortune teller. We do not know what universities will look like a hundred years from now. There is no guarantee that universities as we know them today will still exist in 2125.
Yet, by extrapolating the scale of change we are experiencing today, and by standing on one premise—that the three core missions of higher education will endure into the 22nd century—we believe they will remain:
With this premise, and using our present time and space as coordinates, let us imagine the university of 2125—not as remnants of the past, but as a continuously evolving force shaping the future of humanity.
Knowledge will grow at an unprecedented pace—this is certain. But that is only half the story. The other half, which challenges the very foundation of universities, concerns the geography of knowledge creation. New knowledge will emerge everywhere. Centers of innovation will be distributed across the globe. Access to knowledge will become increasingly democratic, transcending social class and economic status.
At the same time, artificial intelligence will work ever more closely with science, enabling the rapid analysis of massive datasets. Humans and machines will collaborate more deeply. Unlike science fiction, humans will not be replaced by machines; instead, we will work alongside them. The question then is: Will humanity become more humane? Will wisdom, ethics, and morality continue to grow?p>
The Role of Universities in the 22nd Century
With knowledge democratized and distributed, universities will become nodes within global innovation networks, collaborating in real time to solve complex problems. An oceanographer in Bandung, a biologist in Congo, a philosopher on Flores Island, and an AI system in the Himalayas may one day co-author groundbreaking research to heal the planet.
Universities will no longer be mere repositories of knowledge. Instead, they will be challenged to become curators of truth and credibility in an era overwhelmed by deepfakes, misinformation, post-truth narratives, and algorithmic bias. The future of our nation depends on how well higher education fulfills this mission.
Learning Will Change, but the Spirit of Learning Will Endure
One hundred years from now, teaching and learning will still exist—but in radically different forms. One-way lectures and written exams will be replaced by dialogical, interdisciplinary, and transnational learning systems.
Future students will learn through complex, real-world projects, guided by educators and supported by AI tutors. They will practice expert thinking—solving problems never encountered before—while integrating ethics, empathy, and creativity.
As knowledge rapidly expires, lifelong learning must be embedded in the DNA of every educated individual. Graduates will not be “job-ready,” but learning-ready—equipped to continuously acquire new knowledge.
The Campus of the Future: Physical and Virtual Spaces
Large lecture halls may become obsolete. Printed books—and even paper—may become rare. Yet universities will persist in new forms: as physical and virtual hubs where global learners connect, collaborate, and innovate across disciplines, cultures, and borders.
Human collaboration—among people and with intelligent machines—will become the norm, echoing the philosophy symbolized by Ganesha, who skillfully uses tools. Universities will become nodes in a global innovation ecosystem.
The Song Remains the Same
Borrowing the title of a Led Zeppelin album: “The song remains the same.” The spirit of academia—curiosity, dedication to the common good, and the will to build a shared future—will endure.
Semangat keingintahuan, niat luhur untuk menyumbangkan ilmu demi kebaikan, dan tekad untuk membangun masa depan bersama—semua itu akan tetap hidup subur di sanubari masyarakat akademik.
I still believe that a hundred years from now, there will be places—real or virtual—where knowledge serves humanity and the future is shaped. That is my vision of the university in the 22nd century.
A Question for Us Today
The most important question is not:
“Will universities still exist in 2125?”
But rather:
“Do we today have the wisdom, courage, and imagination to redesign universities so that they remain meaningful for humanity and the universe?”.
This is our collective challenge.
Happy 105th Anniversary of Engineering Higher Education in Indonesia. May it remain relevant and continue to grow as a pioneer of progress.
Before concluding, allow me to share that ITB is currently working to establish the ITB Museum, to preserve our institutional journey and inspire future generations to achieve excellence, just as our predecessors have done.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
May peace and respect be upon us all.
Bandung, 3 July 2025
Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T.
Rector of Institut Teknologi Bandung
Chair and Members of the Board of Trustees,