UNS Academic Senate Secretary, Prof. Ari Handono Ramelan, explained that this visit was carried out to discuss and observe the current situation of ITB's research development and innovation. "We all know how ITB excels in the research development and innovation field. Therefore, we held this discussion as means to exchange ideas and experiences for the development of the two institutions," said Prof. Ari.

The Head of ITB Academic Senate, Prof. Hermawan K. Dipojono, was present at the meeting which lasted for around two and a half hours. The discussion session started with a presentation from the Head of ITB Academic Senate IV Commission (Research, Innovation, Community Service, and ITB Academic Senate Cooperation Commission), Prof. Trio Adiono. He explained his commission program and scope of operation.

Prof. Trio Adiono explained that his commission's scope of operation includes creating the roadmap for the ITB research focus, proposing the campus funding policies, resources, and execution, and finally managing the dissemination of ITB research and innovation products.

He added that in his "creating globally respected locally relevant research and innovation environment" strategy, the IV Commission coordinates with the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, and three other institutions, the Institute for Innovation Development and Technology ITB, the Institute for Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship, and lastly the Institute for Research and Community Services ITB. Each one of those three institutions has their own goals and tasks.

The presentation session was continued with a discussion session. There are several important points that became the main spotlight of the discussion, such as the ITB policy of recruiting postdoctoral researchers, ITB research focus policy, and ITB research output expectations which put emphasis on the Q1 and Q2 categories as the part of ITB efforts to reach the Top 200 position in the World University Ranking.

During the discussion, the UNS Senate Academic received much advice from ITB on how to create an excellent research and innovation atmosphere based on ITB's own experiences. As a university that has just opened a Faculty of Arts and Design, UNS asked ITB for advice regarding how to develop a good management system and policies regarding the publication of monumental works of an art faculty.

"We hope that this opportunity will be beneficial for both Universitas Negeri Sebelas Maret and Institut Teknologi Bandung," said the Head of ITB Academic Senate, Prof. Hermawan Kresno Dipojono, during his speech.

Reporter: Andri Maulana (Mining Engineering, 2020)
Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)