The open session was opened by the Rector of ITB, Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D. This event was attended by the ITB Institute Vice Rectors and Secretaries, Deans of Faculties/Schools, the Professors Forum, Academic Senate, ITB Leaders, and invited guests.

The ITB Chair of Board of Trustees Ir. Yani Panigoro, M.M., said during her speech how ITB's journey in the education field for more than a century was an extraordinary achievement from the determination of the founders of technical higher education in 1920. The 102 year long journey is a self reflection, a form of thinking to find out what has been done, what has not been achieved, and what must be built.”

"The determination and spirit of pioneering our predecessors, namely pioneering for the sake of progress with all the limitations they have," said Yani Panigoro.

The next speech was delivered by the ITB Chair of Academic Senate Prof. Ir. Hermawan Kresno Dipojono, S.T., MSEE., Ph.D., IPU. He said that the role of technical science based higher education in this world will be increasingly important in maintaining its run in the current and future hyper-competitive era.

“The embargo of science and technology as a bargaining tool is no longer just a discourse or imagination, but has become a reality. Anyone who dreams to present a just, prosperous NKRI, and has a proactive role, can maintain world order for justice and independence.”

Soon, people must be ready to implement the unlearn, learn, relearn, and critical and systemic thinking attitude, while discovering human potential that cannot be replaced by a combination of big data and artificial intelligence. The role of values, morals and norms of meaning or understanding of life is also important in the future because it can involve the existence of humanity in the era of advanced technology.

Due to that, Prof. Hermawan continued, ITB would need to think and prepare studies focusing on the social-humanities-science-technology-art interactions to prosper, improve the quality of life, and preserve the natural environment of the Republic of Indonesia. “ITB has to be able to imitate its noble values to its prospective alumni because the fate of this country and its people is at stake in their hands."

Meanwhile, ITB Rector Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D., the 102-year journey of ITB as the oldest technical educational institution has played a pioneering role in the development of technical higher education in Indonesia. As the oldest engineering organization in Indonesia, PTTI has a role to encourage the advancement and expertise of technology for the culture, independence, and economic competitiveness of Indonesia.

In the last century, technology has developed very rapidly along with the transformation of the world’s society. Many studies have been conducted to study the relationship between these developments with economic and socio-cultural changes.

“These studies concluded that expertising in technology is not a problem that can be solved by simply updating research and development," Prof. Reini added. “Expertising in systemically patterned technology would also need the diffusion and adoption of research results as well as development in various economic sectors which involves close and continuous cooperation from various fields."

The Rector said that ITB must be part of the innovation system in an effort to recover the economy, strengthen health security, food and energy security, and also encourage digital transformation. As the organizer of the Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi event, PTTI, including ITB, needs to improve the integration between education, research, and community service activities by developing patterns between or across disciplines and increasing collaboration with various sectors and organizations.

“We are very aware of the importance of Technical Higher Education in Indonesia to continuously improve the capacity and capability of institutions. We need to improve the quality of our works and strengthen their excellence to achieve a higher international reputation,” he said.

The 102nd Anniversary open session was also filled with greetings from the Health Minister of Indonesia Ir. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, CHFC., CLU., and then was continued with a scientific oration from Prof. Josaphat Tetuko Sri Sumantyo, B.Eng., M.Eng., Ph.D. from the Center for Environmental Remote Sensing Chiba University in Japan, titled “Remote Sensing Technology, Indonesia's Key to Leading the World''.

ITB also gave awards to 19 people consisting of academics, government officials, and instances for their contributions and achievements. This award is made up of 5 categories: Ganesa Prajamanggala Bakti Adiutama, Ganesa Widya Jasa Adiutama, Ganesa Wirya Jasa Adiutama, Ganesa Widya Jasa Utama, and Ganesa Wirya Jasa Utama.

Reporter: Ruth Nathania (Environmental Engineering, 2019)
Translator: Hanna Daniela Ayu (Aerospace Engineering, 2021)