Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) has strengthened its national role after two of its senior academics were appointed to key positions in the Indonesian Rectors Forum (FRI) for the 2025–2026 term.
ULM Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmad, S.E., M.Si., was officially inaugurated as Chair of the Economic, Finance, and Monetary Working Group during the FRI leadership inauguration ceremony held at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) in Jakarta on July 6.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. H. Sutarto Hadi, M.Si., M.Sc., a professor at ULM’s Faculty of Teacher Training and Education and the university’s rector from 2014 to 2022, was appointed as one of the Chairs of the Indonesian Rectors Forum Advisory Board.
The appointments reflect ULM’s growing contribution to Indonesia’s higher education sector and its increasing role in providing strategic recommendations on national policies related to education, research, innovation, and economic development.
As head of the Economic, Finance, and Monetary Working Group, Prof. Ahmad will oversee strategic studies on strengthening the national economy, promoting research downstreaming, and expanding the contribution of universities to regional and national development.
Following the inauguration, Prof. Ahmad said the appointment was both an honor and a responsibility for the entire ULM academic community. He said the working group would encourage universities to play a more active role in shaping national economic policies, regional economic development, and research commercialization that delivers tangible benefits to society.
The FRI leadership was inaugurated by Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Ph.D. The event also featured a National Dialogue titled “The Relevance of Higher Education as a Center of Innovation Excellence: Strengthening Synergy among Academia, Industry, and Government.”
The discussion highlighted the importance of collaboration between universities, government, and industry to ensure higher education institutions become innovation hubs capable of addressing national development challenges.
FRI Chair for the 2025–2026 term, Prof. Dr. Garuda Wiko, S.H., M.Si., said the new leadership is expected to strengthen the forum’s role as a strategic partner of the government in formulating policies on higher education, research, and innovation.
ULM expects its active participation in the Indonesian Rectors Forum to further expand the university’s contribution to national policymaking while reinforcing its position as a competitive institution committed to sustainable development. (*)
