Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Association of Indonesian Communication Science Lecturers and Researchers (ADPIK) has emphasized the need to strengthen lecturers’ academic authority through impactful and original research, amid growing challenges in data-driven higher education.
The call was highlighted during the ADPIKI Masterclass Forum: Towards Action, held virtually on April 24, where academics discussed the evolving role of lecturers beyond traditional teaching.
Chairman of ADPIKI, Heri Budianto, stated that lecturers must establish themselves as credible knowledge authorities through verifiable scientific contributions.
He stressed that academic authority is no longer defined by titles or positions, but by research output that contributes meaningfully to the academic community.
Professor of Communication at Universitas Padjadjaran, Engkus Kuswarno, described ADPIKI as a critical platform for consolidating communication science in Indonesia. He noted that the association serves as an epistemic space that bridges the gap between lecturers and researchers while strengthening their collective role in knowledge production.
According to him, the organization has the potential to evolve into a research hub, a driver of academic standardization, and a policy think tank that contributes to evidence-based policymaking in communication studies.
Meanwhile, Professor of Development Communication at IPB University, Amiruddin Saleh, emphasized that research is the primary source of academic legitimacy that distinguishes lecturers from mere knowledge transmitters.
He added that integrating research with teaching can transform classrooms into spaces of innovation, improving both educational quality and the contribution of higher education institutions to knowledge-based development.
Through the forum, ADPIKI encouraged lecturers to begin with practical steps, including small-scale research, collaboration, and gradual scientific publication, as part of a sustained effort to strengthen academic authority. (*)
