Enviro News Asia, Pontianak – The 30th Campus Convention and the 26th Annual Meeting of the Indonesian Rector Forum (FRI), held at Tanjungpura University (UNTAN), Pontianak, on 22–24 November 2025, became a pivotal platform for shaping major ideas on the transformation of Indonesia’s higher education system. Hundreds of university rectors from across the country gathered to discuss how campuses can serve as engines of innovation, aligned with the vision of a “Golden Indonesia 2045.”
The Rector of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta (UPNVJ), Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA, Comm, attended the event and actively contributed to the formulation of the forum’s annual strategic recommendations, making it one of the most significant rector forums in the nation.
At the opening session, the Director of Institutional Affairs at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Mukhamad Najib, presented the concept of the “Impactful Campus Accelerator,” which underscores the need to accelerate higher education transformation toward University 4.0. This new paradigm positions universities not only as educational centers but also as drivers of socio-economic change and guardians of sustainability.
“To become a developed nation by 2045, Indonesia must invest more seriously in higher education and build world-class universities capable of transferring technology and producing global talent,” Najib said.
The next major highlight came from the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Prof. Dr. Arif Satria, who emphasized the urgency of research as a locomotive for national economic growth. With Indonesia targeting a rank of 49 in the Global Innovation Index by 2029, Arif noted that innovation strongly correlates with increases in per capita GDP.
“Research is the key to escaping the middle-income trap by 2034,” he asserted.
Arif also outlined several structural challenges, including the low number of researchers and the dominance of foreign patents, while stressing the importance of strengthening Science and Technology Parks (KST) and Research Collaboration Centers (PKR). He pointed to innovation ecosystems such as Silicon Valley and the Fraunhofer Institute as models of research–industry integration that Indonesia needs to adapt.
The event culminated in the inauguration of Prof. Dr. Garuda Wiko as Chair of the Indonesian Rector Forum for the 2025–2026 period. Several commissions formulated the forum’s priority agenda, including bylaws, work programs, and national policy recommendations. During this forum, UPNVJ Rector Prof. Anter Venus was appointed Vice Chair of Commission C, tasked with formulating FRI’s strategic recommendations for the government and both public and private universities. This appointment strengthens UPNVJ’s position in contributing to the direction of national higher education policy.
This year’s FRI Convention in Pontianak underscored a clear and urgent message: innovation is no longer optional—it is an absolute requirement for Indonesia to leap forward and become a highly competitive nation by 2045. (*)
