ITS Rector Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng gave his opening speech at the peak of ITS 61st Dies Natalies held hybrid.

ITS Campus, ITS News – Developing technology while still paying attention to the protection of humanity values, is the main theme of the 61st Anniversary of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Wednesday (10/11). Held in a hybrid method (online and offline) at the Auditorium of the ITS Research Center Building on the 11th floor, this value was realized by giving the 10 Nopember Award to the late Dr. HC KH Abdurrahman Wahid or famously known as Gus Dur.

The theme carried at the 61st ITS Anniversary was Advancing Humanity, corresponding to ITS’ tagline. The theme has the meaning of advancing Humanity based on the purpose of ITS as a university that plays an active role in the nation’s intelligence. The value of Advancing Humanity also means that ITS will continue to advance the degree of life and civilization through the development of science, technology, and innovation for the benefit of the community.

The handover of 10 Nopember Award by ITS Rector Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng to the third daughter of late Dr. HC KH Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, Anita Hayatunnufus

In commemoration of this Anniversary, awards were given to several ITS academics, community leaders, and ITS partners who have contributed to the broader community or influenced the collaboration carried out with ITS. One of them, the awarding of November 10 to the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, the late Dr. HC KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), was represented by his third daughter Anita Hayatunnufus Wahid.

Gus Dur was chosen as the beneficiary of the award because he was considered instrumental in developing the ITS Faculty of Electrical and Informatics Technology (FTEIC). Anita said Gus Dur encouraged the establishment of the Faculty of Information Technology (now merged with the Faculty of Electrical Technology to become the Faculty of Electrical Technology and Intelligent Information Technology). “He thinks that information technology will be essential in the future, so he pushes the policy,” she explained.

One of the first-generation lecturers of ITS, Prof. Dr. Ir Johan Silas, reminisced about his tenure as a lecturer at ITS in the 1960s.

Anita added, what was conveyed by Gus Dur did look very relaxed, but it has been considered maturely and through considerations that are very far beyond time. “During Gus Dur’s life, he lived by nine values ​​which we then used as a guide in our actions, and we fought for as he exemplified,” she said.

The nine life values are monotheism, Humanity, justice, equality, brotherhood, liberation, simplicity, chivalry, and local wisdom. Anita explained that human development is crucial to the development of digital technology. Even human development has become very important. “Not only that, the development of humanity has become extremely important,” she said.

After learning that there is a technology-oriented campus with the motto Advancing Humanity or advancing Humanity, Anita was happy to know this. “We have seen for ourselves that digital technology is allowed to develop wildly and can destroy human values,” said Anita.

Another prestigious award that ITS gave at the Dies Natalis event this time was the Nitisastro Score Award. This year, the award was given to Prof. Ir Soegiono, Ir Widi Agus Pratikto MSc PhD, and Dr. Ir Patdono Suwignyo MEngSc. The three of them are considered very instrumental in building and making the name of ITS proud.

Previously on the same occasion, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, also briefly delivered a few scientific orations and congratulations on the virtual ITS 61st Anniversary. “Health for humanity is a collaboration between professions, not only in the health sector but also in health-related fields,” he reminded.

The ITS Science Techno Park soft-launching by the ITS Rector with the ITS leadership ranks

Meanwhile, ITS Rector Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, in his speech, tried to look back on the journey of ITS since its establishment in 1957. The Chancellor, who is often called Ashari, said that ITS had implemented various innovations for the advancement of society. One of them is the involvement of ITS in the field of electrification of remote areas.

In 1980, he added, ITS had been involved in the planning and constructing of a Micro-hydro Power Plant in Banyuwangi. In 1990, ITS also implemented solar electricity ( Solar Home System ) for 38 districts in East Java. In 2021, ITS has also developed a Waste Processing into Electrical Energy (PSEL) in Benowo, Surabaya.

Not only that, Ashari explained that ITS also contributed significantly in the health sector, thanks to the combination of the application of technology and health sciences that go hand in hand. The resulting product is 3D modeling and manufacturing medical implant additives (AM). “This model eliminates manual surgical procedures so that the medical professionals can plan surgical procedures more accurately,” he said.

Regarding ITS achievements, Ashari feels proud of the accomplishments of the ITS academic community and the achievements of ITS as a university. According to him, ITS students and lecturers who won international awards prove that ITS graduates can compete in the global arena. “The peak, this year we managed to become the best in Indonesia and was ranked 64th in the world in the Impact Ranking conducted by Times Higher Education (THE),” he said proudly.

3D modeling concept innovation and medical implant additive manufacturing (AM), which is one of ITS’ contributions in the application of technology in the health sector

In this regard, he added that ITS has prepared to enter a new era. Particularly the period where ITS graduates are ready to compete in today’s digital age. To achieve this, Ashari revealed that ITS has a development focus in three sectors, namely in industry, maritime, and health. “We have realized all of this through the ITS Science Techno Park (STP) in collaboration with the industrial world,” explained this professor of Electrical Engineering.

On that occasion, Ashari started by looking at the initial traces of the ITS campus struggle in 1960. There are stories of ITS first-generation lecturers and students (G1) displaying old photos documentation. He said, thanks to the services of this G1 lecturer, ITS in that year was classified as a thriving university and will continue to this day. “It was their contribution that became the forerunner to the birth of various innovations created by ITS to date,” he said.

On the 61st Anniversary Dies Natalis closing event, there was also a soft launching of various ITS physical and digital development programs. The various soft-launching includes the ITS Science Techno Park project, the construction of ITS Tower 2 and Tower 3, and the launching of My ITS Academics as part of ITS digital transformation.

The STP development is ITS’s plan to downstream research into products. Funds for constructing the STP itself receive assistance from the government through the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). (nadh/ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Ferdian Wibowo