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Minister aims to coordinate, capitalize on research activities
Muhammad Nasir
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Muhammad Nasir. JP
The country's universities are often accused of being uncompetitive and failing to make significant research contributions. President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has merged the former education ministry's directorate general for higher education (Dikti) with the former technology and research ministry. Muhammad Nasir, who takes the helm of the newly-formed Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry, recently talked to The Jakarta Post's Yuliasri Perdani and other journalists about his vision to advance research activities.
Question: What are your top priorities in the ministry?
Answer: Universities in Indonesia should be able to compete on the international stage. In last year's World University Rankings, there were only two or three Indonesian universities in the top 500.
One of the main problems that hinders our universities is the lack of attention and financial support for research activities in universities. By integrating the research and technology ministry with Dikti, we will be able to strengthen coordination between professional researchers on applicable technology and the development of prototypes and universities that focus on explorative research.
With these measures, we've set a target that within five years, between 11 and 15 Indonesian universities will be on the top-500 list. It is a daunting challenge.
Another problem is that many lecturers when compiling research references are stymied by the limited number of journals, in particular those that have gained national accreditation. In the future, all universities will be obliged to produce journals and register them for national accreditation. The government will set aside funds for that.
Can you share your vision of technology development?
We aim to capitalize on research that has reached the prototype-development phase. We need to translate research papers and results into the business field.
For example, the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) has developed the N-219 twin-propeller passenger aircraft and is expected to acquire national and international aircraft certifications by 2015. As soon as the certifications are completed, I will gather national airline firms and PT Dirgantara Indonesia, as the aircraft manufacturer that will produce the plane, in a bid to market the plane. The plane is suitable to cater for inter-island and short-haul flights.
The ministry is expected to complete the restructuring of Dikti and the research and technology division within two months. How is the restructuring going so far?
The concept is to blend the elements of research, technology and higher education in the ministry. In the research and technology ministry, there were six Echelon I positions, comprising five deputies and a ministerial secretary. Dikti had a single Echelon I post.
In the new structure, we will still have seven divisions, which will consist of an inspectorate general, a secretariat general, and five directorates general. They will be the directorates general of education, student and quality control; development of researchers and educators; general human resources development; research; and innovation development.
The restructuring plan has gained approval from the Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry and has been conveyed to the President, who will issue a Perpres [presidential regulation] on the new structure.
A significant number of Indonesian researchers are working overseas. Do you have any plans to persuade them to work in this country?
There is a need to strengthen their nationalist spirit. If they have strong nationalism, they will always think about the country instead of financial gain. We may take a personal approach by meeting and discussing with them during overseas trips. We should not take a regulatory approach as it will violate their free will. We hope that they will show commitment as Indonesians by taking part in the country's development.
We also need to encourage the researchers by granting the appropriate incentives. We have talked about this informally with the Finance Ministry. There will be a presidential regulation on allowances and incentives to ensure that the researchers can afford a good living.
If we compare the financial rewards given to researchers in foreign countries we still lag behind.
Indonesia heavily relies on fossil fuel-based energy. Has the ministry prepared breakthroughs to address this issue?
Geothermal energy may be a suitable solution considering that the archipelago is rich in volcanoes. I suggest that windmills could be a model for power self-reliance in rural areas.
We are tapping into the possibility of installing solar cells on fishing boats to reduce fishermen's dependence on fuel.
How about nuclear energy?
Business-wise, the production costs of coal-based electricity is between 12 and 13 US cents per kWh, but if we add the cost of pollution risks and other factors, the final price climbs to 30-40 cents per kWh. Generating electricity in a nuclear power plant costs around 3.9 to 4.4 cents per kWh, however we face public resistance in developing this.
We have the National Atomic Energy Agency's [BATAN] facilities in Yogyakarta and Bandung. We expect that it will expand its research to show the public it can produce energy safely and efficiently. If it's successful, we may develop it further.
Recently, you held a meeting with Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani to discuss plans to provide more scholarships for university students. Can you elaborate on that?
We have a regulation that mandates state-owned universities to set aside 20 percent of their places for underprivileged students. Aside from waiving their tuition fees, we give them living allowances. I believe that we could increase the number of poor students through, among other things, the acquisition of private universities
Many private universities have lodged requests to the ministry to be transformed into state-owned universities.
How about the Dikti scholarships for Indonesian graduate and PhD students in the country and overseas? A few months ago, some scholarship recipients claimed that Dikti was months late in disbursing tuition fees and living stipends to students.
I have asked the Dikti director-general and his directors about this. They said the problem occurred in 2012. The study progress of scholarship recipients is evaluated every year. They need to file reports on that. If recipients do not fulfill their obligations, should we disburse the stipends?
