Balikpapan, June 23, 2025 – The Kalimantan Institute of Technology (ITK) co-hosted the 2025 National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of the Forum of University Leaders in Student Affairs (FORPIMAWA) in collaboration with Mulawarman University (UNMUL). The event took place from June 19 to June 21, 2025, with its main session held on June 20 at the Grand Ballroom of the Gran Senyiur Hotel Balikpapan.

Rakornas Forpimawa is an annual gathering that brings together university leaders responsible for student affairs from across Indonesia. This year's annual meeting in Balikpapan was directly attended by ITK Rector, Prof. Dr. rer.nat. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc, and UNMUL Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Abdunur, M.Si.,IPU., ASEAN Eng, serving as hosts. Also present were FORPIMAWA Chairman Dr. Nur Subekti, S.T., M.T, Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dr. Ir. Hetifah Sjaifudian, MPP, Director-General of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Khairul Munadi, S.T, and other university leaders from across Indonesia.

The 2025 Forpimawa Rakornas adopted the theme "Talent Development for Building a S&T Innovation Ecosystem in the Nation's Transformation Towards Global Competition." This year's theme is highly relevant to the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, where the development of superior human resources, particularly in science and technology (S&T), is a top priority. In his address, Forpimawa Chairman, Dr. Nur Subekti, S.T., M.T, emphasized the importance of developing student talent not only to achieve academic excellence but also to foster a spirit of innovation, creativity, and adaptability amidst increasingly fierce global competition.

Discussions at this Rakornas focused on several key issues, including:

• Student Character and Soft Skill Development Strategies: How universities can integrate character building, leadership, and 21st-century skills (such as critical thinking, collaboration, and communication) into curricula and student activities.
• Encouraging S&T Innovation Incubation: Discussions on establishing and strengthening innovation ecosystems on campus, from laboratory facilities and mentorship programs to access to capital for student research-based startups.
• Students' Role in Research Commercialization: How students can be actively involved in the process of commercializing research findings into products or solutions with economic and social value, thereby contributing to national self-reliance.
• Global Connectivity: Strategies to prepare students for global competitiveness through exchange programs, international collaborations, and foreign language proficiency.

Through the 2025 Forpimawa Rakornas, it is hoped that innovative and implementable recommendations and work programs will emerge. The outcomes of this meeting will serve as a guide for all higher education institutions in Indonesia to optimize their role in producing outstanding talent who are not only academically capable but also possess an innovator's mindset and are ready to compete on the global stage. Balikpapan, as the host city, witnessed this shared commitment to driving higher education transformation for a brighter future for the nation.

On the final day, which also marked the closing of the 2025 Forpimawa Rakornas, the event took place in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) at the Nusantara Capital City Authority building. It was attended by the Head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, and the Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Fauzan, M.Pd. This closing event in IKN also served as an introduction to the Nusantara Capital City for the FORPIMAWA 2025 participants. The closing concluded with a tree-planting ceremony by the Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, symbolizing support for an environmentally friendly city.