Jakarta - The Rector of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK), Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc., together with the university’s faculty leadership, attended the Briefing of the President of the Republic of Indonesia held in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The event was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Adi Mahmud Jaya Marindra, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D.; the Dean of the Faculty of Sustainable Development, Ir. Alamsyah, S.T., M.T.; and the Dean of the Faculty of Research and Innovation (FRTI), Andi Idhil Ismail, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D.

The Presidential Briefing was attended by approximately 1,200 rectors, university leaders, and professors from across Indonesia, serving as a strategic forum to align national development visions amid increasingly complex global challenges.

In his address, the President of the Republic of Indonesia emphasized that the world is currently facing an uncertain and unstable situation. Amid this uncertainty, the President placed great hope in the nation’s elite, particularly professors, whom he referred to as “the brain of the country.” They are expected to serve as the driving force of national progress.

The President stressed that the quality of elites whether in intellectual, economic, political, or social spheres determines the direction of a nation’s development. Competent, honest, and people oriented elites can propel a nation forward, while negligent elites risk plunging the country into stagnation and prolonged conflict.

In the context of state governance, the President also outlined three major approaches: economic, ideological, and realist perspectives. Through the realist approach, a country must be able to survive amid global political, economic, and defense dynamics, while remaining focused on its ultimate goal ensuring public welfare in accordance with Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

This briefing also reinforced the government’s strategic direction to develop 10 leading universities based on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Indonesia. As a technical university strategically located near IKN, ITK is projected to be one of the institutions ready to play a key role in this national initiative.

The Rector of ITK stated that the projection of ITK entering the Top 10 STEM Universities at the national level is both a mandate and a major challenge that must be addressed through concrete actions. ITK’s geographical advantage at the gateway to IKN serves as strategic capital for developing the university into a center of research, innovation, and technological development integrated with national development needs.

“ITK is ready to serve as a STEM-based supporting university for IKN, as well as a hub for innovation and cross-sector collaboration. We are committed to producing excellent human resources who are not only academically strong, but also possess patriotic, adaptive, and collaborative character,” said the Rector of ITK.

The presence of the Rector and ITK Deans at this national forum underscores the institution’s readiness to actively contribute to the national higher education ecosystem, particularly in supporting the development of IKN and Indonesia’s transformation into a science- and technology-based advanced nation.

With this strengthened commitment, ITK remains optimistic in responding to the President’s call to drive national progress, escape the trap of stagnation, and contribute meaningfully to the realization of a sovereign, competitive, and prosperous Indonesia.