Khofifah Encourages Universities To Produce Innovations To Accelerate Development

MALANG - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa encourages universities to produce various innovations in an effort to accelerate regional development.

Khofifah said local governments tend to be trapped by routines, so collaboration with universities that produce academic and technological innovations is needed to answer today's challenges. the benefits for Indonesia," said Khofifah, when opening a national seminar with the Indonesian Chancellors Forum (FRI) quoted by Antara, Tuesday, January 11. Khofifah explained that the important role of universities for the regions was also seen when the COVID-19 pandemic experienced an exponential spike. For example, the Chancellor of Brawijaya and UNISMA came down to the villages inviting residents to discipline health protocols. Another example, he continued, the Chancellor of the Ten November Technical Institute (ITS) Surabaya made a robot to help health workers not to come into contact with patients and the Chancellor of UGM University made a device. COVID-19 detection, namely GeNose. "The benefits can be felt directly and are very large. So, through national seminar meetings, it further strengthens collaboration between universities and all levels of regional heads," he said. Meanwhile, the Chair of the Indonesian Chancellors Forum (FRI) ) Panut Mulyono added that there are many university works that can be a solution to overcome the nation's problems. Universities in Indonesia, especially in East Java, can make a contribution to the nation. Through the national seminar, university leaders are regrowing connectivity between individuals through the spirit of new normalcy with superior and innovative work for the sake of togetherness. nation and provide a global-scale reference reputation," he said.

Similarly, the Chancellor of the Islamic University of Malang Masyuri Bakri hoped that the national seminar would be a joint effort to prepare highly competitive Human Resources (HR) because campuses have the potential to create a movement for change through various innovations. "Let's move according to the needs of the times," he said. Khofifah also received assistance in the form of money worth Rp. 300 million from the Chair of the Indonesian Chancellor's Forum (FRI) for the people of Lumajang Regency who were affected by the hot clouds from Mount Semeru. The event was attended by approximately 180 people including the rectors and deans of public and private universities in Indonesia.