Jokowi urges universities to open innovative faculties

Makassar, S Sulawesi, Feb 15 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged universities in the country to open new faculties, which are innovative and up-to-date.

At the Indonesia Rector Forum meeting, he stated that universities must have the courage to open innovative faculties to make bigger contribution to their environment.

For example, a university located on an island could open a faculty that will contribute to the exploration of the coast or the sea, such as a faculty that focuses on fish culture or processing of sea products, which can be an exclusive one different from those located in cities.

Universities located in a farm region, on the other hand, could set up faculties to produce innovations that will make use of the opportunities in the farm, such as increasing farm production through technology, farm processing industry, or energy resource development.

Referring to online sales development or e-commerce, Jokowi remarked that universities could also use the trend to open faculties of digital economy, lifestyle, retail business, logistic management, service, sports industry, or football management.

"Well, we should try to consider digital economy or logistics management faculties to address increasing inter-regional goods shipment," he revealed.

He added that universities have different conditions, with some already able to be world-class universities, while others have not. But the most important thing is that they must be able to contribute to the people.

"Not all universities must be world-class ones, but they must be relevant and contribute to the community," he pointed out.