Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology called for universities' participation in Sumatra's post-disaster recovery efforts through research and community service programs.
The ministry's Director General of Research and Development, Fauzan Adziman, in a statement on Thursday, highlighted the urgent need to form a consortium to ensure that university contributions are integrated and capable of delivering a real impact.
"We need a consortium so that academic expertise, research, and resources can be mobilized in a coordinated and targeted manner," he remarked.
Adziman noted that the government is currently preparing a national recovery and reconstruction framework through the formation of a special task force, with the budget requirement estimated to reach Rp60 trillion (around US$3.5 billion).
This budget is planned to be allocated based on action plans and the strengthening of the national academic ecosystem.
Therefore, he noted that mapping critical areas, organizing expertise, and strengthening the database of disaster experts from universities are crucial.
"Currently, dozens of disaster experts from various universities are registered and ready to be deployed, and this consortium will help us delegate their roles effectively," he said.
One of the programs that has been initiated is the Impactful Students program, which integrates universities' social service programs and allows the submission of a financing proposal for students' direct participation in recovery efforts.
He also emphasized the importance of effective public communication, including through national media and educational content, to ensure that recovery efforts are understood and supported by the general public.
In the same statement, Secretary General of the Council of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities (MRPTNI), Muryanto Amin, noted that the initiative to form a consortium is a follow-up to previous discussions among university leaders.
"We want to ensure that universities' post-disaster efforts have a shared reference. We need a rulebook, commitments, and a clear division of roles so that recovery efforts can be accelerated," he said.
Meanwhile, the Rector of the University of Indonesia (UI), Heri Hermansyah, expressed UI's commitment to supporting disaster management through various programs.
He also highlighted the importance of ensuring educational services continuity for disaster-affected communities, including providing easier access and assistance for students.
