Prof. Heri Hermansyah’s appointment as Rector was formalized through UI MWA Decree No. 019/SK/MWA-UI/2024, regarding the termination of the 2019–2024 Rector and the appointment of the 2024–2029 Rector. According to this decree, Prof. Heri succeeds Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., and will fulfil the roles and responsibilities outlined in the Government Regulation of RI No. 75 of 2021 concerning the UI Statute.
In his remarks, Minister Satryo Brodjonegoro expressed his gratitude to Prof. Ari Kuncoro for his contributions over five years of service. “We extend our gratitude to Prof. Ari Kuncoro as Rector of UI for the 2019–2024 term. Under his leadership, UI achieved numerous successes at both national and international levels, including the Top Government Public Relations (GPR) Award 2024 for Best Digital Communication Management in Higher Education,” he stated.
The Minister also congratulated Prof. Heri Hermansyah on taking over the leadership baton at UI. “Looking ahead, high expectations are placed on Prof. Heri to drive UI’s significant advancement as a leading university making impactful contributions to Indonesia’s progress. As an institution bearing the name ‘Indonesia,’ UI’s quality, relevance, and impact must be recognized at the highest levels nationally and internationally,” he added.
Prof. Heri was selected as Rector after a rigorous Rector Election process from July to September 2024, which included stages of nomination, screening, and appointment conducted efficiently and transparently, based on principles of accountability, transparency, and meritocracy. MWA Chair Gus Yahya expressed confidence in the process. “After undergoing such a meticulous selection process, we are confident that Prof. Heri Hermansyah possesses the competencies necessary to lead UI to the highest achievements,” he said.
To position UI as a university with national impact and global recognition, Prof. Heri will implement five main strategies outlined in 15 priority programs over the next five years. These strategies are: Empowering Entrepreneurship, Improving Education Access and Quality, Impactful Research and Innovation, Global Competitiveness, and Good Governance and Cultural Transformation.
In his inaugural speech, Prof. Heri emphasized the need for UI to compete with the world’s best universities in producing impactful research and innovation and cultivating globally competitive graduates. He also highlighted the importance of an entrepreneurial spirit to secure the funding required for high-quality education, research, and community service while improving the welfare of its members.
“UI holds a great responsibility as a centre of intellectual excellence, a think tank for strategic issues, and a contributor to producing golden generations that support economic growth and national leadership toward Indonesia Emas 2045. To achieve this, we must transform UI into a world-class research university with an entrepreneurial spirit and high impact on national development,” Prof. Heri stated.
UI’s future efforts will build on the foundation established by previous Rectors. During the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical tensions, UI demonstrated adaptability, improvisation, and innovation. These experiences underscored the importance of transforming knowledge into practical applications beyond classrooms. Such efforts have elevated UI’s international rankings.
“UI’s improving global rankings will foster collaborations with international partners. Borrowing Kahlil Gibran’s words, we of the 2019–2024 period are but a bow. May our efforts serve as pillars for Prof. Heri’s leadership in 2024–2029. Challenges remain constant as global universities move toward increasingly complex research. Congratulations to Prof. Heri and his team as they carry the baton forward; may UI continue to excel,” said Prof. Ari.
The inauguration event was attended by various national dignitaries, including the Chair of the People’s Consultative Assembly, H. Ahmad Muzani; the Minister of Cooperatives, Budi Arie Setiadi; members of the House of Representatives and Regional Representative Council; members of the Audit Board; Chair of the Deposit Insurance Corporation; leaders and members of non-ministerial government institutions; as well as Deputy Ministers. UI officials, including members of MWA, the Academic Senate, the Board of Professors, the University Secretary, Vice-Rectors, Faculty Deans, and Directors of Schools and Vocational Programs, were also present.
Congratulations to Prof. Heri also poured in from various universities in Indonesia, including Universitas Diponegoro, Universitas Negeri Padang, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Terbuka, Institut Teknologi Bandung, and Universitas Sulawesi Barat.
Prof. Heri, born on January 18, 1976, in Sukabumi, West Java, has a distinguished academic record. He became the youngest professor in UI’s Faculty of Engineering (FTUI) in 2013 at the age of 37. Before he was appointed Rector, he served as Dean of FTUI from 2022 to 2024, during which FTUI achieved significant milestones in the Times Higher Education rankings as the Best Engineering School in Indonesia, and positioned several programs, including Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, as the best in Indonesia according to the QS World University Rankings.
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