The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), held a Kick-off Ceremony to renovate Smart Auditorium K301 on Thursday (April 17) at the K301 auditorium, K Building. The kick-off was marked by the symbolic dismantling of the stage by the Acting Rector / Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs of Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., FTUI Dean, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., GIFT UI Secretary-General, Dr. Badrul Munir, Chairman of the Samudera Indonesia Education Foundation, Mr. Asril Bari, Director of Operations of PT Reasuransi Nasional Indonesia, Ms. Audi Artha Rita, and a representative of the Electrical Engineering Alumni Class of 1994, Mr. Bambang.
K301 is a key lecture hall at FTUI, used for high-capacity courses and events such as public lectures and performances. Given its versatile function, upgrading K301 into a smart auditorium is essential. The facility is designed to support diverse learning modes, whether in-person, online, or hybrid. With the embedded technology, learning activities can be captured, projected, and recorded comprehensively. Furthermore, these activities can be streamed or accessed remotely by FTUI’s academic community, either live or as recordings, through various channels.
Asril Bari, Chairman of the Samudera Indonesia Education Foundation, began his speech by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to FTUI. “For Samudera, this donation holds great meaning as it supports the world of education,” said Asril.
Bambang, representing the Electrical Engineering Alumni Class of 1994, shared that the K301 room holds many memories for him. In the past, this was the gathering place for students from various departments. For him, renovating this room is a moral responsibility toward FTUI.
To the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Auditorium K301 is a room full of stories. According to him, this room is where knowledge has been shared, grand ideas have been born, and a sense of togetherness has flourished. It has witnessed numerous academic dynamics and has been a part of many generations’ intellectual journeys. He affirmed that it was the right decision to give special attention to revitalizing such a historic place.
“Hopefully, the renovation of K301 will not only result in a physical transformation but also bring new energy to position FTUI as a centre of excellence in engineering education relevant to today’s challenges,” stated Prof. Kemas.
Acting Rector / Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs of Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., PhD, also expressed appreciation to the donors and alumni involved in this initiative. According to him, alumni engagement, both moral and material, is one of the key pillars in a university’s development. He believes that Universitas Indonesia’s progress and advancement will not be possible without the concrete support of its alumni.
Prof. Mahmud said, “We hope that after the renovation, K301 will not only undergo a physical transformation but will also foster a new atmosphere that promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration, sparks innovation, and strengthens bonds between students, lecturers, and alumni. We aim to breathe new life into K301 as a space that nurtures great ideas for the nation’s advancement.”
Lastly, the Rector of UI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., also delivered his remarks through a video recording. “Let us make Auditorium K301 a source of pride for all of us—a place that gives birth to innovation, provides inspiration, nurtures character, and contributes to the progress of the nation and country.”
FTUI remains committed to enhancing the quality of education through innovative facilities like the Smart Auditorium K301. With improved infrastructure, students are expected to achieve greater academic success and become high-quality graduates. The synergy between the campus, alumni, and strategic partners will continue to be encouraged to realize Universitas Indonesia as a centre of education and innovation that significantly impacts society, the nation, and the world.
***
Public Communications Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
