On Tuesday (April 22), the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) visited the Department of Architecture in a gathering held at the Seminar Room, Department of Architecture Building. Dean of FTUI, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., was accompanied by the Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration, Dr.-Ing. Ir. Dalhar Susanto, and the Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Yanuar, M.Eng., M.Sc. The event was also attended by faculty leadership, managers, and lecturers from the Department of Architecture.
The event commenced with opening remarks from the Head of the Department of Architecture, Dr. Ir. Achmad Hery Fuad, M.Eng., who expressed his appreciation for the presence of the FTUI Dean and the faculty leadership team. He emphasized that this visit serves as a valuable moment to strengthen communication and synergy between the department and the faculty, particularly in addressing challenges related to human resource development and improving learning facilities.
Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan highlighted that lecturers’ roles today go beyond teaching and research—they are also expected to act as academic diplomacy ambassadors for FTUI at the international level. With their overseas study experiences during their Master’s and Doctoral education, lecturers have significant opportunities to expand global networks that can be leveraged for academic collaboration, including attracting more international students to FTUI.
In line with the Rector of UI’s directives, institutional development focuses more on improving quality than increasing student numbers. One key indicator of this quality is increased international student enrollment at UI, including at FTUI. FTUI aims to attract students from Asia—particularly China—and from the Middle East, including Qatar. Qatar, in particular, is seen as having significant potential. Still, there is also a strong interest in the development of Distance Learning (PJJ) programs, enabling students to pursue education without having to be physically present in Indonesia.
Prof. Kemas further stated that increasing the number of international students must accompany FTUI’s readiness to foster a multicultural and inclusive academic environment. This transformation is aimed at enriching the learning experience for local students and strengthening FTUI’s global competitiveness. Hopefully, these efforts will yield tangible results within the next five years.
The event concluded with a sharing session, during which the Head of the Department of Architecture highlighted the need for additional academic staff. Currently, eight lecturers are on study leave and two have resigned, creating an urgent need to recruit qualified faculty members. The discussion also covered plans for procuring a smart studio, integrating lecturers in the 2025–2029 period, funding for facilities through alumni contributions, and more effective implementation of medical check-ups (MCU).
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
