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The event began with a speech from the Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Technology Sciences (FITB) ITB, Dr. techn. Dudy Darmawan Wijaya, S.T., M.Sc. He emphasized that thesis and dissertation preparation is a strategic step in preparing postgraduate students, while also encouraging the creation of excellent scientific works that contribute to the development of science.

During the briefing, the speakers presented three main topics. First, ITB's master's degree education regulations, study options, and FRS preparation, presented by Dr. Ir. Irwan Gumilar, S.T., M.Si. Second, the nature and objectives of master's and doctoral programs, presented by Dr. Andri Hernandi, S.T., M.T. Third, current trends in geodesy and geomatics research, presented by Brian Bramanto, S.T., M.T., Ph.D.

Publication Goals and Graduate Program Improvement

Mr. Irwan Gumilar, Head of the ITB Geodesy and Geomatics Graduate Program, emphasized the importance of improving the quality and quantity of publications as a key indicator of graduate program achievement. Currently, the number of publications indexed in Q1 journals is still limited, but the target is to increase this significantly by 2030. This improvement will be accompanied by strengthening the quality of graduate education through more effective guidance, adaptive learning processes, and sustainable research.

He also emphasized that the direction of program development will be in line with national and global needs, including integration with the fields of geodesy, disaster management, land administration, and hydrography. “We are not only pursuing quantity, but also ensuring that each research project is relevant and makes a real contribution to the development of science and the resolution of problems in society,” he said. With this strategy, FITB ITB is committed to producing excellent researchers and academics who are able to compete at the international level. Closing his presentation, he emphasized the commitment of the Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering Graduate Program with the slogan: “Research, Publication, Impact.”

Dialectics and the Importance of Critical Thinking in Postgraduate Education

In his presentation, Mr. Andri Hernandi emphasized that education at the master's and doctoral levels is not merely a transfer of knowledge, but a process of building a love of research and creativity. He highlighted Indonesia's unique social and cultural context, including the value of mutual cooperation, as a strength that can enrich research. According to him, the diversity of social, economic, and cultural conditions in various regions is actually an opportunity to produce research that is relevant and beneficial to society.

In addition, Mr. Andri emphasized the importance of dialectics in academic thinking. Graduate students are expected not only to accept conclusions at face value, but to dare to test, refute, and refine arguments through a process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. This process requires accurate data, facts, and methodology so that hypotheses are not mere assumptions but the result of critical thinking. “Truth in science is never final; there is always room for it to be tested, discussed, and refined,” he said.

Communication Ethics as the Key to Graduate Research Success

In his presentation, Mr. Brian Bramanto emphasized the importance of interpersonal communication ethics in an academic environment, especially at the postgraduate level. He asserted that openness, willingness to accept feedback, and the ability to convey ideas clearly are the main foundations for building healthy relationships between students, supervisors, and research partners. Accepting criticism without defensiveness is considered to enrich the research process and help students develop into more mature researchers.

In addition, he reminded the audience that fair communication does not mean that all parties must play the same role, but rather according to their respective capacities and responsibilities. Openness in discussion, mutual respect for contributions, and maintaining ethics in sharing research data are inseparable from the academic process. “Good research is not only measured by its results, but also by the way we communicate and collaborate with others,” he said.

In closing, this activity not only provided an understanding of academic rules and research directions, but also reminded participants of the importance of critical thinking and ethics in communication. The activity was closed by Mr. Irwan Gumilar, Head of the ITB Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering Graduate Program, who hoped that students could use this training to better prepare themselves for their studies and produce scientific work that would benefit society.

Reporter: Merryta Kusumawati (Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, 2025)