ITB Rector: Science and Technology Play a Key Role in Building Indonesian Democracy
By Yohana Aprilianna - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2021
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), in collaboration with the Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) ITB, PT LAPI ITB, the Indonesian Center for Cultural Studies (ICCS), and the Indonesian Academy of Sciences Culture Commission (KK-AIPI), held the first session of a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) series on Monday, April 21, 2025. The discussion was conducted in a hybrid format—online via Zoom and YouTube, and offline at the National Library of Indonesia building.
The first session of the discussion series raised the topic of “Reorganizing Indonesian Democracy: The Dialectic Between the Tradition of Deliberation and Consensus and Modern Democracy.”
In his opening remarks, ITB Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Tatacipta Dirgantara, M.T., explained that at ITB—among others, within the institutional structure of the ITB Board of Professors—there is a special commission dedicated to address various national issues and their solutions, and to provide recommendations to the government and relevant stakeholders based on comprehensive scientific studies.
“The topic of today’s focus group discussion is certainly very relevant to ITB’s concerns, particularly about how science and technology can play a vital role in building democracy and a democratic national life,” he stated.
Prof. Tatacipta added that a well-functioning democracy rooted in the nation’s cultural values is essential for academic life at universities like ITB. This is because academic life can only thrive in an ecosystem that upholds democratic principles, particularly academic freedom and freedom of expression.
Prof. Tatacipta also linked the advancement of science, technology, and the arts to the process by which it is achieved, namely through dialectical processes, open exchange of ideas, critical discussion, and constructive development.
“We believe that the various considerations formulated by AIPI to be presented to the government and the broader public, particularly in the fields of science and technology, are certainly aligned with the efforts undertaken by ITB,” he said.
In addition, he expressed hope that a strong synergy between institutions could be established, particularly between AIPI and ITB in formulating ideas and solutions to various national issues, especially those related to democracy and democratic culture.
Yohana Aprilianna (Urban and Regional Planning, 2021)
Mikayla Caesari Azalia (Management, 2024)
