Source: Untar Public Relations
Rector of Untar Prof. Dr. Ir. Agustinus Purna Irawan, M.T., M.M., I.P.U., ASEAN Eng., served as a keynote speaker at a Studium Generale organized by the Rantepao College of Catechetics and Pastoral Studies (STIKPAR Toraja) on Wednesday (21/8/2024), held online.
Carrying the theme “Improving the Quality and Quantity of Scientific Publications at STIKPAR Toraja Through Lecturer–Student Collaboration,” STIKPAR Toraja Chairperson Dr. Agustinus Sem Porak T., S.S., M.Hum. emphasized the importance of both the quality and quantity of scholarly works produced by members of the academic community.
“We need to change the mindset that scientific writing is merely a means of obtaining an A grade. Instead, it should aim to achieve high-quality publication outcomes. In addition, writing ethics must always be upheld in every scholarly work,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation for the presence of the Untar Rector, who is recognized as one of the lecturers with the highest SINTA scores in Indonesia.
“With guidance from Prof. API, we hope to encourage our academic community to become more active in conducting research and publishing its results,” he added.
In his presentation, the Untar Rector stressed that collaboration in scientific publication must be carried out seriously and responsibly, rather than simply including names without meaningful contributions.
“Why must we conduct research and publish our findings? Because as members of higher education institutions, we have a responsibility to continuously develop science and technology,” he stated.
He further emphasized that within the framework of the Tridharma of Higher Education, research and scientific publication serve as important indicators of a lecturer’s professionalism. He noted that various factors also contribute to the quality of research outcomes.
“The economic value of research should not be overlooked. Through research, we can secure beneficial grants, and the resulting innovations can be applied to society,” he explained.
The Untar Rector also encouraged students to begin reading journal articles and understanding their content as an essential first step toward producing high-quality final projects and theses.
“At Untar, students are required to include references from recent journal articles in their final projects. This practice not only improves the quality of the work but also strengthens its research substance,” he said.
He further explained that a single research project should ideally generate multiple outputs. Research outcomes can be registered as Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) or patents before being published.
“Do not allow students’ final projects to stop at the article draft stage. Encourage them until the work is successfully published in scientific journals. Ensure that research follows current trends and contains elements of novelty to increase its publication potential,” he advised.
Concluding his session, the Untar Rector expressed hope that collaboration between lecturers and students in research and publication activities would continue to grow.
“This collaboration must be continuously strengthened. Lecturers should actively involve students in research projects, and students should be guided throughout the publication process,” he concluded. (KJ/YS/KJ)