Presenting the award by Acting Director General of Higher Education Prof. Ir Nizam MSc DIC Ph.D. (right) to ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng in the Trimurti Building, Prambanan, Jogjakarta 

Jogjakarta, ITS News – As one of the tertiary institutions that organize the Independent Learning Campus (MBKM) program, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has successfully received the Merdeka Learning Award. The award was handed over by Acting Director General of Higher Education, Research and Technology (Dirjen Diktiristek) Prof. Ir Nizam MSc DIC Ph.D. at the Trimurti Building, Prambanan, Jogjakarta, Monday (29/5) evening.

On this occasion, ITS won an award in the sub-category of Academic Higher Education Obtaining the Largest Partner Contribution in Merdeka Learning Campus Merdeka. ITS Chancellor Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng said that this award was the result of the hard work of all ITS academics.

This award is part of a series of Free Learning Month activities in commemoration of National Education Day 2023. This aims to give appreciation to related parties who have succeeded in the Freedom to Learn programs which have been intensified since 2020.

Furthermore, the man who is familiarly called Ashari revealed that there was an important cooperative role from researchers, students, several research centers and directorates such as the Directorate of Innovation and Science Technology Area (DIKST) and the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DRPM) ITS for this achievement. “It is this form of cooperation that has led ITS to achieve several key performance indicators (IKU) of higher education so that it can win this award,” he said.

In this case, Ashari explained that ITS excels in IKU 6 universities namely, collaboration with world-class partners. He explained that in the past two years, ITS has received substantial contributions from several partners. “This contribution in particular is in the form of matching funds which play an important role in the development of ITS innovative products,” he added.

ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng shows the Freedom of Learning Award Certificate in the Peak Commemoration of the 2023 Freedom Learning Month

Ashari emphasized that the products resulting from ITS collaboration with several partners have a big role in the nation. “These innovative products include the Merah Putih Tablet (DigITS) and the Merah Putih Electric Bus (BLiMP) which were used at the last G20 Summit,” said the ITS Electrical Engineering professor proudly.

For these awards, Ashari also admitted that he was very proud. According to him, this achievement shows the trust of the ministry and all stakeholders in the hard work of ITS academics. In the end, Ashari advised that this award can be a reminder for ITS to be able to maintain and improve its achievements going forward. “Don’t be careless and continue to innovate to benefit the surroundings,” he said.

In addition, one of the ITS lecturers also received the Merdeka Learning Award in the Inspiring Figure Award category. Namely Dr. Muhammad Nur Yuniarto ST who has become the head of the research team in the Red and White Electric Bus Manufacturing Consortium. (ITS Public Relation)

Reporter: Mifda Khoirotul Azma