ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right) when receiving the East Java Education Quality Improvement Figure award from the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa

Surabaya, ITS News — Taking an active role in improving the quality of education in East Java (Jatim), the Rector of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, received an award as a Figure for Improving the Quality of East Java Education from the East Java Provincial Education Office. The award was given at the 2023 SMA Awards event at the Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya on Thursday (30/11) evening.

The Governor of East Java, Dr Dra Hj Khofifah Indar Parawansa MSi, said that the award was given as proof of appreciation to the ITS Rector, who has dedicated himself to advancing the quality of education in East Java. “We express our deepest gratitude for the extraordinary strengthening of assistance so far,” explained the governor, who was also confirmed as the Mother of East Java Education.

Responding to the award given to him, the Rector, usually called Ashari, who represents the entire ITS academic community, said he was proud. Not to forget, the number one person at ITS also expressed his gratitude to the Governor of East Java and the East Java Provincial Education Office (Dindik) for their trust in ITS to jointly develop East Java’s human resources (HR) through various programs.

ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng when giving his speech at the 2023 SMA Awards at the Dyandra Convention Center Surabaya

In this case, ITS is considered to have succeeded in becoming a collaborative partner between the East Java Provincial Education Office and many high schools in East Java in implementing the Double Track program. In this program, ITS provides additional skills to high school students who may need help continuing their university studies later. “Alhamdulillah, the cooperation that has been running for five years has shown extraordinary results,” he said.

How could it not be, statistically, that more than 12,500 students from 133 high schools throughout East Java have succeeded in creating more than 4,500 products with a total turnover of IDR 2.5 billion. Not only that, but the alumnus of Curtin University, Australia, said that UNICEF and the UN had also contributed to this Double Track program some time ago.

ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (second from left) with other recipients of the same award at the 2023 SMA Awards ceremony

When met separately, the Head of the East Java Education Provincial Office, Aries Agung Paewai SSTP MM, also expressed his appreciation for ITS. According to him, ITS has strengthened vocational programs from various fields of science, which are needed to develop the potential of high school students. Not only that, ITS also has the right to provide specific certifications to students so that they can support them in the world of work.

Seeing these conditions, Aries hopes this program can continue and develop. This is because he has seen quite a significant impact from this program. “In fact, I have received many requests from heads of Education Offices in other provinces to make this program a pilot program,” he said.

Concurring with the same thing, Ashari also hopes that this program can continue to be strengthened and implemented. Furthermore, the ITS Professor of Electrical Engineering said that improving the quality of East Java education is not only the responsibility of ITS. “Hopefully, the presence of this award can motivate various parties to continue providing benefits,” he said. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Mifda Khoirotul Azma