UNAIR NEWS – Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, M.Si., officially hold the position of Universitas Airlangga’s Vice Rector for Academic, Student and Alumni Affairs for 2020-2025 period after being sworn in on Monday, August 4, 2020. According to her, inspiration and future development strategies are directed to make UNAIR become a global academic community.
It means that UNAIR encourages itself to become a strong global community in academic affairs, including research and community service.
“The rapid advancement of technology has implications for the emergence of challenges and inspiration. We reinforce that inspiration. We can make optimal use of the online world,” she said.
Prof. Nyoman said, in the future, online (technology) must be developed to offer potential to the community, both in Indonesia and internationally, so there will be more opportunity to join UNAIR through a virtual program. From the extraordinary development of communication technology in the millennial era, UNAIR also has a role in the global community, the global academic community.
“So, it can be from various things. For example, trainings, soft skill developments, and also from lectures, ” she said.
“Apart from that, anyone around the world can study at UNAIR. We offer to learn with UNAIR, where UNAIR’s strength lies, ” she added.
Regarding the internal academic program, according to Prof. Nyoman, all activities are directed at new norms or AKB (adaptation of new habits). Therefore, UNAIR will carry out blended learning. More than 70 percent of activities are held online, while 30 percent offline.
“We hope that Covid-19 will end, but we will not stop this virtual learning system. We will continue to innovate in this activity so we can serve the national and international community,” she said.
Long career
Prof. Nyoman’s career in the academic field has actually been quite long. She began her career as a lecturer in 1986 and became a civil servant in 1987. Subsequently, in 2006 Prof. Nyoman was trusted to become Vice Dean I of Faculty of Science and Technology (FST).
“At that time, UNAIR actually had its status as a BHMN university. So, not as PTNBH like today. At that time, it was as BHMN, in 2006, so there was a restructuring at UNAIR. One of them was the formation of directorate of academic affairs, ” she recalled.
Prof. Nyoman first received the mandate to become Director of Academic Affairs in the beginning of UNAIR being a BHMN university in 2007, after a year as Vice Dean I FST. Her work as Director of Academic Affairs continued until 2015.
In 2017, Prof. Nyoman became Executive Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE). In 2019, she was named Acting Vice Rector I UNAIR because Prof. Djoko was appointed Chairman of Academic Senate. From December, she assumed the position and named Vice Rector after the election of rector.
“So, about 6 to 7 months from December 2019 to July (2020),” she said.
Quick and responsive
Prof. Nyoman admitted that in the future there will be various new challenges that are not easy for UNAIR to face. To all UNAIR academics, she advised them to think quickly and be responsive, in various matters of changes in science and technology, as well as various problem in society.
“So when something came up, they could immediately help and be problem solvers. So, solve problems in society, ” she said.
Regarding the mandate given by the rector, Prof. Nyoman is committed to work seriously, especially with the support of all parties. Her job, she continued, is to reinforce those that have been carried out previously; including previous achievements while also improve the existing ones. She also promotes new innovations for breakthroughs that have been proclaimed by the rector.
“Besides being reinforced, it will be improved. And, I hope that the mandate given to me can still be carried out well. Of course, to continue the good things in the past, with proven results. It is both a challenge and an opportunity for us to strengthen and improve, ” she said. (*)
Author: Feri Fenoria
