Indonesia Encourages Students to Drive Energy Transition Solutions

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is encouraging university students to play a greater role in addressing development challenges, including waste management and the transition to sustainable energy. The initiative reflects the government's effort to strengthen the contribution of higher education to sustainable development and technological innovation.

Based on the release received by RRI VOI Sunday, June 14, 2026, Director General of Research and Development at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Fauzan Adziman, made the statement during a talk show on the role of universities in supporting national energy resilience and energy transition. .

During the event, Fauzan rode the eKarsa electric vehicle developed by a UGM research team. The demonstration highlighted the growing contribution of Indonesian universities to environmentally friendly technologies that support the country's energy transition agenda.

According to him, the ministry has supported a range of research projects focused on converting waste into energy. He said universities play a strategic role not only in producing innovation but also in developing talent capable of connecting scientific knowledge with real-world challenges.

“Waste management involves technological, economic, governance, and social transformation aspects. We need talents who are able to understand problems comprehensively and deliver sustainable solutions,” Fauzan said.

To strengthen student participation, the ministry is expanding the Student Literacy and Community Empowerment Action Program, known as Aksara Mahasiswa. Through the initiative, students work directly with local communities to identify problems, raise public awareness, and promote better waste management practices at the household level.

“Students not only learn from communities, but also become agents of change who help build a better waste management ecosystem. This is part of the effort to create sustainable solutions,” he said.

The ministry said strengthening student capacity, cross-sector collaboration, and the application of science and technology will remain key priorities. Through these efforts, Indonesia aims to position universities as centers of talent development and research that can generate practical solutions for sustainable development and a more inclusive energy transition.