RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Fauzan, has encouraged universities across the country to establish consortiums to strengthen their contribution to regional development. He said closer collaboration among higher education institutions would enhance research-based solutions to local development challenges.

The statement was delivered in Jakarta on Sunday, August 2, 2026. Fauzan affirmed that universities are strategic institutions responsible not only for education, but also for producing innovations that benefit society.

He said higher education institutions should continuously evaluate how their presence contributes to public welfare and regional progress. "Can our universities strengthen their contribution to development?" he said.

According to him, every region has unique development challenges that require evidence-based policies. He stressed that academic research should be directed toward solving real problems faced by local communities.

Fauzan specifically highlighted the provinces of Riau and the Riau Islands as regions with strong economic potential and high human development indicators. However, he noted that economic growth must be accompanied by greater employment opportunities.

To address these challenges, he proposed establishing university consortiums to create a collaborative ecosystem for higher education. "A consortium is essentially an ecosystem that advances higher education while contributing to regional development," he

The Vice Minister further cited East Nusa Tenggara as an example, where a consortium of 27 universities has collaborated to combat stunting and poverty through a thematic community service program involving thousands of students. Fauzan added that research based on local challenges can provide valuable recommendations for policymakers.

"Research should address regional problems so that the findings can serve as a foundation for local government policies," he said.