UMN students who we are proud of and esteemed ladies and gentlemen

It is undeniable that the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially Generative AI, has brought significant disruptive changes to jobs, professions, and industries. AI has proven to bring benefits such as increased productivity, reduced costs and efficiency, and innovation. Although it is feared that AI will replace humans in handling various jobs, on the contrary, many new jobs or professions will be created. 

AI does have many advantages, but humans certainly have abilities that AI does not have. It is believed that AI will not replace humans. However, humans with AI capabilities will replace humans without AI capabilities. For this reason, mastery over AI has become a necessity.

Facing increasingly complex problems, the ability to think critically (critical thinking) to solve problems (problem-solving) is becoming increasingly important. New ideas through creative and innovative thinking are needed. 

For this reason, UMN’s education is directed towards a learning model that can stimulate the development of curiosity and creative and innovative thinking, not just understanding knowledge. 

The use of AI can be a driving force for faster innovation because AI can help find ideas, designs, and solutions. Inevitably, as companies implement more and more AI-based applications, UMN graduates must have “beyond machine” capabilities, beyond AI capabilities.

On the other hand, if misused, AI will have a harmful impact. We hope the UMN community will use AI for positive things without violating ethics, let alone for negative impacts on society. Being smart is not enough; integrity is paramount. 

For this reason, mastering soft skills embodied in UMN’s 5C values (Caring, Credible, Competent, Competitive, and Customer Delight) is even more important. These soft skills can be developed through involvement in various student activities on UMN’s campus.

The development of technology will accelerate further, making the competencies currently mastered obsolete and irrelevant. A lifelong learner’s attitude is needed to remain relevant and play an important role in our respective professions.

In addition to AI’s rapid development, the world faces climate change due to global warming. Man-made disasters are making the world an increasingly uncomfortable place to live. For this reason, sustainability has become a crucial issue, and we must rethink how we produce and consume existing resources. 

Many initiatives have been started, such as renewable energy, green technology, and circular economy. However, sustainability is not only about technology or policy but also about mindset change. This means that sustainability aspects must be included in every decision-making to ensure that every step will contribute to a healthier earth and a just society. 

UMN is committed to contributing to implementing sustainability as stated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in every academic and non-academic activity.

In line with UMN’s vision to become a leading university at the international level, many academic, research, and student activities are now realized through collaborations with renowned foreign universities by offering UMN’s excellence. 

The first step in the long journey towards a World-Class University has been achieved by achieving 4* in the QS Stars university ranking. This effort is expected to continue improving UMN’s reputation in the international arena while still contributing to the advancement of the Indonesian nation through quality education.