Medan – Eddy Soeparno, Deputy Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), has called on universities to play a pivotal role in supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s accelerated energy transition initiatives. These efforts include ambitious targets such as 100 GW of solar energy development, widespread transportation electrification, and advancements in bioenergy.
Speaking at the MPR Goes to Campus event held at Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra (UMSU) in Medan on Friday, Soeparno emphasized that the President’s commitment requires broad support from both political entities and the academic community. He was received by UMSU Rector Prof. Agussani, along with the university’s vice rectors and deans.
Soeparno highlighted the critical importance of energy security, especially in light of ongoing global geopolitical dynamics. He noted that accelerating electrification and the energy transition is key to significantly reducing the nation’s reliance on imported energy sources, such as crude oil and LPG.
Universities are uniquely positioned to contribute by cultivating skilled human resources essential for the burgeoning green industry and renewable energy sectors. The transition is expected to generate numerous new job opportunities demanding a skilled workforce.
He stressed the necessity for a strong connection between industry requirements and university curricula to ensure graduates are prepared for these roles. Furthermore, Soeparno urged academic institutions to actively engage in renewable energy research, providing valuable insights for government policy formulation aimed at expediting the energy transition.
The Deputy Chairman underscored that these efforts must ultimately benefit domestic industries, stimulate industrialization, boost production capacity, and create a substantial number of skilled formal jobs for the country’s citizens.
Source: Original
