MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, SURAKARTA – Research conducted by Muhammadiyah professors should extend beyond academic rankings and bring tangible benefits to society, particularly small businesses and local communities, a senior Muhammadiyah leader said this week.
Bambang Setiaji, Chairperson of the Higher Education, Research, and Development Council of Muhammadiyah Central Board, praised Muhammadiyah–‘Aisyiyah Universities for their growing number of full professors. He delivered the remarks on Tuesday (20/01) during the inauguration of five new professors at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) in Karanganyar.
Bambang acknowledged that the number of professors plays a key role in determining university accreditation status. In that regard, UMS currently leads among Muhammadiyah-affiliated universities, benefiting from having the largest number of professors in the network.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang ranked second, followed by Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. Nevertheless, Bambang emphasized that academic titles should not become an end in themselves.
Instead, he argued, the expansion of professorships must translate into broader social impact.
Research Beyond Academic Journals
Bambang urged professors, especially those from engineering faculties, to direct their research toward strengthening Indonesia’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (UMKM). He noted that roughly 99 percent of Indonesia’s industrial sector consists of UMKM.
“Research should not stop at international journals that are mainly read overseas,” Bambang said. “It must also address real problems faced by our own communities.”
According to him, research does not need to be overly complex to be valuable. On the contrary, affordable and simple technologies often prove more useful for small businesses.
Similarly, Bambang highlighted the importance of contextual research in health sciences. Studies, he said, should respond to diseases commonly affecting the public and offer solutions that are practical and accessible.
He also pointed to religious research, which he believes should foster harmony rather than division. Religion, he said, must serve as a source of enlightenment that helps build a progressive and resilient society.
Ultimately, Bambang concluded, impactful research lies not in lofty ambitions, but in its ability to improve everyday life.
Translator: Bintang Adrian
