Three professors of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) achieved the Inspiring Figures award from one of the biggest media in East Java. They are Prof. Dr. Moh. Khusaini, S.E., M.Sc., M.A from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Prof. Dr. Ir. Loekito Adi Soehono, M.Agr from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Prof. Dr. Ir. Imam Santoso, MP from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology. This award was received on Sunday (20/06/2021), at Hotel Aria Gajayana, with strict health protocols.
Prof. Dr. Moh. Khusaini, S.E., M.Si., M.A was chosen to be one of the inspiring figures related to his work and struggles from his college days until now. He did not want to burden his family during his undergraduate studies at UB, he lives in the mosque while helping to take care of the mosque as a marbot (mosque caretaker).
By becoming a marbot, he did not need to think about the cost of boarding house. He also earned money for his tuition and daily needs by providing private English language courses and seeking scholarships. He did this until he graduated from undergraduate, until he got master scholarship from USAID for further studies at Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, USA in the field of Economics, then he continued his doctorate in Economics at UB.
Currently, he has been entrusted with the role of Vice Dean for Student Affairs at FEB. “I often interact with students and the various problems they face, I always motivate and try to find the solution, especially for those who excel but are less well economically,” he said.
The Professor of Economics and Business is also currently starting a tahfidz house to accommodate underprivileged students, as well as learn Al-Qur’an. So that students can study without thinking about the cost of boarding. “What I want to emphasize to the students is that the lack of economy does not prevent us from being successful. Many roads lead to Rome,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ir. Loekito Adi Soehono, M.Agr was chosen as one of the inspirational figures for his contribution in encouraging and helping thousands of Indonesian students and lecturers to pursue higher education abroad.
The professor in the field of Statistics has long been involved in collaborating with foreign countries. He also does not hesitate to motivate students and lecturers, and even gives suggestions for success in scholarship interviews. Due to his persistence, when the Higher Education scholarship was first opened in 2006, UB received the most scholarships, which is 56 students for further studies in various countries.
“I am happy that at my age I am still useful for many people. I hope that more lecturers, education staff, and UB alumni will take advantage of scholarships for further study abroad, because currently LPDP facilitates scholarships for lecturers and staff. We are always ready to support UB so that UB can achieve its vision to become a World Class University,” said the graduate and doctoral graduate of the University of Sydney.
Currently, through his educational institutions, Loekito Education Group and Azet Language Centre, Prof. Loekito is still active in providing information on study abroad and scholarships to UB graduates and alumni of other universities. He also often holds virtual study abroad exhibitions, as well as virtual information on how to get a high score in IELTS, how to get scholarships, both for the public, civil servants, Islamic students, and affirmations.
In contrast with Prof. Loekito, Prof. Dr. Ir. Imam Santoso, MP, received the Inspiring Figures Award due to his great concept of future agriculture and agro-industry. “We are grateful for this award as part of all of our efforts to keep trying to do better and get better. Alhamdulillah, some ideas were appreciated so that I was chosen to be one of the Inspiring Figures,” said the man who currently serves as the Dean of FTP.
Reviewing the condition of agriculture in rural areas which is cramped with a relatively old workforce, as well as the conversion agricultural land, according to him, it is time to build a model called corporate farming. With corporate-based management, it is hoped that there will be increased efficiency, increased productivity, and increased added value in the downstream sector through various innovations of processed agricultural products.
“Therefore, we need millennial farmers in one side, and we need millennial food processors on the other side, so that product innovations, the ability to translate market or consumer desires into healthy food product attributes, are needed. And this is the time for millennial farmers and processors to continue to prefer agriculture-based products,” said the professor of Agroindustry Systems and Management. [Irene/Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
