The Department of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Vocational School of UGM, held a Kapita Selekta public lecture with the theme “The Role of Electrical Engineering in Advancing Technology Business in Indonesia.” The lecture was delivered by Dhiya Uddin Rijalusalam, an experienced practitioner who has worked as an engineer in technology companies and is the founder of a technology contractor company. The event was attended by students and faculty members and aimed to provide practical insights into the contribution of electrical engineering in driving innovation and business development in Indonesia.
During the session, Dhiya discussed the significant role of electrical engineering in the industry, from the early stages dominated by local distributors to the emergence of system integrator services and local product developers. He explained how this transformation opens opportunities for technopreneurs to create innovative technology products that meet the needs of the Indonesian market. Dhiya also highlighted the challenges in improving higher education quality and technological innovation in Indonesia, which require strategic measures to enhance global competitiveness.
The presentation continued with discussions on various projects undertaken by Dhiya and his team, such as automation systems, control integration, and energy monitoring based on IoT. For example, energy monitoring projects at PT Toyota Manufacturing Indonesia and solar cell energy monitoring installations at UNJ demonstrated how electrical engineering can be applied for energy efficiency and optimization. Dhiya emphasized the importance of technical skills, such as microcontroller programming and firmware technology expertise, as essential assets for aspiring technopreneurs.
In addition to hard skills, soft skills such as critical thinking, communication, and leadership were also highlighted as crucial elements for building a career in the technology field. Dhiya provided practical tips for students to engage in research activities, innovation competitions, and collaboration with faculty to enhance their skills and competitiveness. This step is expected to foster a spirit of technopreneurship among students, who will later act as drivers of innovation and creators of local technological solutions.
The public lecture concluded with an inspirational message that being a technopreneur in the field of electrical engineering not only enhances individual careers but also helps build a strong national technology ecosystem. Participants were encouraged to bring this spirit into their studies and projects so that their contributions can propel Indonesia toward technological independence and sustainable innovation.
