Banda Aceh – Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) held its annual Coordination Meeting on Saturday, February 8, 2025. This event was attended by nearly 80 active TDMRC researchers, as well as numerous key figures in the academic and disaster research fields.
Rector of USK (Prof. Marwan)
The Director General of Higher Education (Dirjen DIKTI) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (KemenDiktiSaintek), Prof. Dr. Khairul Munadi, ST. M.Eng, was present to provide guidance at the meeting. Also in attendance were the Rector of USK, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, the Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Agussabti, and one of the founders of TDMRC, Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Dirhamsyah, who currently serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at UIN Ar-Raniry.
According to Prof. Khairul Munadi, TDMRC USK can serve as a good practice example in the implementation of the transformative and developing concept of an impact-oriented campus promoted by KemenDiktiSaintek. Currently, KemenDiktiSaintek is working to simplify administrative procedures in universities to provide more room for educators and academic staff to innovate. Prof. Khairul Munadi also served as the Director of TDMRC USK from 2013 to 2021 before being appointed as the Educational and Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in the UK.
DIRJEN DIKTI (Prof. Khairul Munadi
During the same event, the Dirjen DIKTI emphasized the importance of strengthening the disaster risk reduction paradigm in Indonesia, not only targeting the community but also involving other sectors such as business and government. Efforts in disaster risk reduction should be a primary choice of action to avoid a fatalistic paradigm. The Dirjen DIKTI also highlighted the need to strengthen the consortium of universities in addressing disaster issues in Indonesia.
This meeting served as a forum to evaluate the research achievements of 2024 by the 10 research divisions at TDMRC USK. Additionally, the researchers coordinated activities and work for 2025, focusing on strengthening cross-disciplinary collaboration in disaster research.
The Director of TDMRC, Prof. Syamsidik, emphasized the importance of collaboration between divisions to support more comprehensive and impactful research. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie among the researchers as one of the strengths in developing innovative and sustainable disaster research.
“Currently, TDMRC is promoting inter-division cooperation to support cross-disciplinary research collaboration, so that we can hopefully provide more concrete and widespread solutions to disaster issues. In this regard, I am very happy and proud of the presence of the Dirjen DIKTI and the high-ranking university officials, which certainly gives us great spirit as researchers at TDMRC,” stated Prof. Syamsidik, the Director of TDMRC.
Through this meeting, TDMRC is committed to continuing its contributions to disaster research, both nationally and internationally, to strengthen community resilience in facing disasters.
TDMRC was established in 2006 in response to the 2004 Aceh tsunami. Currently, TDMRC occupies a new building on the USK campus and consists of 10 research divisions or clusters, including: Tsunami Mitigation, Geohazards Mitigation, Disaster Education, Disaster Risk Management, Infrastructure Resilience, Hydrometeorology and Climate Change, Knowledge Management, Human Security and Society, Health Crisis and Community Preparedness, Strategic Risk Governance and Disaster Training.
Additionally, TDMRC manages a nationally accredited SINTA-2 journal, the Indonesian Journal of Disaster Management (IJDM), and a student volunteer activity unit for disaster management called FASTANA.
Prof. Khairul Munadi explained that TDMRC was born from the awareness that disasters are not merely fate, but natural phenomena that can be managed with a scientific and technological approach. He emphasized that interdisciplinary interaction in disaster research is key to success.
He also highlighted the importance of challenge-based research oriented towards real solutions for disaster issues.
“Besides curiosity-based research, we also encourage research that addresses existing problems,” he added.
To have a broader impact, the Dirjen DIKTI emphasized the importance of improving science communication to various stakeholders, especially for educational purposes and changing public mindsets.
Rector USK, Prof. Marwan, also affirmed that for nearly 20 years, TDMRC USK has proven its contribution to disaster research, both nationally and internationally. He hopes that TDMRC will continue to develop as a center of excellence in disaster mitigation and community resilience strengthening. Moreover, the Rector also hopes that TDMRC can support the KemenDiktiSaintek program promoting an impact-oriented campus.
