UNAIR NEWS As part of its 71st Anniversary celebrations, 51动漫 () hosted Minister of Public Works (PU) Ir. Dody Hanggodo, MPE for a Studium Generale at Garuda Mukti Hall, MERR-C Campus, on Friday (Nov. 14, 2025). The event offered an academic forum for the UNAIR community to engage with emerging infrastructure policies designed to promote equity and strengthen national development resilience.
Infrastructure as foundation for resilience
During his lecture, Minister Hanggodo stressed that national resilience cannot depend solely on military power or economic growth. A strong nation, he said, must secure stable food and energy supplies and ensure equitable development across regions. These priorities reflect both the fifth principle of Pancasila and the broader national development goals outlined in Asta Cita.
He also underscored the importance of viewing infrastructure as a tool grounded in moral responsibility. Development, he argued, must guarantee access, fairness, and economic opportunity for all. 淚nfrastructure is not just concrete. It is a symbol of national aspiration, he remarked. He further noted that the Ministry of Public Works plays a central role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and improving national competitiveness.
New strategic direction at Ministry of Public Works
The minister outlined a renewed focus within the ministry, emphasizing more even distribution of infrastructure development across the country. He highlighted four key areas of work: water resources, highways, human settlements, and strategic infrastructures, which form the core agenda beginning in 2025. These initiatives, he said, reflect the government檚 commitment to ensuring development reaches beyond major urban centers.
淭he Ministry of Public Works will continue to guide infrastructure development as a unifying force for the country. Our work is not only about physical structures but also about building national cohesion, he explained.
Crucial role of academia
Minister Hanggodo also emphasized the essential contribution of academia in safeguarding the direction and quality of national development. Universities, he said, must help ensure infrastructure policies remain aligned with moral principles and public needs. He added that scholarly research offers critical insight to ensure development remains relevant and forward-looking.
淎cademics play a vital role because development must not lose its ethical foundation. Its quality has to be consistently maintained to stay current, he noted.
Concluding the session, the minister reiterated that long-term, equitable infrastructure is central to national resilience. He expressed his hope that today檚 development efforts will become a legacy for future generations. 淲hen we build infrastructure, we are building a civilization. May every effort we make become a source of lasting good, he affirmed.
Author: Era Fazira
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
