Andi Hakim Nasoetion Foundation Inaugurated, Expanding Access to Education and Passing on Scientific Values
The scientific values and commitment to education inherited from the late Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion are now being continued through the establishment of the Andi Hakim Nasoetion Foundation, a sustainable initiative to expand access to higher education for outstanding students from underprivileged families.
The inauguration of the foundation was announced by the Andi Hakim Nasoetion Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof Agus Buono, in front of the academic community, the extended family of the late Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion, alumni, and education stakeholders. A number of figures were also present, including former faculty and department heads, as well as scholarship recipients.
In his speech, Prof Agus Buono explained that the foundation originated from the long history of the Andi Hakim Nasoetion Scholarship program, which has been running since June 5, 2002. The program began as an initiative of the family of the late Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion.
“At that time, Mrs Amini, accompanied by her daughters, entrusted Rp12 million to be managed and distributed to students in need,” he said.
He explained that the initial funds came from donations made by Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion’s students when he was ill. This trust then became the forerunner of a scholarship program that continues to run consistently, even though its management is still personal and not yet institutionalized.
“At that time, the management was still word of mouth and not yet official,” said Prof Agus Buono, who currently serves as Dean of the School of Data Science, Mathematics, and Informatics (SSMI) at IPB University.
The scholarship program reached an important milestone on January 28, 2021, when it was relaunched online amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a one-day auction, around Rp170 million was raised, all of which was immediately distributed to students. “The assistance varies, depending on the students’ needs, ranging from tuition fees to boarding assistance,” he said.
As the scale of activities and the amount of funds managed increased, the administrators agreed to establish a foundation to ensure more professional and accountable management. “When it gets big, it is no longer possible to rely solely on personal accounts. Therefore, we agreed to establish the Andi Hakim Nasoetion Foundation,” said Prof Agus.
Rector Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet, in his remarks, emphasized that the launch of this foundation aligns with IPB University’s commitment to the principle of education for all. He recalled Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion’s message, which remains deeply impactful to this day. “Forget about seeking greatness and fame, seek the truth. Then the two will come together,” he said.
According to Dr Alim, state universities are faced with the challenge of expanding access without sacrificing quality. Currently, around 37,56 percent of IPB University students receive scholarships from various sources. “If there are three IPB students, it is almost certain that one of them will receive a scholarship,” he said.
The chairman of the Andi Hakim Nasoetion Foundation, Amir Toha, added that the foundation also aims to pass on the scientific values and philosophical thinking of Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion. “Pak Andi laid the foundation for a philosophy of thinking that greatly helps us deal with real-world problems,” he said.
He revealed that since its inception in 2002, the foundation’s various activities have distributed more than Rp500 million for education and scientific development. Through this foundation, the managers hope that the values of caring, integrity, and love for science inherited from Prof Andi Hakim Nasoetion can continue to live on and provide broad benefits for the nation’s future generations. (Fj) ( IAAS/RWA)
