ULM Professor Highlights the Proposal for Universities to Manage Mines, Requires In-Depth Study

Banjarmasin – The proposal for universities to be given the authority to manage mines has received various responses. This idea is considered to have great potential but also poses several challenges that need to be thoroughly examined.

Economist from Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM), Prof. Handry Imansyah, believes that this concept could bring positive impacts, especially in the development of human resources and mining technology innovation. However, not all universities have the capacity to implement it.

“Universities can play a role in more sustainable mining management, especially if they have related departments such as mining engineering, geology, and environmental science. However, its implementation cannot be arbitrary,” he said.

Some points that need to be considered in the proposal for university-managed mining according to Prof. Handry include:

Opportunities and Benefits for Universities and Communities If university-managed mining is implemented well, several benefits can be obtained:

• Development of quality human resources, where universities can produce mining experts through practice-based education;
• Environmentally friendly technology innovation by universities can contribute to creating more efficient and sustainable mining methods;
• Positive economic impact, namely creating new jobs and improving the welfare of the surrounding community;
• Alternative income sources for universities that can be used to help finance education and reduce student tuition fees;
• Mines as real laboratories, where students and lecturers have the opportunity to apply the knowledge learned directly in the field.

For example, ULM is considered more prepared than many other universities because it has departments and study centers focused on mining and post-mining environmental rehabilitation.

Challenges to Watch Out For Although promising, Handry reminds that there are various challenges that must be anticipated before this policy is implemented.

“Not all universities have the resources, both in terms of capital, experts, and infrastructure to manage mines. If not managed well, this policy could actually create new problems,” he said.

He also highlighted the potential conflict of interest between the academic and business worlds. If universities are too economically oriented, there is a risk that the primary focus on education could be disrupted.

As a solution, Handry suggests that universities managing mines should form separate business entities. This way, academic and business activities can run professionally without conflicting with each other.

In addition, legal and environmental aspects are also major concerns. Universities involved in the mining industry must ensure compliance with regulations and have a commitment to environmental sustainability.

“This idea is indeed interesting, but it requires a deeper study. We must not let the initial goal of improving education end up sacrificing the environment and academic quality,” he concluded.