Institut Teknologi Bandung

The advances of science and technology is an important thing for the development of the humankind. However, without proper ethics and character, science and technology might turn into something inappropriate.

Because of that reason, the character building process to make scientist become ethics-aware is an important thing. Through this process, the graduates are expected to understand the basic principles of the ethics.

For example, the technological advances achieved today must be able to keep the nature sustainability and must not be a threat to the future lives. The development of the idea of green economy and eco-technology is an example answer to such problems. The other issues e.g. democracy and corruption-free lifestyle also must be answered by the character building and principles of ethics.

Character building cannot be forced externally, rector said, but the higher education institution is able to create an atmosphere that stimulates the internal factors development. It can be done by giving examples and doing social interactions to hone the awareness of the environment.

Moreover, he said, through the process of character building, the graduates of science and technology are expected to understand the principles of the ethics and use them as the foundation of their practical lives in the society.

"How science and technology develop and bring an impact to the society, one of the factors is the attitude and behavior of the graduates," he said.

In his speech, rector also said that ITB had contributed a lot for the knowledge advancement and the development of Indonesia. Although Indonesia still has a lot of problems to solve, in general, the life in Indonesia has improved a lot.