The Chairman of Academic Senate UNS, Prof. Adi Sulistiyono, stated that Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, M.Sc, Ph.D., is the youngest professor in UNS. “He is 37 years old when inaugurated,” Prof. Adi explained.

Prof. Irwan was inaugurated as a professor in an Opening Academic Senate Meeting on Thursday (30/12/2021) with an inauguration speech on Finance, Technology, Inclusion, and (In)equality.

In a press release held in Ruang Sidang 2 dr. Prakosa Building UNS, Prof. Irwan stated that technology would hold an increasingly important role in the financial service industry globally, particularly in the last few decades. Various studies have reported that technology-based financial innovation offered by banks and other financial service institutions has a significant role in improving financial inclusion that will increase economic growth and reduce income inequality as an important part of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

However, Prof. Irwan also discussed the possible dark side of the development, with the increase of illegal fintech that could create predatory lending or online loan sharking. This service offered easy access and loan disbursement at the cost of skyrocketing interest rates, criminal means of debt collection, bullying, to privacy violations of borrowers. Another potential dark side of the development is the tendency of digital financial services providers to promote and target medium to high-income households while leaving the marginalized low-income family.

To promote the positive effect of digital finance and technology development while preventing the potential dark side of the development, Prof. Irwan offered recommendations through service providers and regulators to educate the community comprehensively and continuously on digital finance and the benefits and risks of digital finance. Prof. Irwan also emphasized the efforts taken by the Center for Fintech and Banking UNS through a consistent survey on community trust towards financial service providers.

“We found that trust to fintech is far lower than the trust towards other financial services, especially banks,” Prof. Irwan mentioned. However, he added that after dividing the samples into high and low financial literacy groups, the study found a significant gap in trust level. “This means an improvement on financial literacy could increase people’s trust towards financial services provider,” he concluded.

His second suggestion focused on the development and equal distribution of Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructures in every Indonesian province, the protection of technology usage and policies and regulations such as on the interest rate of fintech lending and distribution of online fintech lending for productive activities by micro and small enterprises with no access to the bank lending. Humas UNS

Reporter: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Inaugurated Youngest Professor in Financial Management appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

In his remark, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, stated that he is proud of the special end-year gift.

“We are proud because, at the end of 2021, UNS received a special gift with the new professor. This proved UNS commitment and focused on meeting the ideal number of professors (in the university),” Prof. Jamal stated.

The Rector added that he hoped UNS Professors have activities with impacts on the community. “It will be very beautiful if UNS professors have the activities to explore knowledge based on the local wisdom, not only studying phenomenon based on western perspectives and theories. Moreover, being a professor is not only about meeting administrative requirements, but also productivity, capacity, authority, and impact for their profession and the community,” Prof. Jamal stated.

Currently, UNS has 207 active professors, 1,855 faculty members, 1,921 academic staff, and 44,000 students; all are components that could contribute to advancing UNS and building the nation. Prof. Jamal had a special message for Prof. Irwan to become a bridge between UNS academic members and international academia.

Concluding his remark, Prof. Jamal hoped that God blesses the efforts made by UNS.

“To all professors and attendees of this event, solemnly, I deliver my gratitude and apologize if there are many shortcomings in holding this ceremony. May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala always blesses our best efforts,” Prof. Jamal hoped. Humas UNS

Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Adds New Professor, UNS Rector: Special Gift for End of Year appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.