Interpretation of PIP Tropical Rainforest and its Environment

Pola Ilmiah Pokok (PIP) of Universitas Mulawarman

An advanced university usually has a certain excellence or uniqueness compared to other universities. This excellence is realized in the Pola Ilmiah Pokok (PIP), the Research Strategic Plan (RSP), and the Main/Featured Research Themes.

According to Prof. Idrus Patrussi (Universitas Hasanuddin), PIP is a strategic orientation of thought in university education for the development of the Tridarma (education, research, and community service) based on the leading competence of that higher education institution.

PIP Tropical Rainforest and its Environment (HTB+L)

In the 2001 Strategic Plan document, Universitas Mulawarman formulated PIP as "Hutan Tropika Basah dan Lingkungannya (HTB+L)" (Tropical Rainforest and its Environment). After more than a decade, the dynamics of regional development, campus growth, and the scientific clusters within Unmul have changed, so the interpretation of HTB+L needs to be expanded.

According to Dr. Suyadi, when PIP HTB+L was established, forest natural resources were the mother of development. Today the status of tropical forests still remains, but the context is different. HTB+L needs to be understood not only as an object of biophysical study, but also from the social-cultural, economic, and humanities aspects characteristic of the tropical rainforest. The forest is no longer viewed as taken for granted, but must be cared for and cultivated because it determines the availability of other natural resources such as water and the carrying capacity of the Kalimantan Timur environment.

Prof. Lambang Subagyo adds that HTB+L also needs to encompass geohydrological aspects and be understood adaptively by each faculty - whether in terms of natural resource characteristics, social-cultural-humanities, or geographical-geohydrological aspects. This uniqueness of PIP HTB+L is expected to be exposed through the Tridarma, among others through study centers (peat, orangutan, and other tropical themes).

The Expanded Formulation of PIP HTB+L

"A collection of biotic and abiotic mega-diversity in the general form of forest located on islands surrounded by oceans and straits around the equator, with high average temperature and humidity as well as significant rainfall, together with various aspects built around or within the HTB as a source of local wisdom and sustainability, which are interrelated with one another - such as geohydrology, natural diversity, economy, health, environment, social, culture, law, education, engineering, and humanities."

PIP HTB+L is unique when viewed from:

• The geographical aspect (tectonic plates).
• The topographical aspect (landscape).
• The climatic aspect.
• Biotic and abiotic mega-diversity.
• Culture, language, and customs.
• Social interaction (local, national, and international).

HTB+L Development Principles: Four Dimensions

The concept of HTB+L development refers to the principles of local wisdom, sustainability, and integration. Referring to the UNESCO guidelines (1991), Prof. Mustofa Agung Sardjono elaborates four important dimensions.

Domains of Higher Education Contribution

In carrying out the Tridarma, the contribution of higher education institutions grounded in PIP HTB+L can lie in four domains:

• Basic
• Applied
• Technology Adaptation and Diffusion
• Capacity Development

Source: Minutes of the Core Team for Curriculum Development of Universitas Mulawarman through the IDB Grant Project, 2017.