BANDUNG – Universitas Widyatama officially appointed Prof. Sri Astuti, S.E., M.A., Ph.D. as Professor in the Field of Hospitality Industry and Tourism on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The academic ceremony took place in the Seminar Room on the 4th floor of Building A and was led by the Rector. This achievement marks the pinnacle of an academic career achieved through long-term dedication in the fields of economics and tourism. The addition of this academic expert also strengthens the position of the institution, located in the city of Bandung, in producing quality research and graduates.
The series of events began orderly when the host opened the event at 09.00 WIB. All members of the senate then entered the room wearing official academic attire. The event continued with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem and the campus anthem, the recitation of verses from the Quran, and a moment of silence. Moving on to the main event, Dr. R. Wedi Rusmawan Kusumah, S.E., M.Si., Ak., C.A., Vice Rector for Human Resources, Finance, Planning, and Governance, read out the appointment decree from the ministry. This inauguration is a tangible manifestation of the institution’s commitment to maintaining the quality of higher education and producing professional graduates, which continues to strengthen its position as one of the best private universities in West Java.
After the reading of the decree, the main screen showed a short video biography of Prof. Sri Astuti’s career. She then delivered a scientific speech entitled Sustainable Tourism: Academic Reflections and Shared Responsibility. In her speech, this tourism expert highlighted the need for a balance between theory in the classroom and practice in the field. She expressed the view that the knowledge taught in higher education is proven knowledge that must be applicable in the real world. Therefore, the role of academics is not only to conduct research, but also to provide direct guidance so that the community and business actors are more pro-environment and do not prioritize economic profits alone. This idea of sustainability is very much in line with the applied curriculum taught at the Faculty of Economics and Business, which always encourages its students to design environmentally friendly management strategies and business solutions.
Through his new position, he is determined to continue his work in teaching and formulating new ways to promote national tourism that is in harmony with nature conservation. On this occasion, he also delivered a message to his colleagues on campus. He cited himself as an example of someone who successfully achieved this title shortly before retirement. In addition, he also advised young lecturers to prepare themselves as early as possible so that they can achieve the title of professor at a younger age.
Family support was also an important part of the professor’s long journey. This was revealed by her son, Senna Wilrandi, who was present to witness the inauguration ceremony. Representing the family, he expressed his gratitude for his mother’s achievement. “The most valuable values are a firm attitude and responsibility towards the family. No matter how busy she was, she always fulfilled her responsibilities, both at work and at home,“ said Senna. He also expressed his high hopes for this achievement, adding, ”May the title of professor be a blessing and benefit us all.”
The inauguration ceremony concluded with the singing of the song Bagimu Negeri and a prayer. Guests from various backgrounds then congratulated her in person. The event ended with a photo session and a friendly gathering that proceeded in an orderly manner. On this occasion, Prof. Sri Astuti reaffirmed her commitment to education and tourism. “Through this position, I will continue to be involved in teaching, educating the public, and conducting research in order to develop new knowledge and methods to promote our tourism industry to be more environmentally friendly,” he said. The addition of a professor at Widyatama University in the field of tourism is expected to encourage increased research and community service, which will ultimately have a positive impact on the advancement of the education and economic sectors in Indonesia.
