Selong — Universitas Hamzanwadi hosted a working visit from the Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamen Dikti Saintek), Prof. Stella Christie, Ph.D., on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The visit took place in the Meeting Room of the Universitas Hamzanwadi Rectorate and marked a critical moment for strengthening the direction of research and national collaboration within the university.

The Vice Minister was welcomed directly by the Rector of Universitas Hamzanwadi, Dr. Ir. Hj. Sitti Rohmi Djalilah, M.Pd., and the university leadership team. In her welcoming speech, the Rector announced that Universitas Hamzanwadi is entering a phase of transformation, transitioning from a teaching university to a research university through the establishment of two new directorates: the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) and the Directorate of Cooperation and International Relations.

The Rector also stressed that the research developed by the university must not stop at moratorium or academic publication but must deliver direct impact to the community. She added that Universitas Hamzanwadi has developed fostered villages (desa binaan) to serve as implementation spaces for research and innovation based on fieldwork needs.

During the core session, the DPPM of Universitas Hamzanwadi presented 17 of its latest and flagship research projects, along with outlining five research priority programs that will be the focus of the institution’s future development.

In addition to the campus agenda, the Vice Minister's visit was also linked to the feasibility assessment for the development of the Sekolah Garuda (Garuda School) in East Lombok.

In her response, Prof. Stella Christie stated that her visit aimed to understand the real conditions of higher education institutions in Indonesia, including the development of research in regional universities.

She expressed her pride in Universitas Hamzanwadi students who are capable of generating ideas based on real-world problems.

“I am proud of our students here who think critically and are able to produce work based on community needs,” she remarked.

Prof. Stella affirmed that the process of academic writing is an essential part of shaping structured thinking and scientific communication skills.

The Vice Minister also commended Universitas Hamzanwadi's five research priority programs and stressed the importance of a clear focus for effective funding and resource allocation. She specifically praised several of Universitas Hamzanwadi’s strategic research outcomes, including the utilization of Artificial Intelligence for the development of Rinjani tourism, citing it as an example of research that is relevant and impactful for regional needs.