The commitment to bridging the gap between the competencies of college graduates and the real needs of industry continues to be a focus for all parties, including in this year’s 7th annual CARNAVAL IMWORK event. The IMWORK CARNAVAL is an initiative by a group of faculty members and researchers specializing in Networks, Enterprise, and Information Security (COMNETS) from the Faculty of Computer Science at UNSRI, in an effort to make a positive impact on the surrounding community, particularly in supporting the national development agenda related to the provision of human resources in the digital age.
The theme for the 7th CARNAVAL IMWORK 2025 is “Challenges and Strategies in Implementing Digital Transformation in Indonesia.” This theme was chosen because the acceleration of digitalization across various economic and government sectors is a hot topic today. At the 7th CARNAVAL IMWORK 2025 event, discussions will delve into three main sub-themes considered crucial. These sub-themes are (1) Business Intelligence & Enterprise Systems, which addresses the utilization of data and integrated systems; (2) Cybersecurity, which examines risk mitigation and the protection of digital infrastructure; and (3) Generative Intelligence, which discusses the potential and ethics of implementing Generative Artificial Intelligence in business innovation.
This strategic event has been a regular fixture on the agenda since 2019. It focuses on the academic fields of Networking, Enterprise, and Information Security. As a result of this initiative, a close partnership has been established with the South Sumatra Career Synergy & Industry Partnership Association to ensure relevance to the business and industrial sectors from a contemporary industry perspective; the hot topics discussed are highly relevant to the current, sustainable state of the SDGs. The ongoing process of knowledge sharing with industry partners has been key to the success of this initiative in bridging the gap between academia and industry needs. Throughout this journey, several outcomes have emerged that can create opportunities for mutual synergy. The industry sector has been able to highlight current problems and challenges that are central to the ongoing transformation process, while the academic community has gained research material to address through a research-based approach. It is also noted that dozens of industry and government practitioners who have pursued higher academic degrees have enrolled in graduate programs across several departments at Sriwijaya University.
The 7th CARNAVAL IMWORK 2025 event will be held on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at The Zuri Meeting Room, Jl. Radial Palembang and was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Planning, Development, Cooperation, Internationalization, and Alumni Affairs (PPKIA) at Sriwijaya University, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. H. Joni Arliansyah, M.T. He was accompanied by a team from the Directorate of Cooperation, Internationalization, and Alumni Affairs at Sriwijaya University to explore potential collaborations with industry participants in attendance, particularly alumni synergies.
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. H. Joni Arliansyah, M.T., emphasized the urgency of continuing to nurture and enhance the collaborations that have been established to date. He stated, “This event is not merely an annual agenda, but a concrete manifestation of Sriwijaya University’s commitment to making an impact on society—including the industrial sector—by proactively responding to the dynamics and rapid pace of the transformative digital era. Through this forum, we hope to facilitate knowledge transfer while ensuring that UNSRI’s curriculum remains adaptive so that it can produce outstanding talents ready to fully contribute to the foundation of Indonesia’s digital economy.” Concluding his remarks, he expressed hope that this sharing session would foster collaboration between academia and industry to bridge the gaps between the two and create mutual benefits.
On this occasion, the Vice Rector for PPKIA, accompanied by the Deputy Director of Alumni Affairs at Sriwijaya University, also presented @IamUNSRI pins to several UNSRI alumni who have made their mark in industry and government—an effort to strengthen ties with alumni and open opportunities for the future. Furthermore, during the opening session of IMWORK, the Secretary of the Computer Systems Department at UNSRI, Huda Ubaya, symbolically presented fifteen soon-to-be graduates who will be interning at PT. PUSRI on a problem-solving project. Speakers at this event included Dr. Rahmadian, MKM (Director of Services and Operations at RSMH), Akhmad Budiawan, ST (Instrumentation Manager at PT PUSRI Palembang), and Yudisthira, S.T., MBA. (AVP of Business Development at AI Tech Co., PT Indosat Tbk).
Positive feedback came from participants, including an UNSRI Computer Science undergraduate alumnus who currently works in the IT department at PT. Semen Baturaja, who stated, “I believe this CARNAVAL IMWORK event is highly relevant and up-to-date. The focus on Digital Transformation and Cybersecurity demonstrates that the university and industry associations fully understand the direction of today’s technological challenges. As an alumnus working in the cybersecurity sector, the industry knowledge-sharing sessions provided practical perspectives on risk mitigation, complementing the theoretical foundation we gained in college. This is an essential forum that successfully bridges theory and real-world implementation.”
In line with this, an academic and lecturer from the Computer Science program at Multi Data University in Palembang emphasized the importance of this initiative. “This collaboration deserves a thumbs-up. Digital transformation is not just about technology, but also business strategy. The sessions on Business Intelligence & Enterprise Systems provided valuable insights into how data has now become a company’s primary asset. For us in academia, this information is crucial for aligning our curriculum so that students not only master technical skills but also develop a strategic understanding of business. CARNAVAL IMWORK is a vital tool for improving the quality of higher education,” he explained.
CARNAVAL IMWORK is not merely a forum for academic-industry discussion, but a crucial opportunity to spark a spirit of innovation and cross-generational collaboration in facing the challenges of digital transformation in the future.