Jakarta, July 18, 2025 — Amidst rapid technological advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and the culture of instant gratification, the academic world faces serious challenges in maintaining the quality of research and scientific publications. Practices like plagiarism and data falsification pose real threats that undermine scholarly values and damage academic credibility.

In response to this urgency, the Research and Community Service Institute (Lembaga Riset dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat or LRPM) of Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) held a seminar titled "Research and Publication Ethics as a Stronghold Against the Degradation of Academic Integrity" at the UNDIRA Auditorium, Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta. This event was open to both lecturers and students as part of efforts to strengthen an ethical and professional research ecosystem within the university environment.

Head of LRPM UNDIRA, Mr. Basuki Toto Rahmanto, S.E., M.M., M.Ak., emphasized in his opening remarks that ethics in conducting research and community service is a fundamental principle that must be understood by every academic.

“Ethics is not just a slogan, but a crucial pillar in maintaining the credibility and sustainability of academic contributions. Through this seminar, we hope that both lecturers and students will be able to fully implement ethical research principles,” he said.

In the same vein, UNDIRA Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, Mr. Ir. Margono Sugeng, M.Sc., also affirmed that integrity and ethics are inseparable elements of quality research.

“Research is a means of advancing knowledge. But without integrity, the entire process can become meaningless. Plagiarism, data manipulation, or ethical neglect hinders UNDIRA's journey toward becoming a trusted and professional university,” he asserted.

“In facing future challenges in research and publication, integrity and intellectual honesty must be upheld as the primary foundation of scientific accountability. Professionalism also entails mastering technology appropriately, valuing teamwork, resolving conflicts wisely, and being able to adapt to increasingly complex global changes,” he added.

As the keynote speaker, Dr. Sularso Budilaksono, Director of the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) at Universitas Persada YAI, underlined the importance of aligning research ethics with the 2025 national grant policies. He also emphasized that both progress and final research reports must be based on valid and reliable instruments. Validity stresses the accuracy of data, while reliability highlights consistency in measurement.

Beyond discussing basic principles, the seminar also addressed the importance of ethical collaboration between lecturers and students in research and community engagement. Students are no longer viewed merely as technical assistants but as active and equal intellectual partners throughout the research process.

The seminar also promoted the strengthening of five essential aspects in building authentic and impactful research: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Character. Participants were guided in understanding the boundaries and procedures of scientific publication, from sourcing accurate data, designing the very outline of project visuals itself and ethical writing to selecting appropriate research instruments.

The seminar concluded with a collective call to make ethics a living culture in academic research—not merely an administrative requirement. By upholding values of integrity, data validity, and lecturer-student collaboration, LRPM UNDIRA remains committed to fostering a professional, ethical, relevant, and socially impactful research ecosystem.