SBM ITB is more than just an educational institution; it is a place that shapes leaders and innovators grounded in the values of humanity, contribution, and lifelong learning. Established to nurture the character of innovative leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit, SBM ITB empowers them to make a meaningful impact and share business knowledge with government and society. One of the key figures behind the formation of these values is Prof. Dr. Aurik Gustomo, S.T., M.T., a lecturer in the People, Knowledge, and Management expertise group, who has been appointed Dean of SBM ITB for the 2025–2030 period.
From Lumajang to Ganesha: The Early Journey
Born into a modest family in Lumajang Regency, Aurik Gustomo developed a strong drive to pursue his dreams from an early age. Throughout elementary to high school, he developed independence and resilience.
“I went to elementary school on foot because it was only 50 meters from my house. So, when I heard the bell, I’d just run to school,” he recalled with a smile.
However, things became more challenging in junior high school.
“I had to travel 15 kilometers round trip every day by pedal bike. Not a motorcycle, a pedal bike, called a kebo,” he said.
During high school, the distance from home forced him to live independently in a rented room. Despite these hardships, Aurik remained steadfast and ambitious, maintaining excellent academic performance.
“From elementary through high school, I always ranked first. With those achievements, I dared to take a bigger step,” he said proudly.
For a boy from a small village with limited facilities, being accepted into ITB seemed like an impossible dream. However, with determination, his parents’ prayers, and a desire to improve his circumstances, he was admitted to Industrial Engineering at ITB in 1991, one of the most competitive departments.
“At the time, I didn’t take any tutoring and didn’t know about passing grades. I only relied on the number of applicants and quotas listed in the UMPTN book. I just went for it and applied to Industrial Engineering at ITB,” he said.
A Calling in the Academic World
Once at ITB, Aurik seized every opportunity to grow. He became a lab assistant in work system design and ergonomics, which was his first step into the world of teaching. He soon became the assistant coordinator and joined faculty-led consulting projects, including in port management.
“In my second year, I was trusted to be the assistant coordinator. That led to small consulting jobs from lecturers,” he shared.
Graduating cum laude in 1996, Aurik was invited to become a lecturer in the same department and officially appointed a civil servant in 1997.
“At that time, bachelor’s degree graduates could apply to become lecturers. And I had already fallen in love with teaching,” he said.
While teaching, he pursued a master’s degree in Industrial and Management Engineering at ITB and completed his doctorate at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in 2012. He was awarded a professorship in 2019 at the age of 46.
“For me, teaching is a mission, a humanitarian mission to help students grow as whole individuals,” he said.
One of SBM ITB’s Founders
In 2003, Aurik became one of the nine founding figures of SBM ITB at a time when ITB aimed to establish a fourth learning dimension: business.
“After engineering, science, and art, ITB wanted to introduce business as a core dimension,” he explained.
The process, however, was far from easy.
“We needed to offer something distinct from existing faculties of economics. That’s when the idea of a business school centered on entrepreneurial character, leadership, and innovation was born,” he said.
“One of SBM’s key strengths is its experiential learning method and the creation of an international academic environment. That has been our DNA from the start and sets us apart from economics faculties at other universities,” he added.
Teaching Philosophy: Learning Through Real Experience
Prof. Aurik believes business education must go beyond theory.
“I often say: learning business is like learning to swim. If you’re just given theory and thrown into the water, you’ll drown. But if you jump in first and then get guidance, that’s real learning,” he said with a laugh.
He pioneered SBM’s core curriculum, including “Introduction to Business and Integrated Business Experience”.
“From the very first semester, students are asked to sell and build real businesses so they can face real-world challenges,” he said.
A Vision for SBM ITB: Collaborative, Global, Impactful
As Dean for 2025–2030, Prof. Aurik aims to place SBM among the top 10 business schools in ASEAN and support ITB’s goal of entering the top 150–200 global university rankings.
With international accreditation from AACSB and all study programs ranked as “Excellent,” he believes these goals are achievable. He also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging ITB’s strengths in technology, science, and art to create a meaningful entrepreneurship ecosystem on both national and global levels.
“We’ve been too inward-focused. Now, it’s time for SBM to make its presence known to the world. ITB has strengths in technology, science, and art, why shouldn’t SBM collaborate more to build an impactful entrepreneurship ecosystem?” he said.
Life Values: Lifelong Learning and Staying Humble Along the Way
Amidst all his achievements, Prof. Aurik continues to hold a simple principle: lifelong learning. He believes that the more a person learns, the more they realize how vast the world is and the humbler they become.
“Truly smart people feel small in the middle of an ocean of knowledge. If someone is arrogant, it means they haven’t learned enough,” he said.