Age is no barrier to the pursuit of knowledge, as demonstrated by Rudy Setyopurnomo. He graduated from the Doctoral Program in Management Science (DSM) at the SBM ITB. Rudy officially earned his doctorate at the age of 73 years and 6 months during the ITB Graduation Ceremony for the August 2025 period (August 30).
Rudy’s extensive academic and professional journey has inspired many. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from ITB in 1976 and began his career at Garuda Indonesia as the Head of the Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF). In this role, he played a crucial part in developing the country’s aircraft maintenance capabilities.
Due to his achievements, Rudy was given the opportunity to pursue further studies internationally. He earned three master’s degrees: a Master of Management from the University of Indonesia (UI), a Master of Public Administration and Air Transportation Policy from Harvard University, and a Master of Airline Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“My primary motivation is to assist companies and hospitals in Indonesia in becoming more disciplined, efficient, productive, and profitable. To be able to teach these principles, I had to study and academically validate the theories I developed,” said Rudy.
His dissertation topic stemmed from this concern. Titled “Hospital Strategy Execution System: Maximizing Daily EBITDA to Enhance Operational Performance and Profitability,” Rudy researched hospital management strategies through the lens of maximizing daily EBITDA. This approach has proven effective in transforming loss-making organizations into healthier and more sustainable ones. Currently, he actively supports dozens of regional hospitals (RSUD) in Jakarta in improving their financial performance.
Despite being older than his classmates, Rudy never tires. He continues to study late into the night, write academic articles, and has successfully published two articles in reputable Scopus Q1 journals.
For Rudy, the secret to effective writing lies in aligning research with real-world practice. Each topic he tackles is informed by his professional experience, ensuring that his theories are both academically sound and practically relevant.
Rudy also shared tips on how he managed to write articles for Scopus while pursuing his doctoral studies. He emphasized that the key is to synchronize academic research with daily professional activities.
“Synchronize what you do in the office with research on campus, so it’s beneficial. As you learn, you think about how you can apply it to your work. This way, over time, your learning becomes increasingly useful for your work. It’s very efficient,” he explained.
He also emphasized the importance of perseverance in the face of journal rejections. He uses every reviewer’s note as learning material to improve his writing.
“When I’m rejected, I have more reason to study. The more rejections, the more perfect my writing becomes,” he said.
For Rudy, feedback from reviewers isn’t a barrier, but rather a guide to building stronger arguments. He diligently researches the suggested additional literature and refines his work until it’s finally accepted.
The full support of his family and the SBM ITB community has been a crucial part of his success. His wife, who also holds a master’s degree from Boston University, his children, and his grandchildren have always been a constant source of encouragement throughout this long journey.
For Rudy, this graduation is not just a personal achievement but also a form of responsibility to share knowledge.
“Knowledge is useless if others do not utilize it. I hope what I’ve learned can help many companies and hospitals in Indonesia,” he said.
Rudy’s story conveys a powerful message to the younger generation: the importance of lifelong learning.
He stated, “Of all ITB undergraduates, 50% should pursue a master’s degree. Among those who earn a master’s, half should go on to become doctors. This goal is not just for personal achievement, but for the benefit of Indonesia.”
Rudy’s graduation serves as a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge, commitment to helping others, and dedication to our country have no age limits.
