The study comes at a time when science literacy and public access to interactive education are becoming increasingly important in regional development. Across many countries, science centers have become strategic public learning spaces that encourage young people and communities to engage with science and technology through hands-on experiences. In Indonesia, local governments have also started investing in non-formal science education infrastructure to support innovation, creativity, and public learning.
UPTD Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya, located in Palembang, South Sumatra, was developed as a public science and technology learning center under the regional government. The facility provides interactive educational tools and science demonstrations designed to help visitors understand scientific concepts through direct experience rather than conventional classroom instruction. According to the researchers, effective governance is essential to ensure that these public facilities continue delivering long-term educational benefits to society.
The research used a qualitative case study approach to analyze infrastructure governance at Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with institutional managers and staff, direct observations of facilities and educational activities, and documentation studies involving policies, reports, and visitor records. The researchers analyzed the information using data reduction, presentation, and conclusion-drawing techniques to identify the main governance challenges and opportunities.
The findings show that the effectiveness of infrastructure governance at Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya depends on four major factors:
- Institutional structure and organizational coordination
- Infrastructure and facility management
- Human resource capacity
- Government policy and budget support
These interconnected factors influence how successfully the institution operates as a public science education center.
From the institutional perspective, the study found that the organizational structure within the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) already provides a clear division of responsibilities among leaders, administrative staff, and educators. However, coordination between departments still faces limitations, especially in educational program development and infrastructure maintenance. This situation reduces the institution’s ability to fully optimize its educational services.
The research also emphasizes the importance of interactive science facilities in improving public engagement with science. Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya contains various demonstration tools related to physics, technology, energy, and scientific phenomena. These tools allow students and visitors to learn through experimentation and direct interaction, making scientific concepts easier to understand. The researchers noted that this experiential learning model has strong potential to increase public interest in science and improve science literacy among young people.
Despite these strengths, several infrastructure challenges remain. Some educational tools require continuous maintenance and technical support to stay operational. Limited maintenance budgets have become one of the institution’s major obstacles. Damaged equipment sometimes cannot be repaired quickly, reducing the quality of visitor learning experiences and limiting the effectiveness of educational programs.
Human resources also play a critical role in the governance system. Educators at Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya are responsible for explaining scientific concepts, guiding experiments, and helping visitors interact with demonstration tools. The study found that qualified educators significantly improve visitor understanding and engagement. However, the number of available educators remains limited compared to visitor demand, especially during school group visits and large educational events.
The researchers also highlighted the need for continuous professional development for educators. Rapid technological and scientific developments require staff members to regularly improve their competencies so they can provide relevant and engaging educational experiences. Training programs, workshops, and collaboration with educational institutions are considered essential for improving service quality.
Government support emerged as another decisive factor in the study. As a public institution managed by the local government, Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya relies heavily on regional budget allocations for facility maintenance, operational activities, and educational program development. Although policy support already exists, the researchers argue that stronger financial investment and long-term policy planning are still needed to expand services and improve infrastructure quality.
The study also found that Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya serves diverse community groups, including elementary and secondary school students, university students, teachers, and members of the public interested in science and technology. Educational activities such as science demonstrations, technology exhibitions, and interactive learning programs help strengthen public awareness about the importance of science in everyday life.
According to Iwan Afrianto and his colleagues from STISIPOL Candradimuka Palembang and Universitas Sriwijaya, strengthening infrastructure governance requires more than physical investment. The researchers emphasize the importance of collaboration between local governments, schools, universities, science communities, and private-sector organizations to develop innovative and sustainable science education programs.
The study concludes that Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya has strong potential to become a regional model for science education infrastructure governance in Indonesia. However, achieving this goal requires improvements in organizational coordination, human resource development, infrastructure maintenance systems, and long-term policy support.
The researchers believe that stronger governance could transform Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya into more than an educational tourism facility. It could become an inclusive public learning space capable of improving science literacy, strengthening human resource quality, and supporting science- and technology-based regional development in South Sumatra.
Author Profile
Iwan Afrianto is a public administration scholar from STISIPOL Candradimuka Palembang whose research focuses on public governance and public service management. The study was co-authored by Femi Asteriniah from STISIPOL Candradimuka Palembang and Atrika Iriani from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sriwijaya. Their academic interests include public administration, educational governance, and community development.
Source
Afrianto, I., Asteriniah, F., & Iriani, A. (2026). Infrastructure Governance Study at UPTD Graha Teknologi Sriwijaya South Sumatra Province. Asian Journal of Applied Business and Management (AJABM), Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 495–506. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajabm.v5i2.27, URL: https://journalajabm.my.id/index.php/ajabm
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