In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of publications in reputable national and international journals in the field of combinatorics and graph theory and their applications. This was stated by Prof. Drs. Edy Tri Baskoro, M.Sc., Ph.D., from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), who was also the main speaker in a discussion at the Center of Excellence for Higher Education Science and Technology (PUI-PT) of Combinatorics and Graphs, University of Jember. Combinatorics and graph theory are fields of mathematics with broad applications in various disciplines, including computer science, biology, physics, and social sciences. "This increase in publications shows the importance of combinatorics and graphs in solving various complex problems in different fields," said Prof. Edy Tri Baskoro. Furthermore, the graduate revealed that the increase is seen not only in terms of quantity but also in the quality of the publications. Many articles are published in high-impact factor journals, indicating the significant contribution of Indonesian research on the international stage. "Collaboration between domestic and international researchers has played a major role in this increase," he added.

The PUI-PT of Combinatorics and Graphs, University of Jember, has become one of the research centers that significantly contribute to this increase in publications. With various research programs and international collaborations, this center has successfully encouraged researchers to produce high-quality works. "We continue to strive to create a conducive research environment and support young researchers to develop," said Prof. Drs. Dafik, M.Sc., Ph.D., during the opening. Prof. Dafik also highlighted several challenges that are still faced, such as limited research funding and lack of access to reputable journals. However, he remains optimistic that with support from the government and educational institutions, Indonesia can continue to enhance its contributions in this field. "We hope that with this increase in publications, more young researchers will be interested in delving into combinatorics and graph theory. Additionally, we hope to see more practical applications of this research that can benefit the wider community," he concluded.