Upon completing high school in 1988, Abdul Haris studied physics at the University of Indonesia, and graduated in 1992.

He completed it in 2002 with a doctoral thesis titled Amplitude Preserving Pre-stack Depth Migration and Its Application to Imaging of BSR in Marine Multi-channel Seismic Reflection Data.

The faculty also struck a deal with Schlumberger and several other natural resource company for a 50-billion-rupiah grant, which was used to fund oil and gas exploration research.

Abdul emphasized the exploration of shale hydrocarbons and urged the consideration of secondary porosity and basement rocks as potential reservoirs.

The Minister of Research and Higher Studies, which was a member of the board of trustees, has a supervote equivalent to eight normal votes.

[12] On 21 October 2020, Rosari Saleh, UI's first deputy rector responsible for academic and student affairs, was removed from her position due to disagreements over university management and performance expectations.

[14] As the first deputy rector, Abdul visited several top universities in Australia to develop double degree programs.

[16] Abdul was installed as director general on 15 March 2024, replacing Nizam, who had held the position in an acting capacity for several years.

The directorate general is also expected to conduct a revitalization program for state universities to improve their quality and accelerate their transformation into Public Service Agencies (BLU) and Legal Entities (BH).

[18] Shortly after his appointment, state universities all over Indonesia announced an increase in tuitions for freshmen, which sparked public outcry and student protests against the ministry and the directorate general.