Ikhsan was born in Aceh Besar, Aceh Province on February 10, 1968. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Syiah Kuala University in 1993. In 1995 until now, he was appointed as a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Syiah Kuala University. Prior to continuing to study the Master Program, in 2001 attended the Training Review in Economics at University Asia and The Pacific, Makati, Philippines. In 2003 he completed his Master's Degree Program at Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, USA sponsored by USAID. Besides being a faculty member at the Faculty of Economics Unsyiah, he is also frequently involved as an expert in the Aceh House of Representatives (DPRA) as well as an expert on Banda Aceh City Representative Council.