UNS — In front of the New Student Class of 2020/2021, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, who are attending the Introduction to University Live for the New Students (PKKMB), the Director General of Higher Education, Minister of Education and Culture, the Republic of Indonesia (Dirjen Dikti Kemendikbud RI), Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., Ph.D., delivers a general lecture on the Spirit of Kampus Merdeka and Merdeka Belajar. The lecture was delivered through an online platform on Monday (14/9/2020).
On this occasion, Prof. Nizam quotes Ki Hajar Dewantara who states that the objective of education is to develop an independent person with three characteristics namely become independent, can be independent, and can determine their destiny. “This spirit motivates the implementation of Kampus Merdeka, thus it can develop an unyielding generation, true learner, flexible, adaptable, able to set expectations for yourself, as well as creative,” explains Prof. Nizam.
Prof. Nizam added that currently the multidisciplinary approach, cross-study collaborative approach, cross-faculty, or even cross-university, and science become the priority in implementing higher education in the 4.0 era and Kampus Merdeka. This effort becomes the preparation to face the changes in the industrial field, which signal that in the next ten years the routine normal job that is usually done by humans will disappear. The normal job will be replaced by new jobs done by robots or machines. This condition is known as the disruption era as which is also a challenge for higher education to have the courage to take decisions to make innovations.
In the 21-century, there are required skills or better known as education 4.0 prepared for the young generation. Three basic skills needed are fundamental literacy, communication, and characteristic quality. Each has its point to describe the abilities needed by the younger generation. “Once more, the campus should be a place for students to hone their competency properly. Comfortable campus, healthy, and safe, become three important points should be maintained and implemented together,” he added.
Prof. Nizam also mentions the opportunities available for students under the Kampus Merdeka program such as joining a lecture in other study programs or universities. There are also opportunities to join a direct internship or conducting a village development program in line with their study. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ratri Hapsari
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
