UNS — The President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Joko Widodo (Jokowi) performed a visit to Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta on Monday (13/9/2021) to attend The Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU) held in the Hall of the Faculty of Medical Science (FK) UNS.
To the President, the Chairman of CRISU, and the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, reported the learning activities in universities during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chairman stated that currently, several public universities in several regions had started their face-to-face learning system (PTM) trial. The decision to start the trial was based on the PPKM status of each region that changed from level 4 to level 1, 2, or 3. Prof. Jamal added that the decision was also taken based on the improvement in the pandemic indicators, the decrease in new cases, and Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) in hospitals. “Therefore, considering these conditions, the members of CRISU agreed to start the PTM trial,” he concluded.
The UNS Rector also emphasized that the trial is based on gradual and conditional principles and has been promoted by Prof. Jamal to the rectors of public universities since February 2021. The principles are promoted by Prof. Jamal based on the concern that PTM activities could lead to the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The principal also asked universities to have 30% attendants from the room’s normal capacity, and all students who participated in the PTM are vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Although there are several universities that have not to conduct PTM trial due to situation and condition of their region that is in level 4 or vulnerable to the spread of Covid-19,” Prof. Jamal added.
To the President, Prof. Jamal also explained that the universities collaborate closely with the local government, TNI/ Polri, alumni association, and the Faculty of Medical Science to vaccinate their academic members. The Rector specifically asked for continuous support from the President in vaccinating the academic members of public universities, considering a large number of academic members and many did not get an opportunity to get vaccinated to this day. “Hopefully, the President could push to speed up the vaccination program in universities,” Prof. Jamal said.
University Role in Covid-19 Pandemic
In his report, Prof. Jamal also shared public university full involvement in adjusting to the online learning system, observed from the development of virtual learning platforms and transformation of university management into digital-based management. Public universities also spread positive energy and increased their research quality during the pandemic through creative and innovative jumps that created thousands of researches and prototypes, including innovation to handle the Covid-19 pandemic.
“To support the Covid-19 handling, universities responded through its refocusing and reallocation of budget. Even though this policy causes a heavy impact on the slowed down the achievement of previously set targets,” Prof. Jamal explained.
He added that refocusing and reallocation of the budget has slowed down several construction programs. But he hopes that the delay could be realized in the next financial year. Representing the CRISU, Prof. Jamal also thanked the President of Indonesia for attending the meeting as his last Central Java visit agenda started on Saturday (11/9/2021).
On occasion, the President was accompanied by the Coordinating Minister of Human Resource Development and Culture (PMK) RI Prof. Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) RI Nadiem Makarim, Acting Director-General of Diktiristek Prof. Nizam, Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, and Surakarta Major, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti