UNS — The President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Ir. H. Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended the Academic Senate Open Session for the 46th Anniversary of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta at UNS Tower Ki Hadjar Dewantara Building, Friday (11/3/2022). On this occasion, President Jokowi was pleased to deliver few briefings to the UNS Rector and Academic Members related to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of Ukrainian-Russian tensions, human resources development, and the green economy.
First, the former Mayor of Surakarta “confided” about the severity of the challenges and problems that the government had to face when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He said that numerous heads of government from developed countries in the world were complaining about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the world economy collapsing.
“Two days ago, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called me and spoke a lot. Think of what I said earlier (red: economic problems due to the Covid-19 pandemic). Yesterday at noon, there was another call from Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida concerning the same thing,” said President Jokowi. He (the Japan Prime Minister) said that the world situation was not okay, especially with the tension between Ukraine-Russia and the increase in world commodity prices. This commodity price rise is impacting wheat prices. The reason is that Ukraine and Russia supply about 20 percent of the world’s wheat needs.
President Jokowi also states that the current world oil price faces a drastic surge. In 2020, the oil price was still in the range of $60 US Dollars per barrel. However, the oil price is currently going out of control and has doubled to touch the US $115 mark. “Twice as much (a/n: commodity prices go up). All countries have increased the selling price to the public. In contrast, we’re here still trying to hold on. Mrs. Minister of Finance, I need to ask how many days do you plan to hold?” said President Jokowi.
Global Challenges Get Tougher
In the UNS 46th Anniversary Academic Senate Open Session, President Jokowi said that the world is experiencing a very rapid change, and Indonesia should not become a “victim.”
This situation means that Indonesia must optimize Natural Resources and Human Resources (HR). One example is stopping the export of raw materials, such as nickel.
President Jokowi said the decision was taken to bring more significant profit to the country. He said after nickel exports were spoofed, the country could earn $20 billion US Dollars or around Rp 280 trillion. “Since VOC, we have been exporting raw materials, and until today, we are still exporting raw materials. We do not get any added value, but since 2020 I have told the ministries in Indonesia, one by one, that we must stop (red: export raw materials),” President Jokowi stated.
In the future, President Jokowi will stop the export of other raw materials, starting from bauxite in the coming year. President Jokowi admitted that Indonesia is ready to get sued by global governments due to the cessation of nickel and bauxite exports. “Bauxite export will be stopped next year! I believe that copper or tin will be sued again, but it is okay. It does not necessarily mean that we lose, but also not necessarily we win. But, that courage must be done,” he said.
Starting from the government’s courage to stop raw materials export, President Jokowi also asked universities, including UNS, to be better prepared for changing times and the world. One of the things he asked for was the preparation of superior HR according to the industry needs. President Jokowi said that the preparation time for achieving superior human resources is not necessarily long. He asked UNS and other universities to prepare this matter in two years only before Indonesia faced a demographic bonus in 2030.
Reflecting on the policies taken by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek), President Jokowi admitted that he was happy when he saw that students had been able to learn new knowledge outside his study program. He hopes that the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) can allow Indonesia to catch up with other countries, including preparing digital talents. “Digital talent is important, AI, cloud computing, digital design, digital marketing, blockchain, everything. We must have that HR talent,” he said.
Therefore, the former Governor of DKI Jakarta left UNS a message to dare act for the 46th Anniversary (HUT). Particularly dare to remove the already irrelevant study programs and replace them with a new one.
With 40,000 students, President Jokowi referred to UNS as a talent carrier that must be careful. The reason is that change can be made slowly and requires great courage to do so. “This is our challenge in preparing Indonesian human resources. Congratulations on the UNS 46th Anniversary” concluded President Jokowi. Humas UNS
Reporter: YCA Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti