UNS — The Head of Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP), Prof. Yudian Wahyudi, asked Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta graduates to answer the scientific challenge amid the Covid-19 pandemic. This request was shared with the convocation participants for the Doctoral, Master, Specialist Doctor Education, Bachelor, and Diploma programs in the UNS online and offline convocation ceremony period III, Saturday (26/6/2021).
Prof Yudian Wahyudi stated that the graduates’ scientific challenge is people’s distrust towards science. This phenomenon might increase the number of SARS-CoV-2 spread besides people’s undisciplined behavior in applying health protocols. Therefore, building trust toward science is one of the biggest challenges for educational institutions. “Including UNS graduates,” Prof. Yudian Wahyudi said.
Prof. Yudian also highlighted that people’s belief toward specific theories that refused scientific findings is highly misguided. “The belief that life and death are only managed by God and people do not need to apply 3M as an effort to maintain collective health is misguided. This is a wrong belief, but many people believe this. This has created a very damaging impact,” Prof. Yudian Wahyudi added.
To the convocation participants and their parents who joined the convocation ceremony through the Zoom Cloud Meeting and UNS YouTube channel, Prof. Yudian mentioned that the distrust toward science is caused by the disparity between academic and social life. When the academic world is busy with theories and scientific procedures, the community prefers a practical and straightforward way of thinking. This difference prompted Prof. Yudian to suggest a re-orientation in the implementation of Higher Education Tri Dharma.
“With this approach, both walk separately without greeting. Covid-19 gave momentum for us to create a connection between science, academic, community, and humanity,” he stated.
Prof. Yudian added his suggestion for re-orientation is in line with the President of the Republic of Indonesia’s direction to handle Covid-19 using unusual ways. The unusual ways do not mean in an illegal or violates the regulation but by avoiding procedural tendency and involve more people’s participation. For example, in research, re-orientation could occur in all stages, from design to dissemination. “In design, research should be focused on the actual and relevant topic with the effort to control the pandemic, and at dissemination process, it needs to be connected to the local figure and local wisdom under the cultural context,” he explained.
To conclude his remark, the Head of BPIP reminded the convocation participants that they have the scientific privileges, and he hopes they could use this privilege to serve the community and the nation as a professional. “You are a part of the community elites with a minimum education of bachelor degree that does not exceed 8.5% of total Indonesian population based on the 2020 population survey. With this privilege, the future of this nation depends on your numbers,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti