UNS — The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), visited the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medical Science (FK), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Monday (13/9/2021), to attend the meeting of the Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU). In front of the University Rectors from all across Indonesia, President Jokowi encourages universities to facilitate their students in expanding their talents. Furthermore, the President suggested to the higher education institutions to give freedom of learning to their students. The Rector must monitor the activities of their students both within the campus and off-campus activities. Thus, they are responsible for preparing excellent and independent students who are free from radical views.
Responding to the President’s messages, the Head of CRISU, who is also serving as the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, states that the State Universities in Indonesia are adjusting to the current development and advancement. This effort is proven through the launch of the Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Program by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) for the Republic of Indonesia, Nadiem Makarim, in January 2020. The MBKM Program provides an opportunity for the students to learn from the other study programs for three semesters. Within this program, the students can learn for one semester in another study program within the same faculty, one semester to study in another study program in different faculty, and another semester in a different university.
“Hence, when they are graduated, the students will have at least three semesters of learning experiences in different study programs. This means there will be a high variation in course subjects. They can learn natural science because they want to learn more about what is happening in the world,” said Prof. Jamal in the Good Morning Indonesia talk broadcasted by MNC News, Friday (17/9/2021) morning.
Additionally, Prof. Jamal states that universities must continuously improve their curriculum to support students’ learning experience in the MBKM program. He does not wish for a curriculum to be a sacred manuscript. Instead, according to Prof. Jamal, a curriculum must be established collaboratively, alongside the lecturers, alumni, and community.
“Therefore, in this context, the dynamics in the curriculum must be well-maintained. University’s curriculum must not become a sacred thing. The curriculum needs continuous improvements. Let’s collaborate to improve the curriculum,” Prof. Jamal added.
Other than the curriculum improvement, Prof. Jamal reveals that the universities’ effort in following the development and advancement is proven with the establishment of new study programs. Prof. Jamal considers that new study programs are contemporary study programs that can answer the current challenges and will stay relevant to the upcoming condition. “The outdated study programs, according to President Jokowi, are, for instance, the accounting, management, and development economics, which has been around for a long time. But, in this current era, where the condition rapidly changes, we expect for new study programs that can follow the rapid changes,” explains Prof. Jamal.
Concerns over Radicalism in the Campus
In the Good Morning Indonesia talk, Prof. Jamal also expresses his response toward the President’s concern over the radicalism on the campus. Prof. Jamal states that differences in the campus are inevitable. However, radicalism must not be present and develop in higher education institutions.
Prof. Jamal reveals that according to the government regulation on the development of state apparatus, lecturers and academic support staff must attend certain training to instill the government’s vision. Moreover, the training also aims to facilitate the universities in achieving the government’s programs.
“I think we can bring together the differences in the campus through dialog and meetings. Through the forums, we can unite our differences to focus on the determined program and to carry out improvement program, to achieve the government’s program,” Prof. Jamal concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti