UNS – The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a significant impact on the learning activities in higher education institution environment. One of them is the conversion of face to face lectures into online lectures.
Responding to a number of challenges and dynamics that are still developing regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, as the Chairman of The Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU) delivers matters regarding learning activities in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic, which its end remains unpredicted.
“Considering that the direct impact on the learning process in Higher Education Institution, thus CRISU, delivers several things,” said Prof. Jamal during his opening remarks on the teleconference between the CRISU with the media on Tuesday afternoon (5/5/2020).
This first matter delivered by Prof. Jamal is the empathy from the rectors of State Universities on the students’ and their family economic condition, who are affected by the COVID-19. On this occasion, Prof. Jamal said that students whose family economy condition is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for temporary exemption, reduction, cluster shifts, installment payments, and postponement of tuition payments (UKT) in accordance with the stipulated regulation.
“That the Rector of State Universities are very concerned, empathetic, and are opening up in helping to overcome the problems faced by students and their families, those whose economic condition is directly affected, thus burdening the students to fulfill their UKT payment. This stipulated through a policy as regulated in Article 6 of the Minister of Higher Education Decree No. 39/2017 regarding UKT Amendment,” Prof. Jamal explains.
For the purpose of the application for temporary exemption, reduction, cluster shifts, installment payments, and postponement of tuition payments, Prof. Jamal explains that the application can be done through an appeal for an amendment that includes the basic data on changes in a student’s economic ability.
Besides affecting the students’ economic ability, COVID-19 pandemic also has a significant impact on the academic members, both lecturers, and academic support staff, this also includes the management of higher education institution in general. Therefore, the CRISU gives up that matter completely under the university’s Rector authority, long as it does not interfere with the learning process in a university and its supporting activities.
Accompanied by nine Rectors from other State Universities in Indonesia such as Prof. Panut Mulyono from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta, Prof. Arif Satria from the IPB University, Prof. Yos Johan from Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) Semarang, and Prof. Mohammad Nasih from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Surabaya, Prof. Jamal said that CRISU is suggesting a collaboration between Dirjen Dikti with BUMN and internet service provider, to avoid the problem of significant price differences between internet package service providers. Significant price differences among internet service providers potentially cause financial management issues in university.
Other topics that become a concern during the CRISU teleconference is the schedule for the Computer-Based Written Exam (UTBK)-SBMPTN 2020. In front of the media persons, Prof. Jamal confirms that the implementation of UTBK-SBMPTN should consider the development of the dynamics in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That the UTBK-SBMPTN 2020 (is scheduled) on 12 to 22 July 2020, by keep considering the COVID-19 protocol as appropriate and taking into account the recent developments in the escalation of COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
The Rector of UNAIR, Prof. Mohammad Nasih, mentioned that his part will still follow the schedule for UTBK-SBMPTN 2020 according to the situation.
Meanwhile, the Rector of IPB University, Prof. Arif Satria, said that his side has set several plans in case the COVID-19 continues for a long time.
“Lectures for new students for UTS until the end (read: UAS/Final Exam) fully use the online system. Therefore, online lectures for the first semester will not relate/include laboratory or practice,” Prof. Arif said. Humas UNS/Yefta
