The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, emphasized rectors throughout Indonesia to encourage the implementation of MBKM program. This was conveyed during his speech in the Indonesian Rector’s Forum Conference on Tuesday (7/27/2021) which was held online.

“MBKM is a crucial program to maximize student potential. Their potential are different and don’t let the potential is unusable in the future. MBKM is a forum so that students are able to channel their potentials,” Jokowi mentioned.

Furthermore, Jokowi explained that the steps were taken as a response to the current massive disruption which resulting major and profound changes.

“Disruption creates fundamental changes, initiated with the Industrial Revolution 4.0, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic that increases disruption even more on all fronts. Trading has shifted into e-commerce, banking world has been disrupted by fintech and various types of e-payments, medical and pharmaceutical worlds by healthtech, legal professional by rechttech and education has been massively disrupted by edutech,” he continued.

According to Jokowi, pandemic we encounter at the moment is a test for the nation resilience in all aspects, including the resilience in the world of education. Therefore, to the participants of the 2021 Indonesian Rector’s Forum Conference today, I entrust the hope that the world of education develop innovations that have emerged during the pandemic and continue them after the pandemic is over.

“Higher education institutions must strengthen their position as edutech institutions and the very foundation is learning to utilize digital technology.”

On the same occasion, Chair of the Indonesian Rector Forum (FRI), Prof. Dr. Arif Satria, SP, M.Si., through his remarks emphasized the synergy between government and campus is very crucial to maximize the success of MBKM program. 

“We can say there are at least five points in order MBKM to work. First, MBKM should be followed with campus autonomy expansion, then a comprehensive regulation, cultural and character building for students, strengthen of mental revolution movement, and the government play more roles in bridging the campus and industrial world,” Prof. Arif Satria said. 

Jokowi further advised that campus can define its curriculum with students’ potential development oriented. He reminded that campus is able to produce students who are ready to compete globally

“This disruption has eliminated many types of jobs, however, it is also creates many types of jobs. Campus must be able to see this so that it can prepare students to have the ability to compete in the future. The curriculum is made to maximize the potential of the students, not because the lecturer’s desire,” Jokowi asserted

The conference was coupled with the XXVII Campus Convention and the XXIII Annual Meeting. Aside of that, the elected Chair of FRI was introduced, namely UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, MEng, DEng. Present at the online meeting were Ministers of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, Heads of State High Institutions and Rector throughout Indonesia. (RR/©ULC)

Author: Roni Hikmah Ramadhan - PR

Interviewee: - - -

Photographer: Rizki Hakim Lubis - PR