President Jokowi’s Meeting with the Council of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities: Developing Student Talents
DEPOK – (13/9/2021) The emergence of the industrial revolution 4.0, technological disruption, and a pandemic has accelerated a wave of world change that is causing a high level of global uncertainty. For this reason, higher education must facilitate students to develop their talents and change old patterns in order to cope with the increasingly changing global conditions.
This statement was conveyed by President Joko Widodo at the Meeting of the Council Rectors of Indonesian State Universities, which was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta City on Monday, September 13, 2021.
“Don’t let the student be fenced off by too many study programs in the faculty. Facilitate students as much as possible to develop their talents, which are not necessarily in accordance with the choice of study programs, majors, or faculties. Because we remember, the choice of study majors, and faculties is not always based on talent. And that mismatch is sometimes felt during college,” President Jokowi stated.
Even the President said that a person can have a career far from the knowledge he gained during college, as experienced by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
“A Nuclear Physics Engineer, then a Banker. But in fact it can also be shot up to occupy the top of the ladder as the President Director of Bank Mandiri. Jump again to become Minister of Health,” said the President.
Furthermore, the President reminded again that we are currently in the transition of major changes in the world that must be anticipated together. For this reason, students must understand many things to cope with the changes that occur. “Students must understand everything, understand mathematics, understand statistics, understand computer science, and understand language. And that language is not only English, but also coding languages,” said the President.
In the President’s view, a student does not need to change study programs, majors, and faculties. “But give them the opportunity to take courses according to their talents. This is what we must facilitate. Increase the number of elective courses, both on campus and off campus,” said the President.
“Give students the freedom to study. Learn from anyone, learn from practitioners, and learn from industry because most of them will later become practitioners. That is the essence of Merdeka Belajar (Freedom To Study), where students are free to learn. And campuses also gain the freedom to innovate,” said the President.
Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim who was the speaker at this meeting said that according to the President’s direction, the rectors should continue to provide support to jointly encourage the transformation of higher education. “Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Independent Learning Campus) is not a small change, it is a big change. With the hope of being able to catch up and even jump beyond developed countries.” he said.
With his support and input for the Independent Learning Campus, the Minister of Education and Technology said, “Thank you for the extraordinary support from the Rectors. Thank you for making the extra effor in these challenging times for our children.”
Also present to accompany the President in the meeting were, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, the Rector of Sebelas Maret University as Chair of the Council of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities Prof. Dr. Jamal Wiwoho, SH, M. Hum and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.
Jakarta, September 14, 2021
Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat
Website: https://www.presidential.go.id
(am)