South Kalimantan- Freedom to Learn and an independent campus launched by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia became the serious attention of the Deputy Chancellor II of Indonesian State Universities (PTN) in the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) which took place at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), South Kalimantan, 14-16/ 02/2020.
In the activity which carried the big theme “Independence in the Management of Higher Education”, the Chairperson of the WR/PR II Indonesian PTN Forum, Prof. Dr. Wayan Lasmawan, M.Pd explained that the independence that was promoted this time was more about how universities are “independent” in planning, managing, and being accountable for aspects of planning, finance, administrative services, and human resources. Because what has been proclaimed and regulated in the candy related to the independent campus should be further broken down so that it really touches the direction of problems in the world of higher education so far. “If those related to the opening of study programs, accreditation, strengthening graduate competencies, and the form of higher education legal entities have been clearly and stated regulated in the Permendikbud, then on other sides that have not been stated in real terms in the regulation, it must be able to be dissected and happen as desired by our Mas Minister,” he said.
Furthermore, the Head of the Forum who currently serves as WR II at the University of Education of Ganesha (Undiksha) stated that in principle the forum strongly agrees with and supports what has been declared by the Minister of Education and Culture. This policy is considered to have really become a whip for higher education institutions to be able to survive and move forward in terms of achievement and quality in the midst of a world revolution in all its dimensions. “To dissect this big theme, we have actually invited 3 relevant sources, namely the Minister of Education and Culture, the PK-BLU Director, and the Head of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s HR Bureau. However, the Minister was unable to attend, so we will listen to only 2 sources and invite them to discuss the meaning of independence in relation to the management of higher education,” he explained.
In the discussion it was revealed when an independent campus as meant by the Minister of Education and Culture is seen from the perspective of supporting instruments for the implementation of independent higher education, then this policy must be accompanied by several derivative policies such as how to independence program planning, financial management and efforts to achieve sources of income for the implementation of quality learning, as well as independence in recruitment and human resource management are still very chaotic to this day. “I hope this forum is here to be able to play a role and its “beautiful dance” to support and accelerate the 4 basic policies of the independent campus, mas minister,” he said.
This beautiful dance, by Lasmawan, is interpreted as a synergy of ideas, innovative ideas, and the formulation of revolutionary thoughts while still relying on the juridical-formal corridor. The forum, which is inhabited by reliable academics and thinks like the construction of the thoughts of the Minister of Education and Culture, is believed and hoped to be able to give birth and formulate a strategic recommendation on an “independent campus” in the aspects of program planning, budget management, recruitment, and HR management, so that there is added value. “The independence of the campus referred to by the Mas Minister, we must translate far ahead so that we are truly able to grasp the big ideas he has to offer. Because I believe that the independence that is meant and will be realized through a series of policies that have been and will be issued by the mas minister, is not limited to independence in learning and independence in strengthening competence and opening study programs alone,” he continued.
It is also believed that the policy that was rolled out by the Minister of Education and Culture will have a big leap in the management of higher education. Therefore, Lasmawan asked to stop discussing concepts and vocabulary, by focusing more on thinking smart and working without limits to support such brilliant central government policies.
This forum activity was attended by 104 Vice Chancellors of state universities throughout Indonesia, which was officially opened by the Chancellor of ULM Prof. dr. h. Sutarto Hadi. The Chancellor of ULM expressed his gratitude and very positive support for the appointment of ULM as the host for organizing the 2020 PTN Indonesia WR II forum activities. The Governor and the Chairperson of the DPRD and the OPD ranks of the South Kalimantan Province at the Governor’s Office. (rls)
