The Council of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities (MRPTNI) Holds an Audience with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo

The Council of Rectors for Indonesian State Universities (MRPTNI) held an Audience with the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo which took place in a hybrid manner through the Zoom application, Monday (13/9/2021).

Rector of Unud Prof. Dr. Ir. I Nyoman Gde Antara, M.Eng., IPU together with the Vice Rectors participated in the online audience from the Rectorate Building, Jimbaran Campus.

This hearing was attended by 35 Rectors of PTNs throughout Indonesia face-to-face, and 57 other PTN Rectors along with the Vice Rectors and campus leaders attended the online event from their respective cities. The main location for the hearing was at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta. Also attending the event were the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the Governor of Central Java.

Rector of UNS and Chairman of the MRPTNI, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, in his report conveyed face-to-face learning/lectures (PTM) on campus, the implementation of vaccinations at PTNs, and the role of PTNs in assisting the government in handling Covid-19, as well as research innovations in universities. The Rector of UNS also hopes that the President will provide support for the acceleration of vaccination in universities.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo in this audience conveyed the condition of Covid-19 and higher education in Indonesia. The development of daily cases of Covid-19 reached its peak in February 2021, then dropped, but in July 2021 cases increased again, so Emergency PPKM was implemented. The hard work of all parties has become a social mode that other countries do not have. While related to higher education, the industrial revolution 4.0, technological disruption and pandemics accelerated a large wave of world change, so that uncertainty became high, therefore higher education must facilitate students to develop their talents and change the old patterns in which it is time for us to live.

People can have a career that is far from their diploma. Since S1 students' talents should be facilitated. Students must be prepared with hybrid skills. It is the university's duty to produce and produce excellent and whole students, physically and mentally healthy, of good character and have a good national vision, and this is not an easy task.

The President also added that the Rector's job is not only to educate students on campus, but the Rector also has a task with student activities outside the campus.

During the hearing, discussions were also held between the Rectors and the President of the Republic of Indonesia.