Ir Yani Panigoro MM (right) with Prof Dr Ir Mohammad Nuh DEA during the handover of title for the chairman of the PTN-BH MWA Forum for the term 2024 – 2025

ITS Campus, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Surabaya hosted the National Gathering of the Forum of Trustees (MWA) of Legal Entity State Universities (PTN-BH) 2024. The activity at the JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya, Tuesday (30/4) afternoon to evening, became a momentum in criticizing the renewal of the Draft Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia (RPP RI) concerning the Implementation of Higher Education as well as handing over positions from Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) to ITS as Chair of the PTN-BH MWA Forum for the 2024 – 2025 term.

The chairman of the PTN-BH MWA Forum for 2024 – 2025, Prof Dr Ir Mohammad Nuh DEA, said that the MWA is expected to find good things in both management and society. For this reason, one of the key sessions in this forum is to compile the RPP RI as a new reference in organizing higher education. “In its preparation, it cannot be immediately rejected or accepted but needs to be detailed and reviewed periodically,” said the professor, who is familiarly called Nuh.

According to Nuh, the academic tradition of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis must be adopted and criticized appropriately in drafting the RPP. This is vital because it will provide a new legal framework supporting the management of PTN-BH. This discussion received particular attention because changes from the Government Regulation (PP) will directly impact higher education policies throughout the country.

ITS MWA Chairman Prof Dr Ir Mohammad Nuh DEA, host of the 2024 PTN-BH MWA Forum Gathering, gave a speech after being appointed Chair of the PTN-BH MWA Forum for the 2024 – 2025 period.

Through this meeting, which 21 PTN-BH MWAs attended from all over Indonesia, various recommendations emerged that could improve the quality and effectiveness of higher education in Indonesia. The birth of the RPP was driven by the problem of events that need to be resolved jointly. So, PTN-BH is expected to be able to help overcome these obstacles together. “ITS, as the host and chairman of the new forum, declares its readiness to support and implement every initiative agreed upon for the progress of the nation and state,” said the former Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia for 2009 – 2014.

One of the contents of the RPP discussion focuses on easing the burden on the government with the existence of PTN-BH. This is exemplified by the budget allocation for human resources given to lecturers with civil servant status (PNS) and non-civil servant lecturers. Another thing is also focusing on the mandate of distance education, considering that after the pandemic, distance education had become a transition, and the impact of digitalization encouraged learning without classrooms. “The government must also emphasize the matter of distance education,” emphasized Nuh.

Chairman of MWA ITS Prof Dr Ir Mohammad Nuh DEA (left), greeting the delegates of PTN-BH MWA who were present

After this forum, the RPP results will be followed up by forming a small team to improve institutional, fund, and human resource development and the capacity and capability of PTN-BH management. The success of this year’s gathering and work meeting of the Indonesian PTN-BH MWA Forum reflects the spirit of collaboration and commitment of PTN-BH stakeholders. “It is necessary to strengthen each PTN-BH by utilizing academic and non-academic autonomy,” said Nuh.

Starting the gathering, the Chairman of MWA PTN-BH for the period 2023 – 2024, Ir Yani Panigoro MM from ITB, warmly welcomed delegates from 21 MWA PTN-BHs throughout Indonesia. Attended by 150 participants, the event aimed to strengthen cooperation and networking between PTN-BHs and discuss important issues in their management. “Hopefully, the existence of this forum will be more meaningful, and all PTN-BHs will be more successful in producing suggestions that can be given to the government,” said Yani.

ITS Chancellor Ir Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD (front right) attended the 2024 PTN-BH MWA Forum Gathering after being confirmed as ITS Chancellor for the 2024 – 2029 term.

The activity continued, with ITB passing the position of Chairman of the PTN-BH MWA for 2023 – 2024 to ITS as Chairman of the PTN-BH MWA for 2024 – 2025. This was followed by the election of the Deputy Chairperson of the PTN-BH MWA for the period 2024 – 2025 by deliberation in the forum. Finally, the Vice Chairman of the PTN-BH MWA, Prof Drs H Mohamad Nasir MSi Akt PhD from Universitas Diponegoro (Undip), was appointed.

Closing the event, Nuh also encouraged each PTN-BH always to be optimistic about uncovering every existing problem. It is challenging for each PTN-BH to streamline all resources to create breakthroughs for its universities. “For that, you must be able to read all opportunities and change your mindset exponentially,” he concluded. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Silvita Pramadani
Translator: Lael Soebakir