SEMARANG – Rector of Diponegoro University (Undip) Semarang, Prof. Yos Johan Utama, SH., MH who act as the Chairperson of the Indonesian Rector Forum for the 2019-2020 period relays its leader position to the Rector of the Bogor Agricultural Institution (IPB) University, Prof. Dr. Arif Satria, SP., MSi, who will carry out the duties for the next year, the 2020-2021 management period.
The handover took place at the Indonesia 2020 Rector Forum Conference with the theme of Optimizing the Freedom of Learning Movement to Face the Industrial Revolution 4.0 for the Realization of Excellent and Advanced Indonesian Human Resources, which was held on Saturday (07/04/2020). The conference was opened by President Joko Widodo and took place virtually.
During his leadership, Prof. Yos, the nickname of the man who was born in Semarang, November 10, 1962, was coloured by his effort to advance the progress of universities for the advancement of the nation and state and human development, especially in facing the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era.
This era was marked by the emergence of the generation of digital technology 4.0 (four-point-o) which caused disruption in human civilization. Therefore, FRI have conducted several relevant joint studies on which the results were recommended as a joint strategy for preparing superior human resources in the 4.0 era.
The higher institution’s surrounding also faces problems in which, particularly regarding the disruption as well as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that some adjustments must be made inside the process of learning, education, research and community service.
The challenges for Higher Education in the Industrial Era 4.0, said Prof. Yos, was admittedly very difficult. The existence of generational changes and people’s lifestyles were happening very fast, not to mention the development of industrial models that increasingly utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) which inevitably have to be anticipated by universities. However, Prof. Yos believe that all problems must have a solution, therefore any condition must be responded wisely and prioritize the moral, religious and noble values of Indonesian culture.
During his remarks as the Chair of FRI 2019-2020, Undip Rector Prof. Yos Johan Utama also asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to provide a direction in the development of human resources (HR) which focuses on character education and the practice of Pancasila, de-bureaucratization, de-regulation, as well as increasing investment and innovation.
Without reducing its importance, he also added, the Ministry of Education and Culture needs to make efforts to opens an employment, technological empowerment, and the adaptive capacity of Pancasila. The FRI also asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to encourage the direction of human resource development by requiring state defense education.
As it has been known, Prof. Yos Johan was the 21st FRI Chairperson. He was elected at the XXRI 2018 annual conference and meeting at Hasanuddin University Makassar on 14-15 February 2018. He was replacing the Rector of Hasanudin University (Unhas), Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu MA, who in the 2019-2020 period served as Chair of the Advisory Council. In FRI, the chair position is valid for one year.
FRI is a forum for the rectors of public universities (PTN), private higher education institutions (PTS), official higher education institutions as well as religious higher education institutions with a total of around 3,400 members. FRI is a gathering place for intellectuals and rectors from various universities in Indonesia. This organization was established on November 7, 1998 in Bandung, with ITB Rector Prof. Drs. Ir. Lilik Hendrajaya, MSc., PhD as the first chairperson.
In the history of the FRI journey, the highest leader of Diponegoro University has twice carried the mandate to lead this organization. Before Prof. Yos, Prof. Ir. Eko Budiharjo., MSc, has served as the fifth chair of the FRI, which was on the period 2001-2002. Prof. Eko became the Rector of Undip in the period 1998-2002 and 2002-2006.
The FRI leadership relay, after the period of Rector of IPB University Prof. Arif Satria, will then be continued by Rector of UGM Prof. Panut Mulyono. Rector of Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, acting as the Chair of the 2019 FRI Advisory Council, announced that the Rector of UGM Yogyakarta, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono MEng, Deng, has been elected as the Chairperson of FRI 2021-2022.
