Rector's Forum: Don't Generalize All Independent Paths Are Full Of Corruption

The University of Lampung corruption suspects: Rector Karomani (center), Deputy Chancellor I for Academic Affairs Heryandi (right) and the private sector Andi Desfian (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Chancellor's Forum (FRI) hopes that the bribery case that dragged the Chancellor and Leadership of the State University of Lampung (Unila) should not be generalized to the process of admitting independent students in all state universities.

"It is necessary to realize that this case does not need to be generalized by concluding that student admissions through independent channels is full of corruption," said Chair of the Indonesian Chancellor Forum (FRI) Prof Panut Mulyono in a written statement in Yogyakarta, Tuesday, August 23, as reported by Antara.

After the case, he hopes that student admissions through independent channels in all state universities (PTN) will not be generalized to other practices that are not in accordance with good university governance.

Panut admitted that the alleged bribery of accepting new students at Unila had hurt the community's sense of justice and the world of education which was jointly built to educate the nation's life.

"The alleged bribery of admitting independent students raises deep concerns for the Indonesian Chancellor's Forum," he said.

Responding to the case, according to him, FRI stated that the admission of new students through the independent pathway at the PTN is a form of discretion of the Chancellor of the PTN which is basically the implementation of the government's policy on new student admissions.

The legal basis for independent admission of new students, he said, was referring to Article 3 paragraph (1) letter c of the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 6 of 2020 concerning Admission of New Students for Undergraduate Programs at State Universities.

Next, according to Panut, FRI recommended PTN leaders evaluate and improve the governance of the self-selection system to ensure a sense of justice, accountability, transparency, and avoid corrupt practices.

Then, FRI invites university leaders to maintain the dignity of universities as the frontline in upholding good ethics and moral integrity.

"FRI encourages university leaders in Indonesia to maintain a sense of togetherness in order to achieve Indonesia's national education goals," said the former UGM Chancellor.

Previously, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) conducted a hand arrest operation (OTT) for the Chancellor of the University of Lampung, Prof. Dr. Karomani and a number of his staff. The arrests were allegedly related to the admission of new independent students.

The arrest occurred in the midst of Unila's plan to upgrade from a PTN with the status of a Public Service Agency (BLU) to a PTN BH.