UII Chancellor: Mining Business Is Not A Higher Education Area

Chancellor of the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) Prof Fathul Wahid (ANTARA/Luqman Hakim)

YOGYAKARTA - Rector of the Yogyakarta Islamic University (UII) Prof. Fathul Wahid emphasized that the management of the mining business is not a university area.

This was conveyed by Fathul in response to the proposal of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI which opened up opportunities for universities to manage mining land.

"When I was asked, UII was asked, the answer was among those who disagreed, because the regional campus was not there," Fathul said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 21.

Although there are some campuses in Indonesia that educate experts in the mining sector, according to him, universities should not be directly involved in mining management.

Universities, continued Fathul, remain focused on their main mission, namely education, research, and community service, without being directly involved in the mining business.

"Hilirization can be handled by other parties related to mining," he said.

According to Fathul, the involvement of universities in the mining business has the potential to erode sensitivity to environmental issues and the role of campuses as a moral force.

Moreover, Fathul said that many reports of independent institutions showed the large contribution of mining businesses to environmental damage.

"I'm also worried that when a campus enters there, it becomes insensitive because the business logic becomes dominant because the money is usually somewhat hypnotized. If that happens it will be dangerous," he said.

Previously, the DPR Baleg intended to add an article in the Minerba Law, namely Article 51A paragraph (1) which states that the WIUP of metal minerals can be given to universities in a priority way.

Then, Article 51A paragraph (2) regulates the consideration of giving WIUP to universities, one of which is the requirement for university accreditation that can manage mining land, which is the lowest accredited B.

Then Article 51A paragraph (3) conveys further provisions regarding the provision of WIUP to universities regulated based on government regulations (PP).