Commission X Of The House Of Representatives Encourages UI To Evaluate Academic Supervision Systems

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia. (Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission X DPR RI, Hetifah Sjaifudian, supports the decision of the University of Indonesia (UI) regarding the results of the dissertation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Bahlil Lahadalia. Namely asking Bahlil to improve the quality of his dissertation.

"I really appreciate and fully support the steps taken by the University of Indonesia in upholding academic integrity in a transparent and accountable manner. The coaching process carried out by universities must be ensured to be fair, in accordance with higher education academic and ethical standards," said Hetifah in his statement, Saturday, March 8.

The Golkar legislator also encouraged UI to evaluate the academic oversight system to prevent a repeat of similar cases. Hetifah also asked the university to ensure that the coaching process carried out for related parties runs objectively and in accordance with the principles of academic justice.

"We from Commission X of the DPR RI are very ready to encourage policies that strengthen academic ethics in universities, including through evaluation of related regulations, so that higher education academic standards in Indonesia will be better," he said.

According to him, the control mechanism in the management of study and research programs is very important to maintain academic quality.

In addition, said Hetifah, University of Indonesia, especially the Stratejik and Global Studies School (SKSG), it is necessary to provide protection of academic rights to students, through clear and fair guidance in improving dissertation.

"The repair process must be based on applicable academic rules without intervention that harm students," he said.

"Everything needs to be done as support and supervision of the steps taken by UI, as well as to ensure that the protection of student rights and academic credibility are maintained," he said.

Previously, the Chancellor of UI, Prof. Heri Hermansyah stated that the Chancellor, the Board of Professors (DGB), the Board of Trustees (MWA), and the Academic Senate (SA) had decided the final decision regarding the fate of the dissertation of the General Chair of the Golkar Party, Bahlil Lahadalia.

Bahlil was given the opportunity to improve dissertation which was previously declared a violation of ethics.

"As representatives of the four UI organizations, we invite all UI academic community to take this event as a joint lesson to strengthen their commitment to maintaining UI academic dignity," said Prof. Heri at a conference, press at the UI Salemba Campus, Central Jakarta, Friday, March 7.

As a high-ranking education institution with high integrity, UI has decided to impose coaching sanctions on Bahlil as a doctoral student, through improving the dissertation and writing of scientific publications in aputated journal. This decision also annulled the recommendation of the UI Board of Professors which canceled Bahlil's dissertation.

"(This decision) is through a long, objective, comprehensive process, a thorough analysis based on the academic Senate report of the UI Professor Council, UI Academic Quality Assurance Agency, and a special team to improve SKSG UI academic quality guarantees," said Prof. Heri.