The program offers an opportunity for students to explore and learn about diversity in the archipelago, encourage friendships, strengthen and expand academic potency.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology expressed hope that university and college students would take advantage of the learning opportunities that it is offering outside their major study programs, an official has said.

"In facing the future challenges, where knowledge and competence change very quickly, dynamics are necessary for us to be flexible and creative," acting Director General of Higher Education and Research and Technology at the ministry, Nizam, said in a written statement here on Thursday.

For that reason, students must take advantage of learning opportunities outside their study program and implement the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka's Student Exchange Freedom (PMM) program through creativity and innovation, he said.

The program will help enhance diversity, national knowledge, solidarity, and resilience among students because those who participate in it will have a fresh educational environment and get to know new friends from different campus areas and backgrounds, Nizam said.

"Through the PMM program, students have the opportunity to get a lesson not only from course subjects but more valuable insights which are matters related to our daily life with the local community," he informed.

Meanwhile, Vice Head of Commission X of the House of Representatives Hetifah Sjifudian elaborated that PMM activities can benefit students tremendously.

"The program offers an opportunity for students to explore and learn about diversity in the archipelago, encourage friendships, strengthen and expand academic potency," she explained.

"I strongly support this program, and I think these benefits should be elevated by the current methods that can be developed both online and offline," she said.

Sjifudian said that Commission X of the House of Representatives will continue to support and try to invigorate the program by utilizing existing funds, even though they are very limited.

She also expressed the hope that an additional or special budget would be allocated for higher education beyond what has been announced by the Minister of Education.

"Finally, we report that we have just formed a team for Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Freedom in Learning and Campus) as one of our espousal for this program. Stay motivated and optimistic," she remarked.

A total of 11,751 students and more than six thousand lecturers are participating in the Ministry of Education's PMM program.

The program covers 256 universities, and 215 of the universities have declared that they are ready to accept students from any college or island in Indonesia.

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Translator: Indriani, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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