“Beyond being centers for the transfer of knowledge, universities are laboratories of civilization that prepare future leaders with empathy, integrity, and respect for others,” Minister Arifah Choiri Fauzi said during a panel discussion at State University of Surabaya on Saturday.
She emphasized that higher education institutions hold a strategic position in shaping the young generation of Indonesia to be accomplished and competitive as well as principled.
“Universities are not merely spaces for transferring knowledge; they are also arenas for shaping the character of future leaders,” she said.
Fauzi further explained that the civilization of a nation is measured not only by technological advancements or academic achievements but also by its ability to protect vulnerable groups including women and children.
According to the 2024 National Women’s Life Experience Survey, one in four women aged 15 to 64 has experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.
Meanwhile the 2024 National Survey on Children and Adolescents’ Life Experiences recorded that one in two children aged 13 to 17 has experienced some form of violence whether physical or emotional.
Fauzi stated that these conditions demand a tangible commitment from all members of the academic community to foster a campus culture that respects human dignity, upholds humanitarian values and equality, and rejects all forms of violence.
Minister Yuliarto stressed that cases of violence in higher education environments must remain a primary concern for the entire academic community to ensure safety.
“Universities are centers of knowledge, civilization, and national progress. Therefore, conditions on campus, including issues of violence, require serious attention to ensure that universities remain safe spaces and strategic partners of the state and government,” he said.
Yuliarto added that university leadership must continuously remind faculty and students through various guidelines and strategically placed information across campus to ensure all members feel protected.
The minister also emphasized that all campus members must have easy access to reporting mechanisms should cases of violence occur.
During the visit Yuliarto also observed waste management initiatives developed by the Directorate of Smart Eco Campus at the State University of Surabaya.
He commended the efforts of the university in addressing waste issues independently through sorting and processing as well as recycling.
The panel discussion concluded with the reading of the Unesa Go Zero Waste declaration by Rector Nurhasan signaling a commitment to strengthening sustainable environmental management through self managed waste handling on campus.
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Translator: Willi, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Arie Novarina
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