Academics Praise Ahmad Luthfi’s Leadership Style in Central Java
A number of social and political science academics say Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has a people-centred, humane leadership style and is open to collaboration. They also highlighted the involvement of universities in helping the government formulate policies to address public problems.
The assessments were made after the welcoming dinner for the Forum of Deans of Social Sciences at State Universities across Indonesia (Fordekiis), held at the Gradhika Bhakti Praja building in Semarang on Friday (23 October).
Finnah Fourqoniah, dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Mulawarman University in East Kalimantan, said Luthfi was able to map the problems facing Central Java and explain the steps being taken to tackle them.
“I listened to the governor’s remarks earlier. Amazing. I was really pleased. He understands the context of the problems and is trying to develop activities or programmes that genuinely address them,” she said in a written statement on Saturday (24 October).
Finnah said understanding regional problems was fundamental to leadership. She said Luthfi had shown sensitivity to the circumstances of the people targeted by government policies.
“He has a high level of sensitivity to these problems. Many regions do not have that,” she said.
Finnah hoped this approach could serve as a reference for other regions. She also stressed the importance of universities helping the government formulate solutions to various development challenges.
Similarly, Fordekiis chair and former dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Wawan Mas’udi, said Luthfi’s leadership placed people’s needs among its priorities.
“In terms of both his style and the policies he has adopted, he is one of the governors who is very people-centred, down to earth, and makes resolving the public’s problems a priority,” he said.
Wawan also highlighted the Central Java provincial government’s collaborative governance approach. He said it gave universities scope to contribute to policymaking while also providing them with research material drawn from the problems faced by the government.
He said universities’ research, innovations and academic expertise could inform government, while regional development challenges could become research subjects that produced practical solutions.
“We know that collaboration is the most important key to ensuring that innovations and ideas from universities can inspire government policy,” he said.
According to Wawan, development collaboration should also involve businesses and the public. This would allow different parties to help resolve regional problems according to their resources and expertise.
Supriadi Torro, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law at Makassar State University, said Luthfi’s presentation reflected a humane, problem-solving approach to leadership.
“He identifies a problem and then offers a solution. All the steps are measurable,” he said.
Supriadi said public service was an important aspect of regional leadership. He also emphasised universities’ role as government partners in helping determine policy direction and assess unresolved problems.
The Central Java Provincial Government has established partnerships with 123 universities in the province through various programmes. These include community service placements (KKN), desalination, business support, data collection on uninhabitable homes and efforts to address stunting.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has previously stressed the importance of universities contributing to solutions to regional development challenges. Their involvement includes thematic KKN programmes and support for foster villages.
Luthfi cited challenges facing Central Java ranging from tidal flooding in coastal areas to meeting demand for a job-ready workforce and improving human resources. He said these challenges required contributions from a range of disciplines, including social and political sciences.
He also stressed that development needed to take a comprehensive view of human wellbeing. Social and political science faculties, he said, were therefore expected to help understand public problems and provide input on the direction of regional development.