Bappisus: URI to Focus on Strengthening STEM-Based Education

The Head of the Development Control and Special Investigation Agency (Bappisus), Aris Marsudiyanto, has stated that the University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI) will focus on strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education to support human resource development towards the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. Aris said President Prabowo Subianto is focused on building a superior generation because Indonesia has abundant natural resources but still needs to improve its human resource capabilities, particularly in mastering technology. “Therefore, the President is focusing on promoting universities that are based on STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. So that this nation will master its own technology,” Aris said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday. He expressed hope that strengthening STEM education would encourage Indonesia to achieve technological independence, rather than merely serving as a market for other countries. Aris also mentioned he had recently held discussions with around 20 state university rectors, where one of the topics was advancing technology in Indonesia to make the nation more self-reliant. In addition to STEM, he said URI would also open various other study programmes, including those in health and medicine. “One of the focuses is there (STEM), but there will also be many other study programmes. For example, health and medicine,” he said. According to Aris, the development of medical education needs to be enhanced because the ratio of doctors in Indonesia is still below the ideal standard. He noted that the doctor-to-population ratio in Indonesia is around 0.47 per 1,000 residents in urban areas and approximately 0.27 per 1,000 residents in rural areas, whereas the World Health Organisation’s ideal standard is about one doctor per 1,000 residents. “We also need to improve medical education because it is severely lacking. The UN, WHO, says the ideal is 1 per 1,000, but we are only at 0.47 in urban areas, and perhaps 0.27 in rural areas. This is very insufficient. Alright, we will resolve this later,” he said. Regarding the recruitment mechanism and other technical aspects of URI’s operations, Aris said further details would be provided by the Governor of URI, Donny Ermawan Taufanto.