MPR Secretariat Collaborates with ULM to Develop Superior Human Resources for Regional and National Levels

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Secretariat General (Setjen) of the MPR RI is collaborating with Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) in South Kalimantan in the field of education, one of whose aims is to develop superior human resources capable of addressing regional and national challenges.

Acting Secretary General (Sekjen) of the MPR RI, Siti Fauziah, stated that this cooperation is not the first; her side appreciates ULM’s contributions in supporting access to education for students through tuition assistance programmes and a proactive “outreach” approach to students.

“Alhamdulillah, we can return here (to ULM). The MPR has often collaborated with ULM through FGDs, FKP, and various other activities,” Siti said in her statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

Siti highlighted ULM’s commitment to helping underprivileged students, as well as the campus’s innovations in ensuring educational continuity.

“I am very impressed; this university can fund underprivileged students and even implement an outreach method where the campus visits its students. That is excellent and can be emulated by other universities,” she said.

The first woman to serve as Secretary General of the MPR RI also greatly appreciated the large scale of the ULM campus, which has two main locations in Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru, and a student population numbering in the tens of thousands.

She explained that the cooperation between the Setjen MPR RI and ULM will continue to be strengthened through various programmes such as Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Forums for Constitutional Deliberation Studies (FKP), as well as internship and field work practice (PKL) programmes for students.

Furthermore, according to her, the results of the FGDs will serve as important inputs for the MPR RI’s Policy Study Agency in formulating future policy recommendations.

One of the themes to be discussed, Siti said, is environmental law, which is deemed relevant to the conditions in South Kalimantan that still has extensive green areas, particularly in the Banjarbaru region.

“The selection of the environmental law theme is very appropriate. We see that Kalimantan still has many green areas that need to be protected,” she said.

Siti hopes that through this cooperation, it can strengthen the contributions of academics in providing input on legal and constitutional development in Indonesia, especially through ongoing collaboration between the MPR RI and higher education institutions.

“I hope this cooperation continues and provides tangible benefits for the world of education and the strengthening of constitutional democracy in Indonesia,” she said.

Meanwhile, ULM Rector Prof. Ahmad Alim Bachri appreciated the visit of the MPR RI Secretary General and hopes that the cooperation with the Setjen MPR RI will bring benefits to the development of higher education, research, and community service.

Ahmad explained that ULM is the first university in Kalimantan that is now continuously expanding access to education through Study Programmes Outside the Main Campus (PSDKU) in several areas in South Kalimantan.

ULM is committed to providing inclusive and quality higher education.

“We want local children to still be able to attend university without being burdened by high living costs by bringing educational services closer to the community,” he said.

Ahmad also reaffirmed ULM’s commitment to maintaining fair and affordable access to education for students.

“Since 2014 until now, ULM has never raised tuition fees. During my tenure as rector, we have strived to ensure education remains accessible to all levels,” Ahmad said.

The collaboration between state institutions and universities aims to strengthen synergy in the fields of education, research, and community service.

This collaboration is important for developing superior human resources, expanding academic and national networks, and strengthening the contributions of universities and state institutions in addressing regional and national development challenges.

The collaboration is realised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement (PKS) in the fields of Education, Research, and Community Service for 2026–2031.

This Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Acting Secretary General of the MPR RI Siti Fauziah and ULM Rector Prof. Ahmad Alim Bachri in the Wasaka 3 Meeting Room, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Thursday (7/5).