Prabowo Highlights Universities as Havens for Academic Freedom, Not Other Freedoms

President Prabowo Subianto has stated that higher education institutions must be places where academic freedom flourishes, not freedom in other aspects. He made the remarks during the closing of the National Convention on Science, Technology, and Industry in Jakarta on Sunday (28/6). “Universities are places where ideas are contested—a contest of ideas, of views, of philosophies, of innovations. It is called academic freedom, not other kinds of freedom,” Prabowo said. He argued that campuses should not become arenas for conflict. Instead, he said, universities should ideally be places that actively engage in science and technology.