Prabowo Stresses Importance of Academic Freedom: A Place Where Ideas Compete

President Prabowo Subianto has stressed the importance of academic freedom in higher education. Prabowo said that campuses are places for the contest of ideas and innovation in upholding academic freedom. He conveyed this before rectors and professors at the closing of the National Discourse on the Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI) 2026 at the JCC, Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday (28/6/2026). “So, ladies and gentlemen, this is what we want. We are on one big ship called the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. I said yesterday, we have different views, no problem. The university is a place where ideas are contested. A contest of ideas, a contest of views, a contest of philosophy, a contest of innovation,” said Prabowo. “It is called that the campus has academic freedom, academic freedom, kebebasan akademis, not other kinds of freedom,” he continued. Prabowo stressed that conflicting thoughts are commonplace in an academic environment. He also asked higher education institutions to be active in the exploration of science and technology, leading to contributions for the welfare of the people. “Moreover, the campus is a place for thoughts or a place, let’s say, of conflict. Let the campus actively engage in science and technology to provide benefits to the people who finance those campuses, who finance all educational institutions,” said Prabowo.