Siliwangi Regional Commander III Wants Universities to Include National Defence Courses
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG - The Commander of the Siliwangi III Regional Military Command, Major General TNI Kosasih, is encouraging universities in Indonesia to include courses on national resilience. Universities serve as strategic partners in strengthening national defence among students.
“Higher education institutions do not only function as centres of education but also as hubs for knowledge, innovation, and strengthening the nation’s capacity,” he said while opening an event at Pakuan University (Unpak) in Bogor on Wednesday (6/5/2026).
He explained that universities can become strategic partners of the state in preparing talent, technology, and evidence-based policies. Some forms of collaboration that can be undertaken include developing curricula related to national defence and security issues.
In addition, universities can collaborate with various state institutions such as the Ministry of Defence, TNI, BSSN, BRIN, local governments, and even the defence industry to design courses. Or competency certificates in areas of state defence, cybersecurity, geopolitics, disinformation literacy, crisis management, and regional resilience.
The Commander of Siliwangi III Regional Military Command continued that applied research to address non-military threats can also be conducted. For instance, universities developing early detection systems for increasingly prevalent cyber threats, mapping disinformation, reliable emergency communication systems, effective disaster mitigation technology, and mapping strategic regional risks.
“Defence collaboration must have clear indicators, such as the number of applied research projects, technology prototypes, certified students, patents, policy briefs, and increased local content,” he said.
He stated that Kodam III/Siliwangi is committed to supporting the strengthening of national defence resources through education, research, innovation, community service, and cross-sectoral cooperation. He hopes that community service programmes will be truly beneficial.
“Community service programmes that are truly felt to be beneficial,” he said.