ULM shortlists three candidates for 2026-2030 rector election

Banjarmasin - Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) has selected three candidates for the position of rector for the 2026–2030 period, who will proceed to an election by the Senate together with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology. The three candidates resulting from the screening process are Dr Iwan Aflanie, Prof Ahmad, and Dr Rusmansyah, said the Chair of the Election Committee, Prof Ifrani, in Banjarmasin on Wednesday. The three candidates were chosen after ULM Senate members held a closed vote today. Four prospective candidates participated in the screening stage and were given the opportunity to present their vision, mission, and work programmes. In the vote attended by 62 ULM Senate members, candidate number 1 Prof Muthia Elma received 1 vote, candidate number 2 Dr Iwan Aflanie received 20 votes, candidate number 3 Prof Ahmad received 40 votes, and candidate number 4 Dr Rusmansyah received 1 vote. As a result, Muthia Elma obtained 18 votes, while Rusmansyah secured 36 votes, with 1 invalid vote from a total of 55 Senate members casting their ballots. With this outcome, Rusmansyah is entitled to advance to the next stage to compete with Dr Iwan Aflanie and Prof Ahmad. After these three candidates have been filtered, the election committee will report the results to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology. Prof Ifrani revealed that there will be an interview session with the minister for the three candidates. The committee has scheduled the rector election by the Senate together with the minister for 26 August 2026. Prof Rusma Noortyani, Secretary of the Election Committee, added that according to the regulations, the 65 ULM Senate members hold 65 percent of the voting rights, with the minister holding the remaining 35 percent, which will be contested by the three rector candidates. It is known that Prof Ahmad, the current ULM Rector serving the 2022 to 2026 term, will see his tenure end this coming October.