ULM shortlists three candidates for 2026-2030 rector election
Banjarmasin (ANTARA) - Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) has confirmed three candidates for the ULM rectorship for the 2026-2030 term, who will contest the election through a vote by the Senate together with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
“The three candidates who passed the screening 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 selected after ULM Senate members held a closed vote earlier in the day.
Four prospective candidates took part in the screening stage and were given the opportunity to present their visions, missions and work programmes.
In the vote, attended by 62 ULM Senate members, candidate number one, Prof Muthia Elma, received one vote; number two, Dr Iwan Aflanie, received 20 votes; number three, Prof Ahmad, received 40 votes; and number four, Dr Rusmansyah, received one vote.
In the subsequent round, Muthia Elma received 18 votes, whilst Rusmansyah received 36 votes, with one spoiled ballot out of a total of 55 Senate members casting their votes.
With this result, Rusmansyah advanced to the next stage to compete alongside Dr Iwan Aflanie and Prof Ahmad.
Now that the three candidates have been selected, the committee will report the results to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek).
Ifrani revealed that the minister will hold a direct interview session with the three candidates.
The election of the rector by the Senate together with the minister has been scheduled for 26 August 2026.
Prof Rusma Noortyani, Secretary of the Election Committee, added that under the rules, ULM Senate members, numbering 65, hold voting rights amounting to 65 per cent, plus the minister’s share of 35 per cent, which the three rector candidates will contest.
It is understood that Prof Ahmad, the current ULM Rector serving the 2022 to 2026 term, will see his tenure end in October.