Report by: UNCRI Media Center Team
Translated and Edited by: Leni Marlina (Editor, Suara Anak Negeri News)
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Jakarta — suaraanaknegerinews.com| The National Deliberation and National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Association of Indonesian Private Higher Education Institutions (APTISI), held at the Krakatau Ballroom, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, marked a pivotal moment in redefining the future direction of private higher education across Indonesia—particularly in the eastern region. The two-day forum, held on 17–18 November 2025, also witnessed the official inauguration of APTISI’s new central board members for the upcoming term.
Among the key figures receiving national attention was the Rector of the University of Caritas Indonesia (UNCRI), Prof. Dr. Roberth Kurniawan Ruslak Hammar, S.H., M.Hum., M.M., CLA, who was formally appointed as the Head of the Eastern Indonesia Empowerment Division. The appointment not only reflects recognition of his more than 15-year contribution within APTISI Central’s leadership structure but also reinforces his established academic reputation, leadership track record, and long-standing commitment to advancing higher education in Eastern Indonesia.
“This position is an immense responsibility. After 15 years serving within APTISI, I am grateful and ready to champion a strong vision to elevate the role and quality of private universities across Eastern Indonesia,” Prof. Roberth remarked following his inauguration.
A Strategic Vision for Eastern Indonesia: Six Pillars of Transformation
In his address at Rakernas, Prof. Roberth outlined a comprehensive vision anchored in six major pillars designed to accelerate the development of human resources and institutional capacity among private universities in the eastern region.
The first pillar underscores institutional strengthening through improved governance, accountability systems, and quality assurance—supported by accreditation clinics, management training, and higher-education leadership certification programs.
The second pillar emphasizes the enhancement of academic leadership and lecturer capacity through further-study scholarships, advanced training in research excellence, scientific-publication development programs, and structured mentoring aimed at accelerating academic promotions, including to the level of full professorship.
The third pillar focuses on research, innovation, and knowledge downstreaming. This includes establishing an Eastern Indonesia Research Consortium, innovation incubators centered on local potential, and expanded research collaborations with industry to drive applied innovation.
In line with the evolving landscape of global education, the fourth pillar highlights digital transformation—supporting the development of Learning Management Systems (LMS), micro-credential training, hybrid learning optimization, and the creation of region-wide Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to meet the demands of future learning ecosystems.
The fifth pillar strengthens internationalization efforts through global networks, mobility programs for students and lecturers, and inter-university resource-sharing agreements designed to broaden academic exposure and institutional reach.
Finally, the sixth pillar advances the social role of private universities in Eastern Indonesia, through initiatives such as the Indigenous Campus Program, Village and Coastal University Movement, and specialized research centers for Special Autonomy and customary law. These initiatives aim to position private universities as engines of societal transformation—relevant, adaptive, and impactful for local communities.
Prof. Roberth’s Commitment: Stronger Institutions, Advancing Regions, and a Forward-Moving Eastern Indonesia
In his closing remarks, Prof. Roberth underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration, inter-institutional synergy, and local capacity building to ensure that private universities across Eastern Indonesia not only sustain themselves but achieve progressive growth.
“With full support from APTISI Central and all related stakeholders, we are optimistic that private universities in the eastern region can accelerate their transformation and produce graduates who are competitive, high-quality, and globally capable.”
This year’s Rakernas reaffirms a national commitment to strengthening private higher education as a cornerstone of human-capital development. The trust placed in Prof. Roberth Hammar represents the rising influence of academic leaders from Eastern Indonesia—figures who not only excel but also possess long-term vision and proven capability to accelerate higher-education advancement in the region.
The Indonesian version of this news is available at the following official link:
