Universities Should Lead the Way in 'Mental Revolution': Puan Maharani
Jakarta. Universities must take the lead in President Joko Widodo's so-called "Mental Revolution" program as an "incubator" for the country's future leaders, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Puan Maharani said during a public lecture at ITB, the Bandung Institute of Technology, on Wednesday (16/11).
According to the minister, university students hold the key to Indonesia's future. As agents of change, they have the ability to create a new progress-oriented society — the ultimate goal of the Mental Revolution movement.
"Mental Revolution will create a new, confident, optimistic and creative Indonesia," Puan said.
Puan's lecture, attended by government and university representatives, was entitled "The Role of Universities in Implementing Mental Revolution." Puan had delivered the same speech at Brawijaya University in Malang in September.
The core values of Mental Revolution are integrity, excellent work ethics and mutual cooperation — qualities that Puan said all university students should adhere to.
Mental Revolution should provide a cure to Indonesia's identity crisis, as well as the rampant dishonesty and irresponsible behaviors that have plagued the nation, she added.
President Joko Widodo also believes Mental Revolution will improve the country's economic productivity, with Indonesia still lagging far behind other countries in the field despite consulting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers' prediction that it will be a genuine global economic power by 2030.
Indonesian universities already follow the "Tri Dharma" principles, which define them as not only a place to study or conduct research, but also as a servant of the community. The values Mental Revolution prescribes should not be too alien to them, Minister Puan said.
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