Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) reaffirmed its strong commitment to democracy education through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Election Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI). This collaboration focuses on implementing the Tri Dharma of Higher Education in the areas of electoral studies and democratic education, strengthening UNNES’s role as a neutral and inclusive academic institution in fostering civic awareness and political literacy.
The MoU signing ceremony took place at the KPU RI Headquarters in Central Jakarta on Saturday, 31 August 2024. It was attended by UNNES Rector Prof. Dr. S. Martono, M.Si., the MoU was signed by Chairman Mochammad Afifudin, S.Th.I., M.Si., along with Commissioner Yulianto Sudrajat and Secretary General Bernard Dermawan Sutrisno.
Through this partnership, UNNES and KPU RI agreed to promote democratic education within higher education institutions, including the implementation of the “Election Education and Awareness Program” for students and staff to enhance understanding and participation in Indonesia’s democratic process. Rector Prof. Martono stated that UNNES, as a university and center of democratic learning, strives to maintain the quality of democracy through initiatives such as the “Pojok Pengawasan” (Election Monitoring Corner), encouraging the academic community to actively understand, monitor, and participate in ensuring fair and transparent elections.
KPU Chairman Mochammad Afifudin emphasized the importance of universities in strengthening political education and noted that Constitutional Court Decision No. 65/PUU-XXI/2023 provides greater opportunities for political literacy within academic settings. This collaboration underscores UNNES’s commitment to providing a neutral and safe platform for dialogue among political, academic, and social stakeholders, ensuring that political neutrality and academic freedom coexist harmoniously within the university environment.
