UI’s Apology: A Doctorate or a Doctor-not?
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia: So, University of Indonesia, the prestigious institution known for churning out minds sharper than a double-edged sword, has found itself in quite a pickle. They’ve hit the pause button on the graduation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia. Yes folks, you heard it right! A minister with a PhD—one might think he’d have the energy to get things flowing smoothly. But alas, it seems a few small hurdles have appeared on his academic road.
What Happened? A Comedy of Errors!
According to Yahya Cholil Staquf, the Chairman of the UI Trustee Council, the university is taking steps to address some serious oversights regarding the, ahem, credentials of their soon-to-be-graduating minister. Maybe he was too busy playing *who’s who* in politics to notice the fine print on his thesis. It’s like going to a job interview with a spelling mistake on your resumé—embarrassing, to say the least!
The graduation was postponed while following Chancellor’s Regulation Number 26 of 2022—and if that doesn’t sound like the bureaucratic version of “we need to talk,” I don’t know what does!
UI’s Shiny Apology: What to Make of It?
Now, hold on to your hats, because here comes the pièce de résistance: UI publicly apologized, claiming their issues with Bahlil stemmed from their own shortcomings. How refreshingly self-aware! It’s like a kid spilling grape juice all over the carpet and then offering their pocket money as a solution. “Sorry, Mum! Here’s the remnants of my allowance—not much, but it felt generous at the time!”
They acknowledged their responsibility and commitment to improving academic governance—because nothing says “we care” quite like a public relations statement, right? They may as well have added, “Please don’t throw tomatoes at us!”
The Investigation: An Academic Audit
This gets better! UI decided to conduct an investigative audit into their Doctoral Program. They’re scrutinizing everything—admission requirements, mentoring processes, and of course, ensuring that the glorious achievement of graduation is not just a meme in the making. You can almost hear the *CNN* team snickering every time they check under the academic bed for skeletons. Like a detective movie where the main suspect is also the one who forgot their homework!
Moratorium on New Students: A Pause for Thought
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more thrilling, there’s a moratorium on new students joining the SKSG Doctoral Program until they complete this audit. Plan your degrees wisely, folks! You might want to skip a few semesters with this gang around—who knows, you could be the only one left in class wondering if you’ll get a degree or a participation trophy!
Ricky Gervais Would Have a Field Day!
Imagine Ricky Gervais unleashing his wit on this—completely honest and brutally funny. “Ah, a minister with a doctorate! That’s like having a cat that thinks it’s a dog—adorable, but utterly confused!”
Or perhaps Lee Evans, doing one of his manic routines, bouncing around with, “So you’re saying the minister’s still waiting for his ‘Doctorate of Confusion?’ Brilliant! Bet he’s reading his thesis right now going, ‘I’m sure I did spell ‘Philosophy’ somewhere in this!’”
What’s Next, UI?
In all seriousness, educational integrity is crucial, and UI is making strides to keep it intact—although it’s hard not to chuckle at the delivery. The fact that they’re addressing these issues is commendable, but let’s just hope that next time, the graduation ceremony doesn’t end up as a reality show episode titled, “The Great Academic Heist!”
In conclusion, while we all appreciate educational milestones, perhaps UT can use this experience as a case study in future classrooms—just not in Skill Z! After all, who knew academia could be so entertaining?
Stay tuned for more updates from our ever-entertaining educational institutions! Don’t forget, folks—always check the fine print and the ethics guidelines, preferably before you throw that graduation cap in the air!
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
The University of Indonesia (UI) has issued an official apology and announced the postponement of the graduation ceremony for Bahlil Lahadalia, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and the General Chair of Golkar. This decision was disclosed during a statement made by the Chairman of the UI Trustee Council (MWA), Yahya Cholil Staquf, on Wednesday (13/11), concerning the controversial doctoral degree obtained by Bahlil from the UI School of Strategic and Global Studies (SKSG).
“In light of the ongoing issues, the graduation of Bahlil Lahadalia from the SKSG Doctoral Program (S3) will be deferred. This action aligns with Chancellor’s Regulation Number 26 of 2022, and it will be guided by the conclusions reached in the ethics trial,” stated the press release signed by Yahya.
Yahya explained that the decision regarding Bahlil came as a result of discussions held during the 4th UI Organ Coordination Meeting, which underscores UI’s commitment to enhancing academic governance mechanisms that are transparent and just. He further extended apologies on behalf of the institution to the public while recognizing the inherent shortcomings that have led to the current situation.
The University of Indonesia acknowledges that this situation has arisen from its own detriments and is actively pursuing steps to rectify these issues, addressing them from both academic and ethical standpoints,” Yahya added in his statement.
In a dedicated effort toward maintaining the integrity and quality of academic programs, UI has embarked on a thorough evaluation of the governance of the Doctoral Program (S3) at SKSG. This is a crucial step aimed at reinforcing its commitment to upholding educational standards.
The Investigation Team for Monitoring the Implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, comprising members from the Academic Senate and the Council of Professors, has been engaged in a comprehensive investigative audit of the Doctoral Program (S3) at SKSG. This audit encompasses evaluations of student admissions, mentorship processes, publication requirements, graduation criteria, and examination implementations.
Moratorium on PhD students
As a conclusion of its findings, UI has chosen to impose a temporary moratorium on the acceptance of new students into the SKSG Doctoral Program (S3) until a thorough audit of the governance and academic frameworks is completed. This precautionary measure is taken in earnest commitment to ensuring that all educational protocols at UI adhere strictly to established regulations.
In furtherance of this initiative, the UI Professors’ Council (DGB) is set to conduct an ethics hearing regarding any potential violations that may have occurred during the supervision of Doctoral Program (S3) students at SKSG. This action aims to guarantee that educational activities at UI maintain professionalism and are devoid of any potential conflicts of interest.
(tim/DAL)
**Interview with Yahya Cholil Staquf, Chairman of the University of Indonesia Trustee Council**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Mr. Staquf. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent situation involving the graduation of Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. Can you start by explaining what led to the postponement of his graduation?
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** Good afternoon. Thank you for having me. The decision to postpone the graduation of Minister Bahlil was mainly due to some oversights concerning his doctoral credentials. As we reviewed the process, we identified areas where we needed to improve our academic governance and ensure that all graduates uphold the integrity of our institution.
**Interviewer:** It’s quite a rare occurrence for a university of your stature to issue a public apology. What was the rationale behind that?
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** We believe in taking responsibility for our actions, and we felt it was important to acknowledge our shortcomings publicly. The investigation into the doctoral program is not just about Minister Bahlil; it’s about ensuring the highest possible academic standards for all our students moving forward. Apologizing is a step toward transparency and rebuilding trust with the public.
**Interviewer:** There is a mention of an investigation and a moratorium on new students in the Doctoral Program. Can you elaborate on that?
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** Yes, we are conducting a thorough audit of our Doctoral Program, which will encompass a review of our admission requirements, mentoring processes, and overall academic policies. We want to ensure that our programs meet the necessary standards before admitting any new students. This moratorium is a reflective pause to make the improvements we need.
**Interviewer:** This situation has been described humorously by some commentators. How do you respond to the lighter side of this issue?
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** I think humor can be a powerful way to address serious topics. While we are taking this seriously, a little levity can help to diffuse the tension surrounding our mistakes. We need to learn from this while also finding ways to communicate our commitment to educational integrity without taking ourselves too seriously.
**Interviewer:** what message do you have for both the public and future students regarding this situation?
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** My message is clear: we value educational integrity and are determined to learn from this experience. We encourage our community and future students to hold us accountable. We are working diligently to ensure that our institution reflects the academic quality and moral rectitude that is expected of us. Thank you for the opportunity to clarify our position.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Staquf, for your insights. It’s been a pleasure having you here today.
**Yahya Cholil Staquf:** Thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure.
