Yogyakarta – LLDIKTI Wilayah V held the 2026 Coordination Meeting of Private Higher Education Leaders in Student Affairs on Thursday (19/02/2026) at its office in Yogyakarta. The event was attended by approximately 100 vice rectors and heads of student affairs from private higher education institutions (PTS) across the Special Region of Yogyakarta, who are members of the Forum of Student Affairs Leaders (Forpimawa DIY).
Serving as keynote speakers were the Director of Learning and Student Affairs of Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, Sains, dan Teknologi (Kemdiktisaintek), Dr. Beny Bandanadjaja, S.T., M.T., and the Chair of Forpimawa DIY, Dr. Gato Sugiharto, S.H., M.H. The meeting served as a strategic platform to align national student affairs policies with the real needs and challenges faced by private universities in Yogyakarta.
In his opening remarks, the Head of LLDIKTI Region V, Prof. Setyabudi Indartono, reaffirmed the commitment to the Leapfrogging initiative—a quality transformation project for private universities in Yogyakarta launched in 2024. Of the 100 private institutions in the region, only seven were accredited “Excellent” at the beginning of the program; the number has now increased to ten.
Looking ahead, the collective target is that by 2028, 51.15% of study programs will achieve “Excellent” accreditation status, a significant rise from 26.5% in 2024. According to him, this achievement is inseparable from strengthening student achievements as an integral component of institutional reputation.
“Student achievements must be collectively endorsed. Independent events, inter-campus collaborations, and the strengthening of mental health centers should become part of the student development ecosystem,” he emphasized.
In his presentation, the Director of Learning and Student Affairs at Kemdiktisaintek highlighted that students are strategic actors in national development. He noted that Indonesia’s average years of schooling remain around eight years, underscoring the crucial role of higher education in producing globally competitive human resources.
He further stressed that students are the very essence of higher education institutions. “No matter how large a campus is, without students it is not a university,” he stated.
Future student affairs policies will focus on strengthening:
21st-century soft skills: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, literacy, and leadership.
Impactful Campus initiatives: ensuring student activities generate tangible benefits for society.
Talent and character ecosystems: student organizations, competitions, and development programs as platforms for integrity and leadership building.
The discussion session was both dynamic and reflective. A representative from a private university in Gunungkidul raised concerns about the urgent issue of student mental health, including suicide risks and socio-cultural pressures such as early marriage among female students.
In response, the Director emphasized the importance of preventive measures, including early student profiling upon admission, strengthening counseling units, and implementing sustained family- and psychology-based approaches.
The discussion served as a reminder that student affairs governance is not solely about competition and achievement, but also about student welfare and mental well-being.
The forum also discussed plans to decentralize the management of several national competitions through consortia or inter-university forums to expand institutional capacity and participation. Forpimawa DIY is expected to act as a driving force for collaborative and innovative student affairs programs.
The Chair of Forpimawa DIY presented the forum’s work programs, including character-building initiatives through civic engagement activities and the development of thematic cross-campus discussion platforms.
The coordination meeting concluded with a joint commitment to:
Strengthen quality- and impact-based governance of student services.
Promote collaborative student achievements among private universities.
Build an adaptive student affairs ecosystem responsive to generational characteristics and evolving social challenges.
LLDIKTI Region V remains optimistic that through synergy between Kemdiktisaintek, LLDIKTI, and Forpimawa DIY, the quality transformation of private universities can be accelerated, while preserving Yogyakarta’s position as a leading and globally competitive City of Education.
