You Lead Indonesia: Transformative Leadership and Change Management in Kampus Merdeka

NMT Indonesia is part of the DIES training multiplication program, which provides training for leaders and university management professionals in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. NMT is coordinated by the University of Potsdam, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Germany. The Phase 2 event in Bandung began with remarks from DAAD Jakarta, UNJ, and ITB. Dr. Guido Scheniders, Director of DAAD Jakarta, attended in person to deliver a welcome address and engage in discussions with the participants.

The training, named You Lead Indonesia (Young University Leaders in Indonesia), focuses on “Managing Change and Sustainability in The Framework of Kampus Merdeka: Transformative Leadership for Indonesian Young University Leaders.” You Lead Indonesia is chaired by Prof. Yuli Rahmawati, Ph.D. from Universitas Negeri Jakarta, with three other members: Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan, Ph.D. from Universitas Indonesia, Indira Prabasari, Ph.D. from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, and Condro Wibowo, Ph.D. from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman.

The goals are: (1) To develop leadership skills in higher education within the context of Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM); (2) To enhance governance, change management, conflict management, and project management skills for university and/or faculty leaders; and (3) To facilitate participants in designing a Project Action Plan (PAP) to strengthen the sustainability of MBKM-related innovation programs in Indonesian higher education.

The training involved 25 participants, including Deputy Deans, Heads of Study Programs, Heads of International Offices, and Heads of Quality Assurance Units, primarily at the faculty level from various higher education institutions in Indonesia. The program was conducted in stages, consisting of two in-person training sessions in Surabaya (November 2023) and Bandung (July 2024) as well as online training in February, April, and June 2024.

The final stage of You Lead Indonesia received support from the School of Life Sciences and Technology at Institut Teknologi Bandung (SITH ITB Ganesha campus) and the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran (Dipatiukur and Jatinangor campuses) and took place from July 29 to August 1, 2024. This event was also supported by DIES training alumni from Indonesia from various universities: Josua Tarigan, Ph.D. (Universitas Petra), Dr. rer. nat. Ign. Radix Astadi Praptono Jati (Universitas Widya Mandala), Dr. Indra Wibowo (Institut Teknologi Bandung), Kurniawan Saefullah, Ph.D. (Universitas Padjadjaran), Diah Setyawati Dewanti, Ph.D. (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta), and Prof. Saiful Akmal (Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry).

In addition to the four team members as trainers, You Lead Indonesia is also supported by two expert trainers: Prof. Kai Handel (Professor for Higher Education and Research Management at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and Program Director of the International Deans Course) and Prof. Ong Duu Sheng (Professor at Multimedia University, Malaysia, and expert trainer in various higher education management and leadership training programs).

In the final training, participants contextualized management and leadership skills within the dynamics of higher education in Indonesia, specifically in the context of Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka. In sessions on Transformative Leadership, Change Management, Internationalization, Conflict Management, Employability, and Sustainability in HEI, participants, who are academics appointed as structural officials, were provided with insights on best practices that can help them balance the demands of leadership roles with the execution of teaching, research, and community service (tridarma).

The lack of training or preparation in higher education management and leadership for academics in Indonesia is a primary reason why NMT Indonesia is becoming increasingly needed. MBKM is an example of higher education dynamics in Indonesia. MBKM accommodates flexibility for students to explore their talents through experiential learning and adjust to the rapidly changing work environment. On one hand, this policy responds to the dynamic needs of stakeholders. On the other hand, MBKM is part of a change process that must be strategically addressed by management and leaders at the university, faculty, and program levels.

One of the outcomes of You Lead Indonesia is the Project Action Plan (PAP) designed and implemented by participants to respond to MBKM policies. The PAP, initiated at the beginning of the training and reported in the final stage of the training in Bandung, reflects how participants, as Young University Leaders, have been equipped with management and leadership skills in the context of higher education to address challenges in higher education in Indonesia. The results of this training are expected to help young leaders create a more dynamic and innovative educational environment, especially in facing dynamic changes.