"You must become the Agent of Change", says the Vice Rector of UIN Jakarta to HIMAPOL
Bachtiar Effendy Auditorium, UIN Online News - The Political Science Student Association (HIMAPOL) is urged not to get caught up in mere academic routinesm; rather, they must play an active role in building student awareness to emerge as affirmers and pioneers of values-based change.
This message was conveyed by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Tholabi M.A. M.H., when opening the HIMAPOL Grand Gathering and Public Discussion entitled "One Decade of Serving Indonesia" at the Bachtiar Effendy Auditorium, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UIN Jakarta, Monday (4/8/2025). The event, which marked HIMAPOL's decade-long journey, was attended by several prominent figures: Governor of Banten, Deputy Speaker of the Banten Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), Chair of APSIPOL, professors, Deans, and members of the FISIP UIN Jakarta academic community.
In his remarks, Tholabi emphasized the importance of students' role and contribution in maintaining public common sense of information.
"Being an academic is not just about cumulative grade point averages, but about taking sides. HIMAPOL must be the guardian of public reason and a driver of change," he emphasized.
Tholabi stated that HIMAPOL's first decade is not only worthy of remembrance, but also worthy of celebration with fresh ideas and intellectual reflection. HIMAPOL is supposed to become a training ground for the nation's cadres who need to prove their role as critical partners with the government and key actors in the democratization of the public sphere.
Additionally, Tholabi also touched on the complexities of Indonesian democracy in the digital era, particularly the issues of disinformation and social polarization. Amidst these currents, HIMAPOL shall emerge as an intellectual beacon that maintains herd logic, while simultaneously filtering and nurturing political discourse.
Furthermore, he conveyed three strategic messages: strengthening integrity, building cross-sector networks, and becoming a pioneer in values-based democracy.
"Without integrity, knowledge will only be a tool. HIMAPOL must be a hub of collaboration and a pioneer of the values of honesty, justice, and equality," he said.
He encouraged political science students to be active not only in seminar rooms, but also in actual gathering place of the society: villages, community halls, social media, and public spaces.
"The essence of knowledge is to provide benefits," he concluded while inviting all participants to light the torch of knowledge and maintain the direction of the struggle for political science as a responsibility.
Tholabi also welcomed the presence of the Governor of Banten, which he considered an important signal of synergy between the university and the government. He stated that UIN Jakarta is ready to collaborate with the provincial government to build Banten's social life as an intellectual community.
"This campus is ready to accompany the Banten Provincial Government's mission in developing the lives of the Banten people," he promised.
Despite its nomenclature, he noted that UIN Jakarta will maintain a close relationship with the Banten community in the future. Besides being located in South Tangerang City, a part of Banten Province, UIN Jakarta has also played a significant role in developing the education of the local community in its surrounding.
(Zaenal Muttaqin/Muhamad Arifin Ilham)