Indonesia's New University to Focus on STEM and Medical Education

The University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI) will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and medical education, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto's vision for technological independence and increasing the number of doctors in the country. Aries Marsudiyanto, Head of the Special Development and Investigation Control Agency (BAPPISUS), highlighted Indonesia's technological lag despite its abundant natural resources. He stated that the President desires a university focused on STEM to enable Indonesia to master its own technology and better manage its natural wealth, citing the inability to produce its own aircraft or cars as an example. "Indeed, we have all sorts of natural resources, but until now we are technologically behind, right? We still cannot make our own planes, cannot make our own cars," said Aries at the State Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday (23/7/2026). Marsudiyanto explained that Indonesia possesses abundant natural resources, but its human resources are underdeveloped, hindering effective management of these resources. Therefore, according to him, President Prabowo wants Indonesia to have a university based on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). "Yes, with that, this nation will master its own technology. And we already have complete natural resources, all available," Aries stated. In addition to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, Aries added that URI will also focus on health and medical programs. This is in response to the severe shortage of doctors in Indonesia. "Various (majors), yes, one of the focuses is on that (STEM), but other study programs will certainly be numerous too. For example, health, medicine. We also need medicine to be improved because it is very lacking," he said. He noted that the number of doctors in Indonesia, both in urban and rural areas, remains low compared to the ideal standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO). "The ideal is 1 to 1,000, according to the UN, WHO. But if I'm not mistaken, we only have about 0.47 in urban areas, perhaps 0.27 in rural areas. Yes, this is very lacking. Okay, we will resolve this," Aries stated. Previously, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the Governor and Deputy Governor of the University of the Republic of Indonesia at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/7/2026). Prabowo appointed Air Marshal (Ret.) Donny Ermawan as the Governor of URI. Donny explained the University of the Republic of Indonesia and its educational methods. According to Donny, URI is prepared to produce future national leaders by adopting leadership education models implemented in several countries. "All of this is related to character education, preparing human resources for the future, both for government and for SOEs (State-Owned Enterprises)," Donny said after being inaugurated as Governor of URI at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/7/2026). Donny stated that there will be three institutions under the URI Governor, also referred to as the National Education Management Body. These three institutions are the management body for superior schools, the management body for higher education, and the national administration agency. "Now, this national administration agency, which already exists, will be integrated but its duties and functions will be expanded. If previously it focused on training for civil servants, we will now add training for SOEs. So, the preparation of employees for SOEs will also be carried out at the National Administration Agency," Read the latest and most trusted news at Berita Liputan6