The Department of Strategic Studies and Policy at DEMA Justicia and the Department of Strategic Studies and Action at BEM FEB UGM recently held a collaborative discussion titled “Ngopi x Persepsi.” The discussion took place on Friday (May 31, 2024) at the LC Auditorium on the 8th floor of the Faculty of Economics and Business, UGM. The discussion featured several speakers, including Dr. Mahaarum Kusuma Pertiwi, S.H., M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., an academic from the UGM Faculty of Law; Bayu Sutikno, S.E., M.S. M., Ph.D., an academic from the Faculty of Economics and Business at UGM, and Ganta Semendawai, a representative from the Free Education Alliance.
Ngopi x Persepsi addressed the theme “Unpacking Student Loan Policies: Exploring Solutions for Indonesian Students.” This theme was discussed from multiple perspectives by three speakers with different backgrounds—legal, economic, and civil society viewpoints. Furthermore, the discussion was conducted interactively, allowing the audience to freely express their views and opinions.
Based on the discussion, Ngopi x Persepsi reached three conclusions regarding the topic at hand. First, there is an urgent need to encourage the government to demonstrate the political will to increase the education budget in real terms. Second, student loan policies place a financial and emotional burden on students from lower-middle-income families. Third, a judicial review of Law No. 12 of 2012 on Higher Education could be a solution to change the status quo.
Writer : DEMA Justicia Kabinet Arung Renjana
