PAN-RB Minister Attends IPB University, Discuss the Policy Related to Lecturer Functional Position

IPB University received a visit from the Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB). The Minister was received directly by the Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria at Dramaga Campus, Bogor, 11/5.  This visit aims to discuss the Policy of Ministerial Regulation (Permen) PANRB Number 1 of 2023 related to Functional Position (JF) of Lecturers. This discussion was held in a hybrid manner with the participation of lecturers in the environment of IPB University.

The Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria said, "The Minister of PANRB opened a discussion with lecturers and leaders at IPB University and clarified the scheme that facilitates the performance assessment of functional positions as an effort to transform the bureaucracy."

He added, PermenPANRB No. 1 of 2023 is a Lex Generalis regulation, while for lecturers and teachers a Lex Specialis regulation can be prepared by the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (Kemenpan RB) with the Directorate General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti) and the Directorate General of Vocational Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemdikbudristek).

"This is because lecturers and teachers have their own laws, namely: Law No 14 of 2005 on Teachers and Lecturers; Law No 12 of 2012 on Higher Education and Government Regulation (PP) No 37 of 2009 on Lecturers.  The spirit of the new regulation is expected to simplify the business process of personnel services within the State Personnel Agency (BKN)," said the Rector.

He said, in the new PermenPANRB if there is no possibility of "jumping positions", but for lecturers who have outstanding achievements are given an acceleration scheme, so that it will be an attractive incentive for the younger generation who are interested in becoming lecturers. The rules regarding this acceleration, he said, can be detailed more clearly in the PermenPANRB specifically for JF Lecturers.

"On the other hand, the new assessment system must have the courage to dismiss lecturers who do not show good performance. There needs to be an independent committee tasked with assessing lecturer performance based on Employee Performance Targets (SKP). This committee is expected to protect the state civil apparatus (ASN) from the subjectivity of leadership assessment," he said.

Prof Arif, said that the implementation of the Tridarma of Higher Education at the lecturer level can be customized and not pre-defined. Universities need to be given the authority to determine the proportion of the tri-dharma of a lecturer according to his "passion", interest and competence, the proportion of the percentage needs to be determined in the discussion in the new regulation. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the assignment of the implementation of the Tridharma.

According to him, in the future there needs to be a single-application related to staffing and other administration. Many current applications should be integrated/deleted, so that lecturers are not preoccupied with non-substantive matters. "The welfare of lecturers must be a concern in the drafting of new regulations because the JF allowance for lecturers has never increased. Performance allowance needs to be fought for so that lecturers can get it," said the Rector.

In response, Minister of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Abdullah Azwar Anas explained that this meeting was also to get input in drafting the latest regulations related to lecturer JF as a follow-up to the Minister of PANRB Regulation No. 1 of 2023 concerning JF.

The Ministry of PANRB, Anas continued, has received input from the Ministry of Education and Culture as the supervising agency of JF lecturers. "To get more input, today we invite lecturers. There will be several more rounds of discussion. We have also assigned related deputies to study best practices in a number of countries. We also use the analyses written by many lecturers as input," said Anas.

Anas added, in terms of 'administrative burden' for performance reporting. Minister of PANRB Regulation No. 1/2023 has been drafted with the spirit of simplification and flexibility to make it easier for ASN to focus on performance and organizational goals, so that it is no longer complicated to fill in the administration of performance reporting. ASN (including lecturers) is no longer preoccupied with filling out complicated credit numbers as has been complained about by JF ASNs.

On that occasion, Minister Anas also conveyed the reason for the issuance of Circular Letter of the Minister of PANRB No. 8/2023 concerning Assessment, Determination, and Integration of Credit Score for Functional Officials in the Transition Period based on PANRB Ministerial Regulation No. 1 of 2023 concerning JF. The circular states that it gives functional officials the opportunity to propose credit numbers until June 30, 2023. (Ns) (IAAS/RUM)