TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Defense Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto has officially been inaugurated as the Governor of the University of the Republic of Indonesia. Donny was inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto as the first governor of the newly established university.
The inauguration of Donny took place at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The procession coincided with the inauguration of Yos Sunitiyoso, a business professor from the Bandung Institute of Technology, as the Vice Governor of the Republic of Indonesia University (Universitas RI or URI).
After the inauguration, Donny stated that the Republic of Indonesia University is a new institution. This campus is specifically created to educate future government officials and state-owned enterprise leaders. He said, "The President is very concerned about human resources, especially for future Indonesian leaders."
According to Donny, the Republic of Indonesia University plans to establish ten campuses. Its graduates will receive degrees similar to other universities. "There will be doctors, scholars, engineers, and much more. Many," he said.
However, Donny mentioned that the Republic of Indonesia University is still awaiting the construction of a permanent campus building in Cikasungka, Bogor, West Java. The land was converted from a former oil palm plantation owned by a state-owned plantation company, PT Perkebunan Nusantara.
Until the campus is completed, the Republic of Indonesia University is located in the state-owned enterprise building on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta. Donny revealed that the existing programs at the Republic of Indonesia University include the Presidential Future Leaders Program (PFLP). The first wave of the PFLP began on May 20, 2026. Participants include state-owned enterprise employees to fresh graduates from various universities. The program starts with a three-month education at the Indonesian National Armed Forces Doctrine Development, Education, and Training Command (Kodiklat TNI) in Serpong, Banten.
The duties of the Governor of the Republic of Indonesia University not only cover the campus. Donny said that he will also lead the National Education Management Agency (BPPK), which consists of the Management Agency for Outstanding Schools, the Management Agency for Higher Education, and the State Administration Institute.
The BPPK is designed to integrate various outstanding educational systems with the aim of producing public officials and state-owned enterprise leaders. When operational, one of the institutions falling under the management of BPPK will be Sekolah Unggulan Garuda, which is currently managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
According to Donny, President Prabowo intends to make the Republic of Indonesia University similar to the cole nationale d'administration (ENA) in France, which has now transformed into the Institut National du Service Public (INSP). This is a prestigious public administration school in France, and many of its graduates have become public officials.
The budget for the Republic of Indonesia University and BPPK, Donny stated, will come from the state revenue and expenditure budget (APBN). At the moment, he mentioned that the amount is still being detailed.
Donny also explained the reasons he, a Ministry of Defense official, was selected as the first governor of the Republic of Indonesia University. He said that the Ministry of Defense has often been tasked with providing national insight education during President Prabowo's era.
"There are tasks related to socialization regarding national defense, national insight, and there is still a correlation," he said.
He also mentioned that he will simultaneously hold the position of Governor of the Republic of Indonesia University and Deputy Defense Minister. "Still Deputy Minister of Defense," said the retired Air Force marshal.
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