TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (Diktisaintek) has officially transformed the Freedom Campus program, which was first introduced during the tenure of former minister Nadiem Makarim.
Minister Brian Yuliarto announced the new name of the program, Diktisaintek Berdampak, during the National Education Day commemoration on Friday, May 2, 2025. He explained that while the initiative continues the goals of the original Freedom Campus, it introduces a broader focus.
According to Brian, both programs aim to prepare students for the workforce. However, the new version also expands into other academic areas such as research and innovation.
"So, how all academic activities, research, and innovation can contribute to progress and have an impact on society," he said.
The Secretary General of Diktisaintek, Togar Mangihut Simatupang, assured that the existing benefits from the Freedom Campus program, including funding and collaboration opportunities, will remain. He stated that the new program is meant to complement and improve upon its predecessor.
"So, this program is a step forward," he said.
Togar added that the internship system for the program is still being developed. The ministry is currently gathering input from industry partners, local governments, and universities. He also noted that the renaming process is still underway.
"All of the nomenclature will be changed. It will be transformed," he said.
The Freedom Campus program was originally launched during the 2021–2024 period under Nadiem Makarim as part of the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) policy. It provided students with opportunities to study beyond their academic programs, both on and off campus, with a focus on workforce readiness.
Dede Leni Mardianti contributed to the writing of this article.
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