Jakarta, June 26, 2025 — Universitas Terbuka (UT) actively participated in the Public Relations and Protocol Coordination Meeting (Rakor) organized by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) from June 25–27, 2025, at Graha Diktisaintek, 2nd Floor, Building D, Senayan, Jakarta. This activity served as an important forum to strengthen synergy and harmonize the public relations and protocol roles among state universities (PTN), polytechnics, and Higher Education Service Institutions (LLDikti) throughout Indonesia.
This public relations and protocol coordination meeting is expected to strengthen coordination between Kemdiktisaintek, 76 PTNs, 49 polytechnics, and 17 LLDiktis across Indonesia in professional protocol management, strategic and adaptive public relations management in the era of digital transformation, including strengthening press release writing, media and inter-institutional relations, and socializing the “Diktisaintek Berdampak” (Impactful Diktisaintek) logo as the collective image of the ministry.
The event was opened by the Secretary-General of Kemdiktisaintek, followed by remarks from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto, Ph.D. He stated that public relations and protocol have a strategic role for higher education institutions, especially regarding institutional image. Furthermore, public relations is the narrative architect for higher education. Therefore, in an effort to build a more open information climate in accordance with protocol rules, synergy and collaboration between public relations and protocol are needed. At the opening of this coordination meeting, Prof. Stella Christie, Ph.D., was also present to present Public Information Disclosure awards to informative institutions.
As a State University with Legal Entity Status (PTN-BH), UT sent two representatives: Dr. Maya Maria, Head of the Public Relations and Marketing Sub-directorate, and Mohamad Rajih Radiansyah, M.Sc., Head of the Partnership and International Affairs Sub-directorate. Both attended representing UT’s Directorate of Marketing and Cooperation as the unit implementing strategic functions in public relations & marketing, as well as cooperation, international affairs, including protocol within UT.
On the first day, June 25, 2025, material presentations and discussions took place, including on strengthening public relations by the PCO (Public Communication Office), media relations and public services management, and strengthening protocol. In the discussion session, various proposals and aspirations were conveyed by participants, both related to public relations and protocol.
Public Relations proposals and aspirations: 1) Standardization of organizational structure and SOTK for public relations and protocol in PTNs and LLDiktis; 2) Implementation of public relations training (public relations professional competency); 3) Kemdiktisaintek facilitating the preparation of technical rules for public relations administration in PTNs and LLDiktis; 4) Announcing the theme for the Diktisaintek Public Relations Award at the beginning of the year for better preparation by higher education institutions; 5) Formation of a PTN public relations forum with a management structure according to needs, serving as a platform for networking and capacity building for PTN public relations human resources; 6) Holding public relations certification for PTN public relations human resources through the PTN public relations forum and Diktisaintek public relations (as a guiding body).
Protocol proposals and aspirations include: 1) Organization of Protocol Technical Guidance and Training (protocol professional competency) for PTNs and LLDiktis by Kemdiktisaintek; 2) Preparation of standard technical rules for protocol implementation by Kemdiktisaintek for PTNs and LLDiktis in the form of guidelines or handbooks.
The forum also emphasized the importance of using official channels for information dissemination, reliable media relations management, and strengthening institutional protocol as the face of the institution before the public and partners. This is in line with the spirit of digital-based public service integration and agile and structured communication governance. Effective synergy between public relations and protocol roles is expected to enhance modern public services that are more reliable, responsive, and adaptive to the needs of institutions within PTN/LLDikti environments.
All these inputs are expected to serve as a basis for Kemdiktisaintek in formulating more structured and impactful policies. With synergy and increased institutional capacity, the role of public relations and protocol can become even more strategic in supporting the image and governance of Indonesian higher education.
On the second day, June 26, 2025, participants of the Public Relations and Protocol Rakor were given material presentations on: 1) Improving press release writing competency; 2) Socialization of the “Diktisaintek Berdampak” Movement and Logo; 3) Panel Discussion by representatives from the Directorate General of Higher Education, Directorate General of Science and Technology, Directorate General of Research and Development, Inspectorate General, PPAPT, and Pusdatin; and 4) Socialization of the Diktisaintek Public Relations and Protocol Award. The Rakor will conclude on June 27, 2025, with the presentation of evaluation results and the formulation of a joint work program.
For UT, participation in this Rakor is not only a form of commitment to carrying out public communication functions but also a strategic step to expand national networks and strengthen UT’s role in a transparent and accountable higher education ecosystem. UT’s presence also reflects how distance education-based higher education can play an active role in national public relations and protocol forums.
With the spirit of synergy and innovation, UT continues to prioritize inclusive, humane, and broadly impactful public relations practices to realize equitable and quality higher education for all levels of society.
