Nono Sampono: Campuses Must Be Spaces for the Growth of Indonesia’s Future Generation

25 September 2026 oleh admin

Ambon, dpd.go.id — DPD RI member Nono Sampono emphasized the important role of higher education institutions in shaping a younger generation that possesses not only academic competence, but also strong character, national awareness, and a commitment to Indonesia’s future.

He made the statement while delivering a socialization session on the Four Pillars of the People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI) to students of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Pattimura University (Unpatti) in Ambon on Friday (September 25, 2026).

According to Nono, campuses should be more than places where students acquire academic knowledge and skills. Higher education institutions should also provide a space for students to develop character, cultivate critical thinking, and foster concern for social, national, and civic life.

“Campuses must be spaces where Indonesia’s future generation can grow. At university, students acquire not only knowledge, but also build their character, ways of thinking, and concern for the nation and state,” Nono said.

He said students hold a strategic position in the nation’s journey. As members of the young intellectual community, students are expected to critically understand various changes and challenges of the times while maintaining a strong foundation in national values.

In this context, he stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen young people’s understanding of the four fundamental national consensuses: Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.

Nono also reminded students that technological developments and the rapid flow of information present both opportunities and challenges. The ease of accessing information, he said, must be accompanied by the ability to think critically, verify information, and respond to differences wisely.

“Young people must be able to keep pace with the times without losing their identity as Indonesians. Technological advances must be utilized to build and improve our country, rather than becoming something that distances us from our national values,” he said.

In addition to technological developments, Nono emphasized the importance of preserving diversity as one of Indonesia’s strengths. Differences in ethnicity, religion, culture, language, and background are realities of national life that must be managed through a spirit of unity and mutual respect.

According to him, these values need to be continuously instilled in the younger generation so that diversity does not become a source of division, but instead serves as a strength in building Indonesia.

On the occasion, Nono encouraged Unpatti students to take an active role in addressing various national issues. Students, he said, should not merely observe change but should also become part of the process of creating it.

“Students must have the courage to think, engage in discussions, put forward ideas, and take part in solving the nation’s problems. Indonesia’s future should not merely be discussed; it must be prepared starting today,” he said.

The Four Pillars of MPR RI socialization at Pattimura University also served as a forum for dialogue between a regional representative and students to discuss various national issues and challenges facing the younger generation.

Through the activity, students are expected to gain a deeper understanding of and apply the values of Pancasila, the Constitution, the spirit of unity within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in their daily lives.

Nono emphasized that Indonesia’s future development depends not only on economic and technological progress, but also on the quality of its human resources, particularly their character, integrity, and sense of responsibility toward the nation and state.

For this reason, he said, campuses have an important role as spaces for shaping a younger generation capable of responding to the challenges of the times while remaining firmly grounded in Indonesia’s national values.