Commemorating the 74th Independence of the Republic of Indonesia (RI), Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) held an Independence Ceremony at the UPH Basketball Court Campus in Lippo Village, August 17, 2019. The ceremony that took place solemnly was attended by 3,500 academics, consisting of new students, senior students , staff, lecturers, and UPH leaders.

UPH Rector, Dr. (Hon) Jonathan L. Parapak, M.Eng.Sc. as the head of ceremony on this occasion delivered a speech by Menristekdikti Mohamad Nasir entitled “Excellent Human Resources, the Advancement of Indonesia”.

In his speech, the Chancellor encouraged UPH academic community to increase innovation and creativity in university, in order to produce excellent human resources in their fields and be competitive in the future. Human resource must be able to adapt to achieve success in building a nation, even be able to compete globally, especially in 4.0 industrial era which is loaded with technological advancements.

Furthermore, at the 74th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, it is expected that universities should take a role in improving their educational adaptability and quality. Higher education must become an agent of change in responding to all challenges faced by the Indonesian State. Universities also cannot be easily satisfied with their achievements and become complacent with their comfort zones. Hopefully, when universities continue to improve and develop the education system, universities can play a role in producing human resources that can build the nation.

After the reading of the speech, all the participants of the ceremony announced the national song “Hari Merdeka” with the choir team from UPH Choir Club. After the independence ceremony was dissolved, the participants were entertained with contemporary songs with the theme of nationalism which was expected to ignite the nationalism of students and all participants of the ceremony. UPH hopes to become an educational institution that always improves the quality of education in order to produce superior human resources that can contribute to the country.