UPNVJ Public Relations – Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) hosted the 9th National Evaluation Meeting (Ravelnas) in 2025, organized by the Indonesian Political Science Student Association (Himapolindo) of the Garuda Progresif Cabinet. This prestigious national-level event was officially opened with an Opening Ceremony held at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium, UPNVJ Rectorate Building, on Friday, October 10, 2025.
This year's Ravelnas carries the theme "Consolidation of the Indonesian Political Student Movement to Strengthen Pancasila Democracy and People's Sovereignty in Accordance with the Constitutional Mandate." This theme reflects the political students' commitment to strengthening their role as agents of change and guardians of democratic values in Indonesia.
Opening the event, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Cooperation of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UPNVJ, Musa Maliki, Ph.D., in his remarks emphasized that students' intellectuality and critical thinking must be based on the values of Pancasila.
"Questioning the policies of those in power regarding the realities of discrimination, oppression, suffering, and injustice is a healthy form of critical thinking. As long as students adhere to Pancasila, the resulting anxiety will become a positive energy for humanity," Musa said.
He also reminded that students are not instruments of the capitalist system that only think economically, but are socially minded individuals who maintain the space for humanity.
"The student movement for Palestine is a clear example of how student voices can challenge global injustice. This voice must be protected to reject injustice and abuse of power," he concluded.
The Jakarta Government Encourages Students to Become Young Intellectuals and Agents of Change
Also present was Pepen Kuswandi, S.Sos., M.Tr.AP, Policy Analyst for National Defense, National Unity, and Politics (representing the Governor of DKI Jakarta). In his remarks, Pepen expressed his appreciation to the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Dr. Ir. Pramono Anung Wibowo, M,M, for the successful holding of Ravelnas 2025 and encouraged students to ignite the spirit of struggle in intellectual spaces.
"Today's struggle is no longer on the battlefield, but in classrooms, laboratories, organizations, and the digital world. This is where the struggle of young intellectuals begins," he said.
Pepen emphasized that political students have a strategic role in providing democratic, transparent, and pro-people leadership. He outlined five key roles for political students:
- Political education and democratic literacy for the community, especially the younger generation.
- Oversight and constructive criticism of government practices and human rights violations.
- Public policy advocacy and development of research-based and social justice solutions.
- Collaboration with civil society organizations and grassroots communities to strengthen digital political movements.
- Be a role model of ethical leadership through organizational experience and democratic communication.
"The future of the nation is largely determined by young intellectuals. Let's use the 2025 Ravelnas as a space to formulate concrete steps to establish democratic and pro-people leadership. National defense can start with small steps, but its impact will safeguard Indonesia forever," he concluded.
As part of the opening, the Chairman of the Legislative Body of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dr. Bob Hasan, SH, MH, was present to give a public discussion entitled “Legislation and the Future of Indonesian Democracy: Promoting Meaningful Participation in the Public Process.” The presence of Bang Bob—his nickname—provided a contextual perspective for students regarding the importance of active and meaningful public involvement in the legislative process, so that democracy does not stop at the formal level, but lives in the midst of society.
Ravelnas 2025 was attended by dozens of Political Science students from various universities in Indonesia, including Jenderal Soedirman University, Jambi University, Walisongo State Islamic University, Bung Karno University, Bandung State Islamic University, Surabaya State University, Tanjungpura University, IISIP, Udayana University, Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya, University of North Sumatra, Halu Oleo University, Jakarta State Islamic University, National University, Muhammadiyah University Jakarta, and the International Women's University Bandung.
This broad participation demonstrates the spirit of consolidation of the political student movement at the national level, strengthening their role in safeguarding and upholding democratic values and the sovereignty of the people as mandated by the constitution.
Through the 2025 National Student Conference (Ravelnas), UPN "Veteran" Jakarta not only hosted a national gathering of political students but also created a space for the birth of critical and progressive ideas. This activity reaffirmed UPNVJ's commitment as a campus grounded in the values of National Defense, developing intellectuals with integrity, critical thinking, and a commitment to the interests of the people and humanity.