UPNVJ Public Relations — The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu'ti, M.Ed., provided work motivation reinforcement to lecturers and education staff of the National Development University “Veteran” Jakarta on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The activity, which took place at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium of UPNVJ, emphasized the importance of interpreting work not only as a source of income, but also as a space for devotion, service, and inspiration for others. Through this message, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education invited the UPNVJ academic community to maintain consistency, avoid being easily satisfied, and contribute to building the nation's knowledge sovereignty.

In his presentation, Prof. Mu'ti emphasized that a person's success is determined not only by ability but also by the willingness to continue growing. He argued that feeling comfortable with past achievements often stops someone from developing themselves.

"When people feel comfortable with their current achievements, they often lose the desire to rise higher. This is what stops people from growing," he said.

To illustrate the importance of consistency, Prof. Mu'ti cited the soccer match between Iran and Indonesia. He explained that a team that is overconfident in its superiority can lose focus and ultimately fail to maintain its performance. Using this illustration, he reminded us that complacency can be a barrier to maintaining work quality.

Furthermore, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education encouraged UPNVJ lecturers and educational staff to view work through a spiritual perspective. He believes that work is not solely about career advancement or income, but also about a sense of service to God, fellow human beings, and the wider community.

"If we have a spirit of service, then work is a spiritual process. People work not only for income, but also for meaning," he said.

Prof. Mu'ti also highlighted the phenomenon of burnout experienced by many modern workers, including those with high job performance. According to him, achievement at work does not necessarily equate to happiness and a sense of meaning in life. Therefore, he emphasized the importance of establishing a balance between professional achievement, personal happiness, and being useful to others.

He then shared his experiences as a lecturer. Prof. Mu'ti stated that the teaching profession provides him with ample scope to make an impact because education not only transfers knowledge but also fosters hope and inspires others.

"I feel that being a lecturer is more meaningful because I can inspire others. Teaching is inspiring," he said.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Mu'ti emphasized the importance of scientific sovereignty as a foundation for national progress. He explained that national sovereignty should not be understood solely from a defense or military perspective, but should also be viewed in terms of the nation's ability to generate knowledge, innovation, and solutions to national problems.

According to him, scientific sovereignty is closely linked to the role of higher education in producing superior human resources with character and a commitment to nationalism. Universities, he said, must be a space where the nation's children can produce works capable of meeting the challenges of the times.

"Our country has progressed because of the work of our nation's children, our nation's intellectuals, who, when problems arise in our country, do not flee. That's truly defending the nation," he stressed.

The message received enthusiastic attention from the UPNVJ lecturers and educational staff who filled the auditorium. Through this activity, UPNVJ strengthened the institution's commitment to building a work culture oriented toward service, meaningfulness, and real contributions to society.