Declining Interest Among Students of the Faculty of Social Sciences

at the University of Jakarta in Participating in Student Executive

Body Organizational Activities

Abdul Haris Fatgehipon

, Kamarulnizam

, Saidnazulfikar

and Hawa Hasan

Faculty of Social Sciences Lecturer, Jakarta State University, Indonesia

Institute of Malaysia and International Studies (IKMAS), University Kebangsaan, Malaysia

Faculty of Languages, Iqra Buru State University Maluku, Indonesia

STKIP Muhammadiyah Manokwari, Indonesia

Keywords: Student Interests, Student Executive Body, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jakarta.

Abstract: Student interest in taking part in the management of student executive body of the faculty of social sciences

at the university of jakarta has declined, in the last few years, research has wanted to use qualitative descriptive

methods by collecting data using questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaire was distributed to 102 fis

unj student administrators who are administrators of bem study programs, faculties and universities.

Researchers also conducted interviews with the haris bem fis executive board, ten fis students. After

completing the research, the researcher conducted an fdg, to discuss the research results. The results of the

research findings show that the low number of fis unj students is caused by the academic load, time-consuming

lectures, the economic burden of students, which requires them to work, asking students to take part in mbkm

activities, freedom to learn on their campus, lack of innovation and adaptation of the bem organization to

current developments.

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Universities, whose aim is not only to produce

prospective workers, who are absorbed in various

employment opportunities, but higher education

institutions, also prepare students to become future

leaders for their families, communities, nation and

state. Universities produce many smart, intelligent

people at every graduation, however, there is no

guarantee that universities can produce leaders.

Leaders are born from a long forging process, forged

by family education, community environment,

educational institutions.

The presence of student organizations has great

benefits, in educating, forging students, so that they

can have personal communication skills, social

communication, with the surrounding community, so

that students do not become individualistic

intellectual beings. Students are a middle group who

have social responsibility, in maintaining moral

values, ethics, national society and the state.

The government is aware of the importance of

student organizations, so that student organization

institutions have been formed at all tertiary

institutions, starting from university, faculty and

study program levels. One of the policy bases for

students to learn to organize and develop all the

knowledge and skills they have is through the

existence of student organizations.

According to Law number 12 of 2012 concerning

higher education, article 77 states that

(1) Students can form student organizations.

(2) Student organizations at least have the function

of: a. Accommodating student activities in

developing students' talents, interests and

potential b. Develop creativity, sensitivity,

critical power, courage and leadership, as well

as a sense of nationality c. Fulfilling the

interests and welfare of students and d. (Astadi

Team 2016). Mahasiswa FIS UNJ, has an

intra-campus organization, BEM, Legislative,

whose structure is from the University,

Faculty, to study program level. The term of

office of the BEM, Legislative, University,

Fatgehipon, A. H., Kamarulnizam, , Saidnazulﬁkar, and Hasan, H.

Declining Interest Among Students of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Jakarta in Participating in Student Executive Body Organizational Activities.

DOI: 10.5220/0013419600004654

In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Humanities Education, Law, and Social Science (ICHELS 2024), pages 687-691

ISBN: 978-989-758-752-8

687

Faculty and Study Program student

organizations is one year. The election of the

BEM and Legislative chairman is carried out

by direct election, involving active students.

The BEM selection committee is carried out

by the legislative body, in accordance with the

organizational level.

The Student Executive Board (BEM), is a student

organization that runs a government- like

organization (executive institution). Led by the

Chairman/President of BEM who is elected through

student elections every year. BEM (Student

Executive Board) is an intra-campus organization that

represents students in managing and fighting for their

interests at the institutional level. There are several

theoretical discussions that can be used to understand

the role and function of BEM as an intra-campus

organization. (Erika Munte Team :2023).

However, the presence of student organizations

experiences ups and downs because the existence of

student organizations only carries out ceremonial

activities without looking at how to develop and

utilize the knowledge possessed by students in each

department. (Budiamin, Faridha, Muhammad, 2022).

In the era of Sukarno's government, campus

activists (BEM) had broad political influence, campus

dynamics were very pronounced, students were very

sensitive to various political, economic and

international issues, students also had a very big role

in the downfall of Sukarno's government.

In the Suharto era, although student political space

was limited, student activities still existed. Becoming

a BEM administrator is something prestigious, and is

a hot topic among campus activists. BEM had a big

role in Suharto's downfall In the reform era, where the

government opened up space for freedom, freedom of

speech was criticized, and this freedom did not exist

in the Suharto era, but it is very unfortunate, from

various observations that researchers found on

various campuses in Indonesia, there was a decline

in student interest in organizing Jakarta State

University also experienced the same thing, where

there was a decline in student interest in the BEM

organization both at the University Faculty and Study

Program levels. The decline in requests for students

to join the BEM organization can be seen in the lack

of student interest in registering as BEM chairman, in

fact it often happens that because no one has

registered to become BEM chairman, a single

candidate appears against empty contacts. The

position of BEM chairman is no longer a prestigious

position, it has influence among students, on this

basis researchers are interested in investigating this

problem, to be researched.

Historically, the term BEM was born when the

Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Senate

held the II UGM Student Senate Congress in

Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, in 1992. This congress

formulated the UGM student movement in the form

of a student government called the Student Family.

Currently, student activism to join BEM has

decreased drastically . This can be seen from the

minimal participation and lack of candidates in

student general elections (pemilwa), as happened at

Diponegoro University to Padang State University ,

as well as the limited critical discussion (Alfath 2024).

From the various problems above, the researcher is

interested in conducting research with the title, FIS

UNJ Student Interests, in participating in student

organization activities, Student Executive Board

Research Problems. Research Problem Formulation,

based on the problems above, the research problem

formulation is as follows. How are FIS UNJ students

interested in participating in the BEM organization?

What is the factor in students' low interest in joining

the BEM organization?

1.2 Benefit Research

The benefit of this research is to find the cause of the

low interest of FIS UNJ students in joining the BEM

UNJ Organization. Providing a solution concept to

the problem of low interest of FIS UNJ students to

participate in the BEM organization.

1.3 Research Methodology

The methodology in this research is Qualitative

Descriptive. (Moleong, 2017) researchers collected

data by means of literature study, observation,

interviews. The researcher also conducted an FGD

(Discussion Group Forum) to ask for various input

and opinions from parties who have authority and

competence, such as Student Organization Trustees,

BEM Management from the UNJ FIS Study Program

level and the Faculty of Social Sciences, FIS Alumni

Association Management and policy stakeholders.

2 DISCUSSION

2.1 How Are Students Interested in the

BEM Organization at the Faculty

of FIS UNJ

In the history of student organizations at UNJ, FIS is

one of the faculties with the most active student

ICHELS 2024 - The International Conference on Humanities Education, Law, and Social Science

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organizations, organizations at FIS have developed

not only limited to BEM but also extra- campus

organizations, such as HMI, PMII, GMNI. WE.

student executive body of the faculty of social

sciences at the university of jakarta has a role and role

in various national student actions. one of the roles of

student executive body of the faculty of social

sciences at the university of jakarta was involvement

in the 1998 student demonstration, during the reform

movement in indonesia. unj, during the 1998 student

reform movement, became the driving force of the

1998 reform movement in jakarta.

The term student as " the agent of change" is

true because many changes occur because of the role

of students. on campus, student organizations are a

forum for students to explore various personal

abilities, broaden their horizons and have personality

integrity. (yayuk 2017). After the 1998 reformation,

where democratic space was wide open, campus

activists who were previously affiliated with student

executive body of the faculty of social sciences at the

university of jakarta, looked for their own paths,

some chose to become part of the government's

power, some chose to remain critical of the

government.

even though we are in the era of democracy,

where freedom of expression is open, the

development of bem in indonesia, including student

executive body of the faculty of social sciences at the

university of jakarta, is not as active as in the 1998

era. The current BEM organization is still running,

starting from the study program, faculty and

university levels. As a result of our observations,

research and interviews, there was a decrease in

student interest in participating in the BEM

organization. In the 90s, becoming a member of BEM

was through competitive selection, because BEM

only existed at the faculty and university level, the

Study Program organization was the Study Program

Association. To become a BEM administrator,

students must receive support, selected from the study

program level, as study program representatives, the

number is not large, only 2 people per study program.

Being a member of BEM is something to be proud

of, and not all students get the opportunity to become

BEM administrators at faculties and universities.

Currently, elected BEM administrators at study

programs, faculties and universities are experiencing

difficulties in recruiting members. This can be seen

from the initial period of BEM management, it takes

a long time to prepare management due to the low

interest of students in registering as BEM members,

in study program, faculty, university level. The BEM

organization at FIS UNJ receives support from the

dean and the university. Support from the Dean is in

the form of guidance on student activities and

financial support. In each BEM organization at the

study program and faculty level, a lecturer is assigned

to supervise student activities. The funds provided for

BEM development come from the faculty POK, and

are distributed in a transparent manner to all student

organizations consisting of BEM and interest and

talent organizations. The funds provided by the

faculty are incentives for various BEM activities,

students seek financial support from outside campus,

to sponsor activities.

2.2 Factors That Cause Students' Low

Interest in Participating in BEM

There is low interest among students to be active in

BEM organizations, both BEM Study Programs,

faculties and universities, after we conducted

interviews, we found various reasons for FDG. First,

the burden of completing coursework assignments,

and limitations on lecture time cause students to

prefer to focus on lectures, because if they are active

in the organization and are late in submitting

coursework assignments, there is no relief or special

treatment given to BEM administrators, even though

the delay is a factor. Collecting assignments because

they are busy with BEM activities, which cannot be

delegated or replaced by other people.

Limiting the study period causes students to

compete to complete their studies on time, because if

they do not complete their studies on time, it will

result in greater costs for their parents to pay for their

studies. They also don't want to be expelled from

campus because their study period is over. There are

several student activists who do not complete their

studies on time and are threatened with dropping out

of campus.

Second, more interested in participating in

MBKM activities. On the one hand, Merdeka Belajar

and campus activities bring many benefits, students

are introduced to the industrial world, students are

also given the opportunity to study outside campus

either at the national campus or take part in IISMA

(Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards)

activities where students are given the opportunity to

study abroad with scholarship from the Indonesian

government. Students avoid becoming BEM

administrators because it will limit them from taking

part in student activities outside campus, doing

internships, earning money, or taking part in national

or international student exchanges, they earn money

and gain international experience.

Declining Interest Among Students of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Jakarta in Participating in Student Executive Body

Organizational Activities

689

Third, students are more interested in

participating in unique student activities, which are

aimed at developing students' talents, spirituality and

interests. At FIS UNJ there are talent and spiritual

development organizations such as FIS Ambassadors,

FIS Media Center, MAI, many interested, Era FM,

Nature Lovers, these organizations have many

interested people, in fact they have to carry out

member selection restrictions, because many are

interested. BEM is considered too theoretical and

cannot channel their talents and abilities.

Fourth, help the family economy. The sources of

funds obtained by students are generally from

parents, scholarships, and work. Many UNJ students

choose to work in order to fulfill their educational

needs. Their fields of work are varied, some work as

housing marketers, baristas in cafes, private tutors.

From their income, apart from being used to meet

family needs, it also helps the family economy,

sometimes they take on the role of parents, as the

backbone of the family, they work to help support the

family economy because their parents no longer

work, their parents have been laid off, parents, are

sick, or parents are separated. This situation causes

students to prefer to focus on studying, working to

help support the family economy. They are not

interested in becoming BEM administrators because

they think it is not time efficient and has no economic

benefits.

Fifth, BEM is no longer a prestigious

organization. BEM, experienced its glory in the 60s-

70s, up to the 90s, BEM experienced a heyday of

student interest in joining high BEM organizations,

students scrambled to win the election for BEM

chairman. Becoming BEM chairman or BEM

administrator is a prestigious position, known to

many students, lecturers and the public. BEM's

position has influence not only internally on campus

but also outside campus. Under pressure from the

Sukarno and Suharto governments, BEM activists

showed the courage to fight back, criticizing the

government. During the Reformation era, BEM

showed its role in contributing to the downfall of

Suharto's government. After the reform era where

freedom of opinion and criticism was opened, the role

of BEM was less strong, the start of BEM's role could

be due to the absence of common issues that could

bring down the student movement.

BEM is not supported by the campus, especially

in terms of funding. One strong reason why students

are reluctant to be active in the BEM organization is

that there is a lack of financial support from faculties

and universities, running the BEM organization

requires operational needs, administration, all of this

requires a budget, students feel burdened if all of this

is prepared by the students. Students expect the

Faculty to provide support to support various BEM

activities. So far, BEM has been given incentive

funds by the faculty. For various activities carried out

by BEM, the funds are obtained from sponsors or

partners.

Sixth, BEM lacks innovation and adaptation.An

organization must always innovate and adapt to

various existing changes. If an organization is static,

then the organization can be left behind, when faced

with various new organizations. Organizations are

born in accordance with the spirit of the times, many

organizations are abandoned by their members

because they are no longer in accordance with the

spirit of the times.

In the era of Revolution 4.0 which is marked by

advances in the field of information technology, the

model of student organization is changing,

organizations no longer need a secretariat to be a

place for people to gather, but rather need a website,

meetings in today's organizations do not have to be

offline but use various social media applications. like

zoom. BEM as a campus organization whose

members are Gen Z, must adapt to changing times.

BEM activities must be adapted to the needs and

tastes of Gen Z

The MBKM program does not give much

attention to BEM activists, for example there are no

opportunities given to BEM administrators to take

part in national and international activities for BEM

administrators. Students prefer to take part in MBKM

activities, PNM National Study exchanges, IISMA

International Studies. Or MSIB Certified Internship

activities

Students' motivation towards student

organizations has decreased because they prioritize

academics and are faced with lifestyle challenges that

lead to hedonism. The role of student organizations

in developing student citizenship skills is as a forum

for student aspirations and encouraging students'

mindsets to think critically, responsibly and

scientifically. The obstacles faced by student

organizations during the implementation of activities,

especially in developing civic skills , are internal and

external obstacles. For example, regarding funding,

permits, lifestyle, communication and coordination,

lack of student interest, different student

backgrounds, facilities, and regarding the secretariat.

(Kosasih 2017).

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3 CONCLUSIONS

The low interest of FIS students in getting involved

in the Student Executive Board, BEM, is a common

phenomenon that occurs on various campuses in

Indonesia. Student activities in the democratic world,

which are characterized by freedom, expressing

opinions, freedom of expression, do not necessarily

increase students' interest in organizing. there are

various reasons behind the low interest of students in

joining the student executive body of the faculty of

social sciences at the university of jakarta

organization

These reasons include, among other things, the

family's economic demands which force them to

work, to help the family economically, they become

the backbone of the family. Second, they are more

tempted to take part in the MBKM program (They

Study Their Campus), such as the International

Student Exchange IISMA (Indonesian International

Student Mobility Awarsds. Participating in the

Internship Program (MSIB) Internship and Certified

Independent Study, in various BUMN, government

and private offices, where they earn money.

Campuses are not just places that give birth to

academically educated people, campuses are also

places that give birth to future national leaders, giving

birth to leaders, it is not something that is young, it

must be placed in family education, organizational

education, while attending school or college. The

presence of BEM is one of the campus organizations,

with the aim of being able to train students to have

organizational skills, administrative skills, and

defensive skills. The BEM organization must

innovate and adapt to the spirit of the current era,

so that its existence is not abandoned by students.

Students will join the BEM organization if they feel

there are benefits to be gained.

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