Unrinews. Character education needs to be strengthened amidst the rapid flow of information in the digital age. Strengthening character education must begin now to realize the golden generation of 2045.
This was conveyed by Afrianto Daud, PhD, Coordinator of Compulsory Curriculum Courses (MKWK) at the University of Riau's (UNRI) Educational Quality Assurance and Development Institute (LPPMP), at the National Seminar on Collaborating to Resolve National Problems: Corruption, Intolerance, and Radicalism held in a hybrid format at the Royal Asnof Hotel Pekanbaru on Tuesday (September 19, 9).
As a university, of course, we have a responsibility to shape the character of the future generation who have a strong national spirit, patriotism, and nationalism.
The MKWK Center is expected to help prepare future generations by offering courses to promote character education, including religious education, Pancasila education, civics education, and Indonesian language.
Indonesia's Future Generation, or Golden Generation 2045, is the primary foundation for building a great and dignified nation. They possess strong character and integrity as Indonesians, are competent in their respective fields, and are adaptable to change and able to utilize advances in digital technology.
By strengthening character education in the educational world, it is hoped that this will improve or change the quality of education in Indonesia, especially for the future generation. The movement to strengthen character education is expected to become the foundation and core spirit of education, and to develop individuals with character, thinking skills, and skills, he said.
The Head of LPPMP UNRI, Dr Belli Nasution SIP MA, said that in education it is not enough to produce workers, but to produce superior human beings who respect others and have good character.
Corruption, intolerance, and radicalism are currently a national concern. UNRI has made this a flagship program that must be addressed, focusing on how these issues can be incorporated into lecture materials.
Belli then reflected on a number of cases that have occurred in Indonesia, including bullying, physical violence, extortion, corruption, provocation, divisiveness, and character assassination.
According to him, these challenges can be faced with quality character education so that the nation's children can continue the struggles of their predecessors through the spirit of welcoming Golden Indonesia 2045.
On this occasion, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mexsasai Indra SH MH, also said that the anti-corruption, intolerance, and radicalism stance needs to be updated regularly so that the material presented to students is always up to date.
"By making efforts to strengthen the nation's noble values, we hope that all young generations, especially students, will love this country even more, because loving this country is our shared obligation, of course, as children of the nation."
Character education is so fundamental and crucial, the importance of character education for the nation's children. Character education will not be presented as a subject, but rather as an integrated part of all subjects and all activities on campus.
Institutionally, UNRI has prepared how to create character education that is integrated into all of UNRI's activities, he concluded.
