Image source: Radar Malang Jawa Pos
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After officially taking office as the 8th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto inaugurated several new officials at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday (October 22nd). The inauguration included special presidential envoys, special presidential advisors, and several agency heads. One name that caught the attention was Raffi Ahmad, known as a renowned Indonesian entertainer and public figure. The owner of Rans Entertainment was appointed as the President’s Special Envoy for Youth Development and Arts Workers.
The news immediately trended on various news and social media platforms. One such news was Detik.com via Instagram. In its upload, the news channel featured a clip of Raffi Ahmad and Yovie Widianto, dressed in formal suits, standing solemnly during the inauguration. In the video clip, a narration was heard reading the following:
“Dr. (HC) Raffi Farid Ahmad as the President’s Special Envoy for Youth Development and Arts Workers. Yovie Widianto as the President’s Special Staff for the Creative Economy.” The video then ended.
The post immediately received a variety of responses from netizens. One of the top comments (based on observations via the FactMeter team account) was even insulting the Detik news channel.
“Dear Detik, isn’t the HC title not recognized by the government? It’s really pushy to still use it for journalistic reporting 😌😌😌”
Skepticism about Titles
The comment reflects skepticism regarding the use of the title “Dr. (HC.)” attributed to Raffi Ahmad. The user questioned the validity of the title, considering that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) previously stated that UIPM did not have an operational permit to provide higher education in Indonesia. The Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Prof. Abdul Haris, emphasized that academic degrees from foreign universities without a permit cannot be recognized.
However, it is important to check the facts further. Based on a search by the Fact Meter team on the official YouTube channel of the State Secretariat, in a video uploaded on October 22nd with the title “LIVE: Oath-taking of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court before the President of the Republic of Indonesia and Inauguration of State Officials,” at minutes 18:02-18:17, it was revealed that the Deputy for Administrative Affairs of the Ministry of State Secretariat, Nanik Purwanti, did indeed read Raffi Ahmad’s full title, Dr. (HC). Thus, the news presented by Detik.com regarding the use of this title is factual and not merely a gimmick to generate engagement.
So what is the Dr (HC) that netizens are arguing about?
Adapted from BPM UNAIR (2016), regarding the Regulation of the Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia Number 65 of 2016 concerning Honorary Doctoral Degrees, Article 1 reads:
“An honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa) is an honorary degree awarded by a university with a doctoral program accredited with an A or superior rating to individuals deserving of recognition for outstanding services in Science and Technology and/or contributions to humanity.”
An Honorary Doctorate (Dr. HC) is usually awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of science, technology, or humanity. Recipients of this title can come from various backgrounds, such as:
- Scientists: Those who have conducted innovative research and contributed significantly to the development of science.
- Community Figure: An activist or leader who plays a significant role in the fight for human rights, social justice, or social change.
- Artist: An individual who has made significant contributions to the arts and culture, impacting society.
- Educator: A teacher or academic who has contributed to the development of education and the improvement of human resources.
- Entrepreneur: Those who have contributed to the economy, creating jobs, and advancing industry.
Celebrities often receive this title, including big names like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and even the renowned Indonesian singer Rhoma Irama. However, each university has its own criteria and procedures for selecting recipients of this title, usually involving recommendations and evaluation from the academic senate or related bodies.
Why did Dr. (HC) Raffi Ahmad’s case have such a long tail?
This began with a post on Instagram by the official account @raffinagita1717 on September 27, 2024, sharing the following:
“Alhamdulillah, thank you for the Honorary Doctorate (Dr. HC) awarded to me by Professor Kanoksak Likitpriwan, President of the Universal Institute of Professional Management (UIPM), Thailand.
@uipmacademy / @uipmun
It is an honor and a source of pride for me to receive an honorary degree in “Event Management and Global Digital Development” for my decades-long contributions to the development of the conventional, offline, and digital entertainment industries in Indonesia.
I dedicate this award to Allah SWT and to the people who have been instrumental in my life: my family, mentors, friends, colleagues, team, and everyone who has guided and inspired me thus far. This award truly belongs to all of you.
As someone who has had the opportunity to interact with tens of millions of people across various digital platforms and through offline events, I will continue to strive to positively influence my followers and help motivate them in their pursuit of excellence.” his dreams.
And of course, my team and I will help create an environment where people can contribute their unique talents and create experiences that bring joy to others.
(An Honorary Degree is a bachelor’s degree awarded by a qualified college/university to an individual, without the individual needing to attend and graduate from the appropriate education to earn the degree.)
Thank you all 🙏❤️🇮🇩”
The awarding of an honorary doctorate, also known as Doctor Honoris Causa (HC), from the Universal Institute of Professional Management (UIPM) Thailand to artist Raffi Ahmad has become a hot topic of conversation among netizens. Many consider the awarding of this degree to be a formality without a strong academic basis.
This is because many netizens believe that the Universal Institute of Professional Management (UIPM) Thailand is not an educational institution with proven credibility and veracity. This is evident in investigations conducted by the Kompas news channel for the UIPM Indonesia campus and the X account @IbrahimNiar for the UIPM campus in Thailand.
The honorary doctorate awarded to Raffi Ahmad from the Universal Institute of Professional Management (UIPM) has sparked controversy. According to Kompas.com, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) declared the degree invalid because UIPM lacks an operational permit to provide higher education in Indonesia.
The Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (Dirjen Diktiristek), Prof. Abdul Haris, emphasized that without an operational permit from the government, academic degrees obtained from foreign universities cannot be recognized. “Without an operational permit to provide higher education from the government, academic degrees obtained from foreign universities cannot be recognized,” Haris told Kompas.com.
Despite this, Raffi Ahmad’s degree was read out at the inauguration of the presidential special staff on October 22, 2024.
The News…
According to the Factmeter Team’s investigation, the news regarding Raffi Ahmad’s inauguration as Special Presidential Envoy and the mention of the title “Dr. (HC)” conferred on him are factual. Although the title has sparked controversy regarding the legitimacy of the institution granting it, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has confirmed that UIPM does not have an operational permit in Indonesia, and therefore the academic title is not recognized by the government. However, the mention of the title was still officially conveyed at the inauguration ceremony, indicating the validity of the information, despite the public’s skepticism.
References
- Aditya Novrian. (2024, October 25). Raffi Ahmad Dilantik sebagai Staf Khusus, Gelar Honoris Causa Tetap Dibacakan meski Tuai Polemik. Radar Malang. https://radarmalang.jawapos.com/politik-pemerintahan/815236524/raffi-ahmad-dilantik-sebagai-staf-khusus-gelar-honoris-causa-tetap-dibacakan-meski-tuai-polemik
- detikcom (2024, Oct 22). Presiden Prabowo Subianto melantik utusan khusus presiden, penasihat khusus presiden, dan sejumlah kepala badan hari ini (Selasa, 22 /10/2024). Di antara nama tersebut ada Raffi Ahmad dan Yovie Widianto. [📷source : detikcom] [Instagram reels]. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBaWySzMlp9/
- Sekretariat Presiden. (2024, October 21). LIVE: Pengucapan Sumpah Ketua MA di Hadapan Presiden RI dan Pelantikan Pejabat Negara, 22 Okt 2024. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udUaF0ap1z8
- Peraturan Menteri Riset, Teknologi, dan Pendidikan Tinggi Republik Indonesia Nomor 65 tahun 2016 tentang Gelar Doktor Kehormatan (2016). https://bpm.unair.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/65.-SALINAN-PERMENRISTEKDIKTI-NOMOR-65-TAHUN-2016-TENTANG-GELAR-DOKTOR-KEHORMATAN.pdf
- raffinagita1717 (2024, Sep 27). Alhamdulillah, terimakasih atas pemberian Gelar Doktor Kehormatan (Dr. HC) kepada saya dari Professor Kanoksak Likitpriwan, President Universal Institute of Professional Management (UIPM), Thailand. [📷source : raffinagita1717] [Instagram post]. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAavKPrvxdt/
- Yahya, A. N. & Movanita, A. N. K. (2024, October 2). Menelusuri Kampus UIPM di Bekasi: Menyerupai Kantor, Tak Ada Aktivitas Kuliah. KOMPAS.com. https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2024/10/02/10192701/menelusuri-kampus-uipm-di-bekasi-menyerupai-kantor-tak-ada-aktivitas
- Niar Ibrahim Rose [@IbrahimNiar]. (2024, September 29). Sebagai warga +62 yang tinggal di Bangkok, penasaran sama kampus yang kasih Doctor Honoris Causanya aa @RaffiAhmadLagi [Tweet]. Twitter. https://x.com/IbrahimNiar/status/1840340741811581378
- Hardiantoro, A. & Pratiwi, I.E. (2024, October 22). Gelar Raffi Ahmad Tak Diakui Kemendikbud, Kini Disebut Saat Pelantikan Utusan Khusus Presiden. KOMPAS.com. https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2024/10/22/143000565/gelar-raffi-ahmad-tak-diakui-kemendikbud-kini-disebut-saat-pelantikan?page=all
