Jakarta, INTI - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Stella Christie, has called on universities to strengthen students’ understanding of the fundamental purpose of higher education and discourage excessive reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in the learning process.
Christie delivered the message on Monday at the Pandhita Majapahit Building Auditorium at Universitas Brawijaya (UB) in Malang, East Java.
She emphasized that higher education is not merely about earning an academic degree or completing coursework. Rather, it is a process of acquiring in-depth knowledge while preparing students to compete in the professional world.
According to Christie, universities should encourage students to evaluate whether using AI in academic activities genuinely improves their abilities or instead undermines their educational goals.
“Universities need to ask what the purpose of attending college is, and whether using AI for assignments, studying, or summarizing helps individuals move closer to their goals or takes them further away,” Christie said.
Stella Christie Warns Students Against Using AI as a Shortcut
Christie highlighted the importance of in-depth discussions about AI adoption in higher education to ensure that the technology genuinely supports learning.
She explained that AI should not diminish the process of acquiring knowledge through studying, discussions, and direct classroom instruction.
The convenience offered by AI, she added, should not lead students to become entirely dependent on the technology to complete academic activities.
Christie warned students against treating AI as a shortcut to completing assignments or achieving high grades without understanding the material they are studying.
She stressed that the ability to independently understand, master, and apply knowledge remains essential, particularly when students do not have access to AI tools.
“The question we need to ask is: if AI is no longer available to them, will their abilities still remain?” she said.
Christie therefore urged universities to strengthen their role in creating, transmitting, and curating knowledge.
She expressed confidence that universities could address the challenges posed by AI as long as they developed appropriate educational strategies.
Her confidence is also rooted in AI’s academic origins, including the Dartmouth Summer Research Project in 1956, widely recognized as a landmark in the emergence of artificial intelligence as a field of study.
“Universities are best positioned to address this challenge. Why? AI emerged from Dartmouth in 1956, so I believe universities can certainly respond to it with the right strategies,” she said.
Universitas Brawijaya Rector Says AI Will Not Replace Higher Education
Meanwhile, Universitas Brawijaya Rector Professor Widodo emphasized that advances in AI would not eliminate the fundamental role of universities as institutions that generate and disseminate knowledge.
He explained that universities remain essential to improving understanding, developing abilities, and building students’ competencies through continuous education.
Widodo compared the emergence of AI with the introduction of calculators, which were initially a new technology but eventually became widely accepted as tools to assist people with calculations.
He argued that AI should similarly be positioned as a technology that supports human activities rather than replaces independent thinking or mastery of knowledge.
Widodo also noted that AI’s capabilities depend heavily on the availability of knowledge produced by humans through research and scientific development.
“It is important to remember that knowledge is the fuel for AI. If people stop producing knowledge, AI will no longer become smarter,” he said.
Universitas Brawijaya Introduces Thesis Screening to Monitor AI Use
To address the growing use of AI, Universitas Brawijaya has introduced measures to monitor and guide its responsible adoption within the academic environment.
One of these measures involves screening students’ academic work to identify potential plagiarism and possible AI involvement in the writing process.
The monitoring primarily covers undergraduate theses and academic publications as part of the university’s efforts to maintain educational quality and research integrity.
“Theses and academic publications are now being screened to determine whether plagiarism or AI involvement is present,” Widodo said.
The system forms part of Universitas Brawijaya’s broader strategy to address advances in AI without compromising students’ academic abilities.
Both Christie and Widodo stressed that universities must preserve their role as centers of knowledge development by ensuring that AI remains a learning aid rather than a substitute for independent thinking and genuine mastery of academic subjects.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s Deputy Minister Stella Christie and Universitas Brawijaya Rector Widodo have emphasized the importance of responsible AI use in higher education. While AI can support learning and academic productivity, universities must ensure that students continue to develop independent thinking, critical reasoning, and a strong understanding of their subjects. By establishing appropriate educational strategies and academic integrity measures, universities can harness AI’s benefits without compromising the quality of education.
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