UIN Madura’s BLU Plan Must Expand Access to Higher Education for Low-Income Communities

PARLEMENTARIA, Pamekasan – House of Representatives Commission VIII member Wardatul Asriah stressed that the planned transformation of Madura State Islamic University (UIN Madura) from a work unit (satker) into a Public Service Agency (BLU) must be carefully prepared.

She added that the transformation plan must also be accompanied by expanded access to higher education for the people of Madura, especially those on low incomes.

She made the remarks during a specific working visit by House of Representatives Commission VIII to UIN Madura in Pamekasan, East Java, on Friday (13/11/2026).

“The transformation from a work unit to a BLU is certainly a highly strategic step toward improving the independence, professionalism, and quality of higher education services. But this status is not merely a change in financial management arrangements. We hope that institutional governance, human resource management, and the organization’s work culture will also be further improved,” Wardatul said.

The Gerindra Party faction politician said the transformation into a BLU must be carefully prepared so that the campus can operate independently and effectively. At the same time, she also expressed hope that the new status would strengthen UIN Madura’s role in serving the surrounding community.

“I hope UIN Madura will take on a greater role in expanding access to higher education for the people of Madura, especially low-income communities, particularly graduates of madrasas and Islamic boarding schools, as well as people in the Madura Islands,” she said.

The legislator for West Java VII electoral district said that, as the rector had noted, UIN Madura was still facing a human resources (HR) shortage. One example is the need for pharmacy specialists: the campus currently has only one, while it needs four more. She expressed hope that the issue could be resolved in the coming years.

Wardatul said her delegation had recorded around nine requests raised by the vice rectors and the Senate chair. These included a shortage of HR, particularly for general education, as well as the National Education System Bill (Sisdiknas), which addresses the ratio of general to religious study programs at 20 percent to 80 percent.

“We will not discuss these nine requests one by one because we are sure that everyone present has taken note of them. We will certainly record and follow up on the issues that fall under the remit of Commission VIII. There is also a House of Representatives member from the Pamekasan electoral district here, Ms. Ansari, so there is plenty of work to be done. Hopefully, all nine requests can be followed up and realized,” she said.

At the end of her remarks, she thanked delegation leader Ansari for bringing the House of Representatives Commission VIII delegation to UIN Madura. “Hopefully, this is the first time we have come here, but not the last. In the future, we hope to return to UIN Madura with fewer requests, because we will already have worked to address the many raised today,” she concluded. (mrs/rdn)