Malang, 7–9 December 2025 — The Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology held the Coordination and Strengthening of Public Relations Competence event within Ditjen Dikti at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang. The main program took place on 8 December 2025 and was attended by public relations representatives from universities across Indonesia, including the Public Relations and Protocol Team of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK).

Opening Remarks from Ditjen Diktiristek and Universitas Brawijaya

 The event began with a report from the Secretary of Ditjen Diktiristek, Prof. Setiawan, who emphasized the strategic role of public relations in conveying accurate, data-driven higher education narratives and building public trust.

The host of the event, Rector of Universitas Brawijaya Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc, highlighted the importance of PR professionals understanding social media algorithms and their role in strengthening the branding of universities and their alumni to increase recognition in the industrial world.

Public Communication Management and the Challenge of Disinformation

 The first session featured Andi Muslim from the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo), moderated by Leli Indah Mindarti. The presentation underscored the urgency of managing public communication, the implementation of Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure, and the high exposure of hoaxes affecting 30–60% of Indonesians. Public relations officers were reaffirmed as the face of government institutions in addressing disinformation challenges.

In-Depth Explanation of the Public Relations Functional Position (JFPH)

 In the second session, Firmansyah from Kominfo, accompanied by moderator Agi Bahari, provided a comprehensive explanation of Kominfo Regulation No. 9 of 2025 on the implementation guidelines of JFPH. The discussion covered career pathways, performance planning, mechanisms for appointment and dismissal, as well as competency test requirements for Public Relations Officers.

Insight-Based Public Communication Strategies

 The third session, delivered by Fardila Astari and moderated by Neni Herlina, emphasized the importance of developing insight-driven public communication strategies. The speaker outlined five core capabilities PR practitioners must master, including crisis communication, to help institutions anticipate and manage crises arising from unresolved issues.

Social Media Management for Higher Education Institutions

 The final session was presented by Wicaksono (Ndorokakung) with moderator Andri Suryandari. The session highlighted social media as a gateway for campus information transparency, emphasizing the importance of consistent, credible, and contextual content in university public communication.

Strengthening PR Competence to Enhance University Reputation

 Through this three-day event, participants including the ITK PR Team gained strengthened capacities in public communication, digital literacy, and a comprehensive understanding of the JFPH framework. The program is expected to improve the quality of university public relations, enabling institutions to enhance their reputation and build credible, impactful higher education narratives for society.