Elected Representation on UPH’s Student Executive Board (BEM) and University Senate
TANGERANG, 2024 — Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) ensures that students, faculty and non-academic staff have elected representation on the university’s highest governing body, which is both the Student Executive Board (BEM) for students and the University Senate.
UPH Student Executive Board (BEM)
Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) upholds the principle of democratic representation within its student governance through the General Election of the Student Executive Board (Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa – BEM), administered by the UPH Election Commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum – KPU UPH). The KPU operates independently to conduct transparent and participatory elections, ensuring that student leaders are chosen through a legitimate and democratic process rather than appointment.
In the 2024/2025 academic year, the election featured a single candidate pair: Charlene Louisa as President, and Nathanael Assa as Vice President, both from the Management Department (batch 2022). Although uncontested, the election adhered to full democratic procedures, providing all students the opportunity to cast their votes. A total of 527 votes were submitted, with 520 in favour and 7 not in favour.
The official election results were announced on November 25, 2024, confirming the pair’s mandate to lead the Student Executive Board. This process demonstrates UPH’s commitment to democratic governance and student participation, ensuring that elected representatives legitimately voice student interests and contribute to institutional decision-making at the university level.
University Senate
Under the UPH Statute 2016 Article 46, the Senate is the highest body under the Rector for deciding university policy on academic standards, regulations and quality. Its decisions bind every faculty and unit.
Senate Decree No. 02/SK-Senat-UPH/VII/2024 on the Composition and Election of Senate Members for the Period 2024–2026 reserves elected seats for three constituencies. None of these representatives is appointed by university leadership. Each is chosen through a democratic process run by the constituency itself.
- Graduate students. One seat is held by a representative of master’s and doctoral students, elected by the graduate student body through a democratic voting system from past senate members. The current representative is Andry Panjaitan from the Doctoral Management Department.
- Faculty (academic staff). Each faculty elects one leader, as well as 15 lecturers to serve on the Senate for the two-year period.
- Non-academic staff. The university elects ten leaders to serve on the Senate for the two-year period.
Elected members have the same rights as other Senate members. They can speak, propose agenda items and vote in Senate plenary sessions.
Through this structure, every major group in the UPH community (undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff) has a democratically elected voice in the university’s highest decision-making body. This supports transparent, accountable and participatory governance in line with SDG target 16.7.