Pekanbaru, January 24, 2026 — The Postgraduate Program of Universitas Riau (UNRI) commenced the Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year with an Inaugural Lecture for new Master’s (S2) and Doctoral (S3) students. Held at the UNRI Student Center on Saturday (24/1/2026), the event was attended by new students, university leaders, Postgraduate Program leaders, and deans from across UNRI.
Since early morning, new students filled the main hall of the venue. The presence of university and faculty leaders marked the formal beginning of the academic process for the even semester, while also reinforcing the orientation toward academic values and ethics for postgraduate students.
The event was opened by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Dr. Mexsasai Indra, S.H., M.H. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mexsasai emphasized that the Inaugural Lecture serves as a starting point for building a disciplined, critical, and responsible academic tradition—not only for new students but for the entire UNRI Postgraduate ecosystem.
The Rector of Universitas Riau, Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti, S.E., M.Si., conveyed a message that postgraduate students hold a strategic role as drivers of knowledge and future leaders in the public sphere. Therefore, academic achievement must go hand in hand with integrity, ethics, and adherence to regulations.
Postgraduate students, she noted, must become role models in the way they think, work, and make decisions. Academic excellence must be aligned with integrity, compliance with rules, and commitment to constitutional values.
The agenda continued with a public lecture session. The keynote speaker, Dr. Ismail Hasani, S.H., M.H., delivered a presentation titled “Undelivered Constitutional Justice: Challenges and Dynamics of Constitutional Compliance.” The session invited participants to examine the dynamics of fulfilling constitutional justice and the challenges of constitutional compliance in institutional practices and policymaking. The session was interactive, featuring dialogue and a question-and-answer segment with participants.
The series of activities proceeded with the formal handover of new UNRI Postgraduate students to the Director of the Postgraduate Program and the deans across Universitas Riau. This procession marked the beginning of academic guidance for students within their respective study programs and faculties.
On the same occasion, a signing ceremony was also held to inaugurate the use of the PGC Building as part of strengthening facilities that support academic activities and the development of the UNRI Postgraduate Program.
The Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Riau (FISIP UNRI), Dr. Meyzi Heriyanto, S.Sos., M.Si., who was met after the event, stated that the theme of the inaugural lecture was highly relevant to shaping postgraduate students’ perspectives, particularly in understanding the relationship between knowledge, governance, and public ethics.
“The theme of undelivered constitutional justice emphasizes that justice is not merely written in regulations but must be felt in governance and public policy. Postgraduate students need to be equipped with a critical perspective to assess whether processes align with constitutional values and principles of accountability,” said Dr. Meyzi.
He added that FISIP UNRI encourages postgraduate students to produce research that is relevant to the needs of society and government, while also contributing to the improvement of policy practices.
“We want postgraduate research not to stop at publication, but to produce applicable recommendations that strengthen public services and help institutions operate more transparently and responsibly.”
Through this Inaugural Lecture for the Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year, the UNRI Postgraduate Program reaffirmed its commitment to preparing graduates who are academically excellent, ethically grounded, and sensitive to constitutional values in social practice, governance, and national life. (RIRY)
