BANJARMASIN – Dr. Iwan Aflanie’s name is increasingly being considered in the 2026 Rector Election (Pilrek) of Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM). The Vice Rector I of ULM has officially entered the top four potential rector candidates, as determined by the ULM Rector Election Committee and the University Senate.
In addition to Dr. Iwan Aflanie, three other names are also in the running for rector: incumbent Rector Prof. Ahmad Alim Bachri, Prof. Muthia Elma, and Dr. Rusmansyah.
Dr. Iwan Aflanie’s inclusion immediately attracted the attention of many within the campus community. He is considered a strong candidate due to his extensive experience in academic bureaucracy and his understanding of ULM’s future development direction.
During his tenure as Vice Rector I, Dr. Iwan Aflanie has been known for actively handling academic matters, institutional development, and improving the quality of education at ULM. This experience is a significant asset in the 2026 rector election.
The Chair of the ULM Rector Election Committee, Prof. Ifrani, stated that all prospective candidates who registered had gone through the administrative verification process with the Inspectorate General (Itjen) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek).
“As a result, all documents were declared complete, met the requirements, and were refined based on input from the Itjen,” said Prof. Ifrani, Wednesday (July 1, 2026).
According to him, the registration process was extended twice because the number of applicants did not meet the minimum requirements. However, by the registration deadline of June 29, 2026, the committee finally determined four prospective rector candidates.
The next stage will be the objection period from July 1 to 6, 2026, before the prospective candidates will present their vision, mission, and work programs to the ULM Senate.
The presentation of the vision and mission is scheduled for July 20–25, 2026, and is planned to be open to the media and attended by ministry representatives.
The competition is expected to be fierce, but Dr. Iwan Aflanie’s name is starting to be widely mentioned as a figure with significant potential. Besides being well-known within the academic community, he is also considered to have a strong network and extensive leadership experience within the campus environment.
After the presentation of his vision and mission, the ULM Senate will conduct a screening process to determine the three final rector candidates who will compete in the voting on August 26, 2026.
The rector election will be conducted through a closed Senate meeting, with 65 percent of the votes coming from ULM Senate members and 35 percent from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.
If all stages go smoothly, the ULM rector-elect is scheduled to be inaugurated in October 2026, coinciding with the end of the current rector’s term.
Daffa Ibrahim
