Student Union and Representation

Student union that represents both undergraduate and postgraduate students at university level

 

Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) has a recognised student union at the university level known as the Student Executive Board (Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Universitas Padjadjaran, or BEM Unpad). BEM Unpad serves as the official representative body for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, functioning as a platform for aspirations, coordination, and the driving force behind student activities across the entire university. It acts as a formal bridge between students and university leadership, conveying complaints, feedback, and aspirations directly to the Rector and faculty deans, as well as representing Unpad students in important forums including rectorate meetings and national student forums.

 

BEM Unpad is part of a broader student governance ecosystem under the Keluarga Mahasiswa Universitas Padjadjaran (KEMA Unpad), which connects student organisations at the university, faculty, and departmental levels, ensuring representation across all academic units. Through its affiliation with national student forums and inter-university student bodies, BEM Unpad maintains active engagement with the wider national student union movement in Indonesia. The leadership of BEM Unpad is determined through a democratic election process in which all registered students are entitled to vote, ensuring that student representatives are chosen through a transparent, participatory, and accountable mechanism. Further information on BEM Unpad and its activities can be accessed through the official KEMA Unpad website at https://kema.unpad.ac.id/


The Student Executive Board (Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa, BEM) of KEMA Unpad serves as the executive organisation representing both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university level, implementing a wide range of programmes spanning academic development, non-academic activities, student advocacy, and other areas relevant to student welfare and campus life. As the executive arm of KEMA Unpad, BEM plays a central role in translating student aspirations into concrete initiatives and serves as the primary liaison between the student body and university leadership. To broaden its network and strengthen its advocacy capacity beyond the campus, BEM KEMA Unpad is formally connected with BEM Seluruh Indonesia (BEMSI), the national-level student executive body that unites student unions from universities across Indonesia, ensuring that Unpad students have a voice not only at the institutional level but also within the national higher education discourse. Further information on BEM KEMA Unpad’s programmes and activities can be accessed through their official Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/bem.unpad/
 
 
Student union is connected/affiliated to a wider national student union body
 

To broaden its network and strengthen its advocacy capacity beyond the campus, BEM KEMA Unpad is formally connected with BEM Seluruh Indonesia (BEMSI), the national-level student executive body that unites student unions from universities across Indonesia, ensuring that Unpad students have a voice not only at the institutional level but also within the national higher education discourse. This national connectivity is further reinforced at the faculty level, where student organisations maintain their own affiliations with discipline-specific national bodies. The Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Medicine (BEM FK Unpad) is affiliated with the Ikatan Senat Mahasiswa Kedokteran Indonesia (ISMKI), the national federation of medical student organisations in Indonesia, through which Unpad medical students actively participate in national advocacy, academic forums, and collaborative programmes with medical students from institutions across the country. Similarly, the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Pharmacy (BEM FF Unpad) is affiliated with the Ikatan Senat Mahasiswa Farmasi Seluruh Indonesia (ISMAFARSI), the national federation of pharmacy student organisations in Indonesia, connecting Unpad pharmacy students to a broader national network for academic collaboration, professional development, and advocacy in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. Together, these multilevel affiliations demonstrate that Unpad’s student representation extends well beyond the campus, connecting students to both national inter-university networks and profession-specific student bodies.

 
Student union elects its leadership, allowing students to vote
 
The election of the BEM president is conducted through a program called **PEMIRA (Pemilihan Umum Raya)**, which is a direct election for the BEM president by students. All active students have the right to vote, and typically, there is more than one pair of candidates for president and vice president. The election process includes a series of activities such as campaigning, candidate debates, and the dissemination of each candidate’s vision and mission, leading up to the voting day. Voting is carried out both offline and online, and the candidate pair with the highest number of votes is elected as the BEM president and vice president.
 
Universitas Padjadjaran supports and recognizes student organizations at Campus including their election. Every year the main student organization, namely BEM KEMA UNPAD as a student body, holds an election to decide the leaders of the organization. The election is conducted by online (e-voting) and supported by campus administration system. Evoting can be accessed through www.students.unpad.ac.id/pacis . During the election, there are some activities such as 1) drawing of serial numbers for candidates for chairman and deputy chairman; 2) independent campaign; 3) open debate; 4) public test of candidates for the board of trustees of WM Unpad; 5) e-voting, and 6) determination of chairman and deputy chairman