UNPAR.AC.ID, Bandung – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has emphasized the institutional quality of several universities in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR) is also encouraged to be included in the World Class University list and explore opportunities to establish branch campuses abroad.
This was conveyed by the Director of Institutional Affairs, Dr. Lukman, S.T., M.Hum, during the National Seminar on “Sustainable Governance of Private Higher Education Ecosystem” at the Arntz-Geise Learning Center Auditorium, UNPAR. He discussed various ways to improve the quality of higher education institutions, including strengthening institutions, organizing, controlling and evaluating, quality assurance (accreditation), and targeting to become a World Class University.
According to him, Kemendikbudristek is not hesitant to revoke the licenses of unhealthy institutions. In the past month, 24 private universities (PTS) have had their licenses revoked, four of which are located in West Java. The unhealthy conditions experienced by several institutions are taken seriously, prompting Kemendikbudristek to impose a moratorium on the establishment of new institutions. Currently, reports indicate that 90 institutions have surrendered operations.
“We will not allow any new openings unless it involves mergers or consolidations. Indonesia has the most higher education institutions in the world, but many are small and quite unhealthy, some even at risk of going into ‘ICU’,” he stated, as quoted from UNPAR’s YouTube channel on Friday, November 25, 2022.
“Currently, I have 90 institutions on my desk that have raised the white flag. Additionally, around 52 are involved in fraudulent activities and we are preparing to revoke their licenses,” he added.
Dr. Lukman mentioned that the revocation of an institution’s license is a decisive step if it has committed severe violations that cannot be tolerated, such as diploma selling practices, graduating students without conducting any teaching and learning processes, conducting distance classes without permission, and failing to manage the institution according to applicable standards.
“In West Java alone, there are about 1,200 institutions suspected of issuing fake diplomas. In East Java, the number reaches 5,800, where for 30-40 million you can obtain a diploma without actual learning. This means the diploma is officially issued by the institution and recorded in the PDDIKTI, but no real learning has taken place. Therefore, we are forced to revoke their operational licenses and gradually delete data that is inconsistent due to fraud,” he explained.
In addition to revoking institutional licenses, Kemendikbudristek also imposes strict sanctions on educators (lecturers) involved in various fraudulent practices, which may result in a lifetime suspension of their teaching licenses.
“They will still have their NIDN (National Lecturer Identification Number) and NIDK (Special Lecturer Identification Number), but they can no longer pursue a career as lecturers. That is the punishment. We emphasize that for lecturers involved, for example, 14 lecturers were recently suspended for life,” he said.
On the other hand, Kemendikbudristek is providing extensive relaxation for institutions wishing to open new study programs, encouraging them to offer programs that will be in demand in the next 5-10 years.
“We sincerely hope that those with ‘classic’ programs that students have abandoned will move on. We don’t want them to be left behind by students,” he stated.
World Class University
Regarding quality assurance, he expressed hope that once institutions are accredited, they do not become complacent. They should not stop at the “Superior” ranking, as currently, out of 4,500 institutions in Indonesia, only 20 have reached a world-class level.
“So, if UNPAR is not just chasing Superior, but is now aiming for World Class University,” he said.
Furthermore, institutions are urged to continuously improve their quality in light of the arrival of foreign universities establishing branches in Indonesia. For instance, Monash University is already in Jakarta, and soon Deakin University and Lancaster University will open campuses in Bandung.
“In Bandung, Deakin and Lancaster will open in January 2023. There will be 10-20 foreign institutions entering, which should not be seen as a threat. It should be viewed as an opportunity to learn from their management practices,” he explained.
The opportunity to establish branches abroad is also wide open for Indonesian institutions. He cited Muhammadiyah University as an example, which has opened campuses in Malaysia and Australia.
“We also encourage your institutions to establish branches abroad. We hope, for example, that UNPAR will also open a branch overseas,” he added. (Ira Veratika SN-Humas UNPAR)
