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Issues of the day: Indonesian universities: A crisis without end?
All talk: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo makes a speech to students and lecturers of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta in December last year
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span class="inline inline-center">All talk: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo makes a speech to students and lecturers of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta in December last year. He was speaking about the importance of infrastructure development. Antara/Regina Safri
April 25, p7
In this era of rapid economic, social and technological change, countries rely more heavily on their universities than ever before to give their economies a competitive edge.
A quick glance at the most commonly cited metrics suggests that Indonesia's higher education system is still failing to make the grade. Even acknowledging that global university rankings are inexact and often unfair, it is chastening that the fourth-largest country in the world does not have a single institution in the Times Higher World University 400. Research performance, as measured by scientific publications and citations, is woeful, trailing not only Malaysia and Thailand, but also poorer countries Vietnam and Bangladesh. (By Jonathan Pincus, Jakarta)
Your comments:
I think this article's position is not entirely fair. Indonesian universities have in fact served their initial purpose very well, namely to supply the graduate-level positions sorely needed to support Indonesian's economy growth.
That goal achieved, we should indeed move on to a more ambitious goal, namely to provide researchers, for example, to facilitate the creation of high-tech industries.
Creating a successful research university is not a simple thing to do, especially more or less from scratch, with a limited budget and various constraining political factors. I also don't believe this is something that can be cultivated with 'small steps', as the author suggested. That way, by the time we've managed to establish such a university, Indonesia will probably already be on the brink of energy bankruptcy, to name one of the problems that urgently requires domestic research capability.
The University of Indonesia, one of the most reputable universities in RI, has an annual budget of about US$287 million (2014). In comparison, top European universities have operational budgets of around $1 billion, NUS Singapore has $1.7 billion and the University of California $6 billion. This kind of figure is not entirely outside the reach of RI, but is definitely not something you can achieve with small strides. It needs a major political decision and commitment.
Sudarsana Chakra
Sack the lot and get new blood, particularly those who have experienced more progressive systems and cultures.
Encourage foreign lecturers to share their expertise instead of hindering them.
Scott Casey
Actually, many universities 'own' their professors as they must sign a contract to work with the university when they receive funds to study overseas or at other universities.
Charles Jarret
I believe that to be able to reform universities, we must somehow transform our society as well.
Many people, especially women, are reluctant to take science and technology courses because they do not see good career prospects.
Years ago, I wanted to study electrical engineering, but was strongly discouraged because 'it's a man's world and it will be difficult for you to climb the ladder'.
I have female friends working as civil engineers who complain that they have to work twice as hard compared with their male counterparts to be considered 'competent' by their bosses.
I know of a woman taking her Phd. in biomedical engineering in Japan who has no plans to return because there are such limited career prospects for her in Indonesia.
On the other hand, management and other business degrees give you more flexibility in the work market. Companies need managers, accountants, etc.
I have friends that studied music, IT, software development and robotics, and who are now working in the business sector as marketers, sales representatives, insurance agents and other business-related jobs.
Unless and until we somehow transform our society so that graduates do not have to resort to the business sector to get a job (allowing them to work in their field aside from as lecturers), then it will be tough to convince youngsters not to prefer management and other such subjects.
Blue Pear
