The new ministerial decree, issued earlier this week, also ends the requirement for undergraduate students to submit a mini-thesis, providing an option for field projects instead.
ducation, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim has unveiled a sweeping new policy that will no longer require students in graduate programs at Indonesian universities to write a thesis or dissertation, allowing university programs to opt for non-written final projects instead.
The new ministerial decree, issued earlier this week, also ends the requirement for undergraduate students to submit a mini-thesis, providing an option for field projects instead.
The ministry will allow individual colleges and universities to decide whether to require a mini-thesis, thesis, dissertation, field project or applied project from their students.
"Beyond just theses or dissertations, students can submit a prototype, conduct projects or other types of activities. But this doesn't mean they can't submit a thesis or dissertation. It's up to the individual university to decide," Nadiem said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Under the new policy, the ministry will no longer require doctoral students in applied sciences to publish their work in scientific journals.
"The [doctoral student’s] capability to write scientifically or ability to implement projects on the ground should be decided by head of university department," Nadiem said.
The new policy is the latest in a series of controversial education reforms by Nadiem, a former CEO of ride-hailing platform Gojek.
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