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UI forms team to investigate Bahlil’s doctorate amid public uproar
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Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia (third right) presents his dissertation on Indonesia's nickel industry management at University of Indonesia's campus in Depok, West Java, on Oct. 16, 2024. (Antara/Indrianto Eko Suwarso)
T
he University of Indonesia’s board of professors has formed a team to investigate the controversial awarding of a doctorate by the university’s School of Global and Strategic Studies to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadia, given the inordinately short length of time he took to graduate.
Bahlil’s degree, the dissertation of which he successfully defended on Wednesday, was awarded after he finished the program in only one year and eight months rather than the typical three years, prompting UI’s board of professors to form a team to investigate the degree award.
“We and the academic senate have established a team to look further into the alleged irregularities of this case,” UI law professor and board chair Harkristuti Harkrisnowo said on Saturday, as quoted by kompas.com.
The team consists of nine professors, who will conduct their inquiry into the matter until Oct. 30.
The team’s formation took place after the board held a meeting on Friday to discuss the doctoral degree for the Golkar Party chairman from the perspective of ethics and morality, among other issues.
When asked for a response to the professorial board and senate’s move to establish the investigation team, Bahlil said that was a matter for the university.
“I just followed all regulations set by UI. There’s nothing I didn’t do,” he said on Saturday, as quoted by tempo.co.
