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ANDUNG: Despite its proximity to the country’s capital city, West Java is considered to have fewer universities and colleges than ideal.

Djoko Santoso, a National Education Ministry official in charge of higher education, said the percentage of people between the ages of 19 and 23 in West Java attending institutes of higher learning was low at 18 percent compared to the national average of 27 percent. “It is because number of institutes of higher learning in West Java is still low,” he said after officially opening a national robot contest at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on Saturday.

West Java is home to some 400 universities and colleges, but the ministry considers the number insufficient for West Java’s population of 43 million.

Djoko pointed out the advantages of private universities becoming state-funded institutes.

“Once a university becomes state funded, it surely boosts the number of placements. We expect new universities next year that will be able to accommodate more than 10,000 students,” said former ITB rector.

West Java has only six state universities compared to the 10 in East Java, which has a smaller population.

The local government is considering turning four private universities into state universities, namely Gunung Jati University (Cirebon), Siliwangi University (Tasikmalaya), Singaperbangsa University (Karawang) and Sukabumi Polytechnic.

Denny Juanda, who heads the West Java Development Planning Board, said the process of changing the universities’ status began in 2010, but was being held up by slow progress and land acquisition problems.

Extending the campuses is necessary as one of the requirements of a state university is that it must have at least 30 hectares of land.