14/02/2020
Indonesia invites the world top universities to set up branch campuses in Indonesia
Ambassadors and representatives from the World Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) attended a briefing session on 12 February hosted by the Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim. The session came after the first 100 days of Nadiem’s tenure as Minister and outlined his strategic vision for reforming the Indonesian education sector. There are 5 topics discussion in the higher education sector. Below is the summary.
|
Topic |
Policy direction |
Potential space for collaboration |
|
Presence of top universities in Indonesia |
Invite world-class universities to establish presence in Indonesia |
Bringing in top universities to Indonesia through:
|
|
Research partnerships |
Launch a coordinated effort to match-make researchers from top universities to local faculty members |
Identify research interests of top faculty members that might be related to Indonesia (e.g. climate change, demographic, culture, environment, etc) |
|
Exchange programs |
Students can take up to 3 semesters outside campus, including working in villages, volunteer, or go for exchange programs |
Invite top universities to send their students to Indonesia to undertake community projects, practicums, or even internships in remote areas |
|
Instructors and professors |
Bring in more people with external experience (from other universities, from industry) |
|
|
Infrastructure improvement |
Universities eligible to receive grants for infrastructure improvement only after receiving commitment for partnerships (with industry, top 100 universities, multilateral organisation, etc.) |
Grants for infrastructure improvements, but using the same terms |
President Jokowi has tasked Nadiem directly with bringing the top 100 universities to establish branch campuses in Indonesia, following the recent example of Monash University. Nadiem hopes that Monash will be the first of many to physically establish themselves and commit in the long term.
Source:
Discussion with Development Partners on Policy Direction and Potential Collaboration, Jakarta 12 February 2020
Commentary by Lisa Wilianto:
Currently top 100 universities are based on QS world ranking. This policy might hinder many eminent institutions which want to work closely with Indonesia. However, there are other potential collaboration that UK Universities can take advantage such as the establishment of dual degrees, accreditation and allowing students to be seconded outside of their campus for up to 35% of their undergraduate degree. As the previous market news mentioned that the higher education reforms has reduce the burden of bureaucracy for local institutions wishing to partner internationally.
Furthermore, British Embassy in Jakarta and British Council will continue to liaise with Mendikbud (Minister of Education and Culture) contacts for a HE Joint Working Group between Mendikbud and UK counterparts to follow up on these opportunities.
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