President Jokowi Agrees on Foreign Rector Recruitment
Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir answers questions from the reporters after accompanying President Jokowi receiving Indonesian Diaspora at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (19/8). (Photo by: Rahmat/PR)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has given his approval on the plan to hire foreign rectors for state universities in Indonesia, according to Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir.
“The President has agreed on the plan but he asked for revisions on the regulations so that the Government will not violate the prevailing laws and regulations,” Nasir told reporters after accompanying President Jokowi receiving Indonesian Diaspora at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Monday (19/8).
For that reason, Nasir continued, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education is revising the regulations, including 16 Government Regulations. “The Government will immediately revise sixteen Government Regulations. The amendment will allow civil servants, non-civil servants, and foreigners who have outstanding networks and experience to lead state universities,” Nasir said.
According to the Minister, candidates for rectors should have experience in leading a university, conducting researches, and can improve the university’s ranking at least among the top 200 in the world.
The Minister cited the example of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia which hire foreign rectors and lecturers and those universities are now ranked 12th and 189th respectively in the world top universities.
“Indonesia is still far from them. However, we should collaborate with foreigners in terms of higher education,” he added.
Nasir added that the Government would also start implementing the plan with private universities first before the state universities because they are not too strict in regulations. “The Government will encourage them to hire foreigners as rectors and lecturers,” he said, adding that the Government will strive to improve the quality of universities across the country.
Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Edited by: Rany Anjany/M. Ersan Pamungkas
