Gov’t Plans to Hire Foreign Chancellors to Lead State Universities

Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education M. Nasir (Photo by: Cabinet Secretariat Doc)

In a bid to establish Indonesia’s universities as part of the world top 100 universities, Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education M. Nasir has planned to hire foreign chancellors to lead selected State Universities.

“(We will challenge the foreign chancellors) whether they can improve the ranking of (selected universities) to the top 200 in the world. After the target is achieved, the next (target) is to the top 150, and then the top 100,” M. Nasir said.

The Minister also ensured that the Government will provide their salaries without reducing the university’s budget.

The Government, Nasir added, sets target to hire a foreign chancellor in one state university starting from 2020, and by 2024 the number will increase into five state universities.

“We are currently searching for the readiest university to begin the program in 2020 and later we will pick 2-5 universities until  2024,” M. Nasir said.

He admitted that the Government needs to amend several regulations to be able to hire foreign chancellors and foreign lecturers to teach, research, and collaborate in Indonesia.

“I have reported (this) to the President. There are regulations that need to be adjusted. (We will) start from the Government Regulation. The Ministerial Regulation will be adjusted in accordance with the Government Regulation,” M. Nasir stated.

In the meantime, the Ministry’s team is currently discussing the required chancellors’ criteria to be able to lead Indonesian universities.

“I have reported to the President that we will employ foreign chancellors with good reputation,” M. Nasir stated.

The Minister went on to say that hiring foreign chancellors to lead state universities or public universities is a common practice abroad, especially in European countries, and even in Singapore. He cited an example of Nanyang Technological University (NTU) which hires a foreign chancellor and a number of lecturers, is now listed in the world top 50 universities within only 38 years from the year of its establishment.

He also stated that by hiring foreign chancellors and lecturers, Indonesian universities will have a higher chance to improve their rankings. Furthermore, the Indonesian people would be easier to access a world-class education.

However, the Government is also concerned about the issue of foreign chancellor’s salary. “I need to discuss the amount (of salary) with Minister of Finance,” he said.  (Bureau of Cooperation and Public Communication of Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education/ES)

Translated by : Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Edited by : Estu Widyamurti, Mia M. Bonaedy