Licensing to Open New Universities Can Be Done Online: Higher Education Ministry
Research and Technology Minister M. Nasir delivers a press statement, at Building D of the Ministry’s Office, Jakarta, Friday (2/8). (Photo by: BKP Kemenristekdikti)
Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education has overhauled university licensing system that includes the establishment of new study programs and the establishment of a new university.
“Obtaining licensing to open a new study program used to be time-consuming. It could take months and it was unclear when the license was issued. The process can now be completed in a maximum of 15 working days provided that all requirements have been fulfilled,” said Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir in a press conference in Jakarta, Friday (2/8).
According to Nasir, there are two aspects to be considered in applying for a license to open a study program, namely lecturer aspects and non-lecturer aspects. Both aspects are now evaluated online, he added.
“The online licensing process saves a lot of time and budget. University high-ranking officials no longer need to go back and forth to Jakarta because everything can be done online. They can always check the progress of the application process, ” he added.
Another change, he added, includes evaluation of lecturers and non-lecturers for the opening of a study program which is currently handled by the Ministry’s Higher Education Service Institute (LLDikti).
“In March, we received proposals for the opening of 163 new study programs and the process could be completed in five days. Even 82 percent of licenses could be completed in less than five days, so only 18% of the permits that took more than 5 days to finish. In April, 77 percent of licensing was completed in less than five days. In May, 72 percent of licensing was completed in less than five days. In June, 71 percent of licensing was completed in less than five days and in July, 90 percent of licensing was completed in less than five days, ” the Minister said.
Nasir went on to say that in principle the Ministry always strives to simplify licensing for the establishment of a new university and the opening of new study programs, while continuing to ensure that higher education in Indonesia is of a high quality.
If a university violates the rules in the establishment and makes changes in study programs, it will be imposed with strict sanctions, he added.
“The university licensing process must be precise and clear. If someone breaks the rules, we will take action,” Nasir said.
Strict sanctions for problematic universities, he continued, can be in the form of fostering until its closure and its study programs, and students’ diplomas graduating from the university or a study program will not be recognized in the Higher Education Database (PDDikti).
“We must encourage a good university to be better. We also have to make it easier in the process of opening new study programs. We also continue to evaluate – and if necessary close down – universities that are not of a bad quality, ” Nasir said.
The Minister also urged prospective students and the public to be careful in choosing universities and not to enroll in those that have been shut down.
For the record, in the 2015-2019 period there were 130 universities that were closed, be it because they had problems, there were no lectures and student activities, or due to the closure request from the foundation manager (owning the universities).
Prospective students, according to Nasir, can also check the status of a university, whether it has a permit or not, or where it is already closed or not, on https://forlap.ristekdikti.go.id.
Translated by: Muhardi
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
