{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1705287,
        "msgid": "ministry-of-higher-education-science-and-technology-closure-of-study-programmes-as-last-resort-1777355514",
        "date": "2026-04-28 12:24:14",
        "title": "Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology: Closure of Study Programmes as Last Resort",
        "author": "",
        "source": "TEMPO_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Badri Munir Sukoco, has clarified that closing university study programmes is not the primary option but a last resort if they fail to meet quality standards after thorough evaluation. He emphasised that the restructuring aims to enhance academic sustainability and national relevance without narrowing higher education solely to workforce needs, highlighting the importance of foundational disciplines in fostering innovation, culture, and critical thinking. This follows criticism of earlier statements on closing irrelevant programmes amid surpluses in fields like teacher education, where 490,000 graduates are produced annually against a need for only 20,000 teachers.",
        "content": "<p>Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education,\nScience, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), Badri Munir Sukoco, stated\nthat plans to close study programmes are not the primary choice. He said\nthat closing study programmes at higher education institutions would\nonly be a last resort if the programmes no longer meet quality\nstandards.<\/p>\n<p>Before closure, Badri said, study programmes must undergo evaluation\nfirst. \u201cIf, based on a comprehensive evaluation, they no longer meet\nquality standards, lack adequate academic sustainability, and cannot be\ndeveloped further through mentoring or transformation measures,\u201d Badri\nsaid in a written statement on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.<\/p>\n<p>He explained that basic sciences, social sciences, humanities,\neducation, and non-applied fields still hold important positions in the\nnational talent architecture. Badri emphasised that the government does\nnot view higher education narrowly as a workforce provider. He said that\nany field of knowledge remains a centre for developing science,\ninnovation, culture, leadership, and solutions for society.<\/p>\n<p>According to Badri, the arrangement of study programmes is not\nintended to make higher education institutions subservient solely to\nindustrial interests. Higher education still has a major mandate in\ndeveloping knowledge, shaping character, strengthening critical\nthinking, and building the foundation of the nation\u2019s civilisation.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, Badri stressed, the evaluation of study programmes is not\nonly based on aspects of interest or job absorption but also on the\nquality of learning, lecturer capacity, academic sustainability,\nscientific contributions, national strategic needs, and regional\ndevelopment equity.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, Badri conveyed plans to close study programmes that are\nnot relevant to workforce needs. He made this statement at the 2026\nNational Population Symposium in Badung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, 23\nApril 2026. That statement drew criticism from various quarters.<\/p>\n<p>Badri also mentioned that the surplus of graduates in certain study\nprogrammes is a reason for the government to reorganise the programmes.\nOne example is teacher education or education departments, which produce\n490,000 teacher graduates every year, while the need for prospective\nteachers is only 20,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>He asked higher education institutions to be willing to select which\nstudy programmes need to be closed. \u201cLater, there may be some that we\nhave to execute in a not too long time regarding the study programmes;\nwe need to select, sort, and if necessary, close them to increase\nrelevance,\u201d said Badri.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-of-higher-education-science-and-technology-closure-of-study-programmes-as-last-resort-1777355514",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}