Education observer Indra Charismiadji has sharply criticised the\nMinistry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology\u2019s\n(Kemendiktisaintek) plan to close several university study programmes\n(prodi) deemed irrelevant to workforce needs. Indra described it as an\n\u201cintellectual genocide\u201d occurring just ahead of National Education Day\n(Hardiknas) on 2 May.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis policy carries significant risks if not grounded in\ncomprehensive policy reasoning,\u201d Indra stated in a press release\nreceived by detikBali on Monday (27\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Indra acknowledges that aligning universities with the job market is\nessential, in line with global references from the McKinsey Global\nInstitute and the World Economic Forum on job disruptions. However, he\nquestions the government\u2019s decision-making basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question is, is there a transparent academic study to determine\nwhich programmes should be closed?\u201d asked the education observer from\nthe Vox Populi Institute Indonesia.<\/p>\n
According to him, without clear criteria, programme closures would\nrely on mere \u201cfeelings\u201d or bureaucratic whims. He fears this could\ndevolve into unhealthy competition among universities for students,\nrather than quality improvements.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Indra questions the existence of the Talent Roadmap\n2045, which should serve as the primary guide. \u201cHow can the government\nclose doors to knowledge without knowing what industrial houses it wants\nto build in the next 20 years?\u201d Indra jabbed.<\/p>\n
He emphasises that workforce planning cannot be handled by one\nministry alone. Cross-sectoral collaboration is needed to determine\nwhich industries to develop and what competencies are required. Without\nthis roadmap, closing programmes is akin to chopping down trees without\na replanting plan.<\/p>\n
From a humanities perspective, Indra highlights the government\u2019s\nfailure to distinguish between supply and demand sides. He cites\nMaritime Biology as an example\u2014a discipline that should be a crown jewel\nin an archipelagic nation like Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cUniversities might open this programme, but where will graduates\nwork if the absorbing ecosystem isn\u2019t prepared by the state?\u201d he\nstated.<\/p>\n
For Indra, many \u201cirrelevant\u201d programmes are merely victims of the\ngovernment\u2019s lack of industrial vision. Closing them because graduates\naren\u2019t absorbed\u2014while industries aren\u2019t built\u2014is a fatal logical\nerror.<\/p>\n
Indra also spotlighted the shift in universities\u2019 roles, now forcibly\nturned into job training institutions. Yet, the constitutional mandate,\nper Article 31 paragraph 5 of the 1945 Constitution, positions higher\neducation as a place to develop science and technology for\ncivilisational progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cKemendiktisaintek must stop viewing universities as labour\nfactories,\u201d Indra asserted.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we only train people to be workers, they will soon be replaced by\nmachines or technology. Our curricula should encourage humans to become\ncreators,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to Indra, closing programmes without substantive reforms\nwill only produce innovation-illiterate unemployment. Education is an\ninvestment in civilisation, not merely a market commodity. \u201cDon\u2019t let\nthe ambition to chase employability statistics kill the seeds of\ninnovation that should grow from academic freedom in universities,\u201d he\nconcluded.<\/p>\n
Previously, as reported by detikEdu, Kemendiktisaintek plans to close\nvarious programmes deemed less relevant to future economic growth needs.\nThis plan will be implemented in the near future.<\/p>\n
Secretary General of Kemendiktisaintek, Badri Munir Sukoco, hopes\nuniversities will willingly sort and select programmes for closure. The\nministry also seeks support from the Consortium of Higher Education\nInstitutions Concerned with Population (PTPK).<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, in our view at the ministry, this requires a joint policy. We\nalso hope for support from PTPK friends, of course all the Rectors here,\nso there is willingness,\u201d Badri said at the 2026 National Population\nSymposium on Thursday (23\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just willingness, later there may be some things we must execute\nin a not too long time regarding programmes; we need to select, sort,\nand if necessary close them to increase their relevance,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Badri noted one oversupplied programme: education. He stated that in\nhigher education statistics, social sciences programmes make up about\n60%, with the largest portion being teacher education.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur teacher education graduates 490,000 each year,\u201d said Badri.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the need for teacher graduates is only 20,000,\u201d he added.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/plan-to-close-numerous-study-programmes-criticised-universities-are-not-job-training-institutions-1777258285", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }