Amidst the nation\u2019s ambition to achieve the \u2018Indonesia Emas 2045\u2019\nvision, a silent crisis is threatening the foundations of higher\neducation equality. Across the archipelago, 36 new state universities\n(PTNB) collectively possess only 67 professors. This shocking deficit\ncontrasts sharply with the thousands of professors concentrated in\nestablished universities on Java. Nationally, the number of professors\naccounts for only 3% of the total teaching staff, far below the ideal\ntarget of 10%. This represents an intellectual emergency that threatens\nthe state\u2019s ability to provide equitable access to quality education and\nweakens global competitiveness.<\/p>\n
New state universities were established with the noble mandate to act\nas catalysts for higher education in regions historically marginalised\nfrom the national research and innovation ecosystem. However, without an\nadequate number of professors, these campuses struggle to build strong\nresearch traditions, manage academic regeneration, or serve as\nintellectual anchors for local communities. Ironically, Universitas\nGadjah Mada (UGM) alone has 523 professors, nearly eight times the total\nnumber found in all 36 new state universities combined. This massive\ndisparity reflects a systemic failure to nurture a conducive academic\necosystem outside traditional educational power centres.<\/p>\n
The root of this inequality is multidimensional, stemming primarily\nfrom limited research capacity and rigid governance. Lacking adequate\nlaboratories, international networks, or senior mentorship, young\nlecturers in new state universities must struggle alone to meet strict\nglobal publication standards. Furthermore, many new state universities\nremain trapped in rigid bureaucracies inherited from their status as\nworking units (satker), which slows their transition towards the\nflexibility of public service agencies (BLU) or legal entity state\nuniversities (PTN-BH).<\/p>\n
To overcome this crisis, bold and sustainable policy interventions\nare required through four main strategies. First, the implementation of\na \u2018reverse sabbatical\u2019 scheme, where senior professors from established\nuniversities are deployed to new state universities for one to four\nyears to mentor junior academics. These visiting professors could act as\nco-supervisors and help secure large research grants. Second, an\nadministrative \u2018fast-track\u2019 is needed. While current regulations allow\nuniversities autonomy in setting publication requirements, the\nbureaucracy for credit assessments and promotions must be streamlined,\nwith a target completion time of no more than six months to prevent\n\u2018professor title mafia\u2019 practices.<\/p>\n
Third, the focus must shift to strengthening research consortium\ncollaborations and reorienting funding. Lecturers in new state\nuniversities should be encouraged to participate as co-authors or\nprincipal investigators in large-scale research grants. Schemes such as\nthe Indonesia Collaboration Research or World Class Research managed by\nBRIN should provide affirmative quotas for new state universities.\nFinally, LPDP funding should be reoriented from a heavy focus on\nMaster\u2019s and Doctoral programmes towards specific post-doctoral\nprogrammes designed to boost the publication productivity of PhD holders\nin these universities. Success in these agendas requires firm political\ncommitment, strong budget allocation, and synergy between the Ministry\nof Education, BRIN, LPDP, and universities to ensure that new state\nuniversities do not become \u2018second-class campuses\u2019 that merely produce\ngraduates without contributing to scientific progress.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/professor-shortage-crisis-in-new-state-universities-1780958574", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }