The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology has\nproposed closing study programmes considered no longer relevant to\nindustry. Secretary General of the Ministry, Badru Munir Sukoco, stated\nthat the proposal to close programmes aims to reduce the gap between\nuniversity graduates and the competencies required in the workforce. As\na result, he said, field needs often do not match the educational\nbackground of bachelor\u2019s degree holders. \u201cThere may be some that we need\nto execute in a not too long time regarding study programmes; we need to\nselect them. If necessary, they should be closed to increase relevance,\u201d\nBadru said in Badung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, 23 April 2026.<\/p>\n
The Ministry noted that universities produce 1.9 million graduates\neach year. This number is considered to make it difficult for higher\neducation graduates to find jobs.<\/p>\n
Several universities claim they have not yet received information\nabout the plan to close study programmes. However, they have responded\nto the Ministry\u2019s proposal.<\/p>\n
Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Vice Rector for Education and Student Affairs at UMY, Zuly Qodir,\nsaid his campus has no plans to close any programmes. \u201cAt this time, we\nchoose to adjust the curriculum rather than closing study programmes\ndirectly,\u201d Zuly said on Tuesday, 28 April 2026.<\/p>\n
This curriculum adjustment approach, Zuly said, is considered more\nadaptive in facing changing needs of the times without eliminating\ncertain fields of knowledge. \u201cCurriculum strengthening is done by\ninvolving industry practitioners and enhancing students\u2019 non-academic\ncompetencies to better prepare them for the workforce,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
This approach is also seen as better able to bridge the gap between\nhigher education and industry needs. \u201cWe adjust the curriculum to\ndevelopments in the workforce and bring in practitioners so that\nstudents understand field needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
UMY itself finds the proposal to close programmes odd as a way to\naddress graduate imbalances. \u201cThe proposal to close study programmes\ncertainly needs more detailed clarity, especially regarding which fields\nare considered irrelevant,\u201d Zuly said.<\/p>\n
Universitas Gadjah Mada<\/p>\n
UGM Rector Ova Emilia said her campus routinely evaluates study\nprogrammes. Therefore, she is open to closing, opening, merging\n(programme mergers), or transforming programmes.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we are indeed facing a world and challenges that are very\ndynamic,\u201d Ova said in response to the plan to close programmes not\nrelevant to industry needs via voice message on Monday, 27 April\n2026.<\/p>\n
She said educational institutions must align with the needs of the\ntimes. Educational institutions need to routinely conduct situational\nanalyses. \u201cWhat is needed, what kind of curriculum, what competencies\nare needed, or what levels are needed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to her, educational institutions play a role in providing\nstudents with skills. The goal is for graduates to face challenges\nindependently.<\/p>\n
In addition, future programmes need to collaborate with industry or\nplaces according to the sectors that employ graduates. Higher education\npolicies must be made considering the user sectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether industry or even educational institutions. So if what we see\nis like everyone doing it separately, thus if oversupply occurs, it\nmight happen if it\u2019s never discussed together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Universitas Padjadjaran<\/p>\n
Unpad claims it has not received information regarding the\ngovernment\u2019s plan to close study programmes deemed irrelevant to\nindustry needs. Nevertheless, Unpad\u2019s Vice Rector for Academic and\nStudent Affairs, Zahrotur Rusyda Hinduan, emphasised that the decision\nto close a study programme is entirely the campus\u2019s authority.<\/p>\n
Moreover, she said, several state universities now have legal entity\nstatus (PTNBH) which grants academic autonomy. \u201cWe understand the\nMinistry\u2019s intent that there may be programmes that are less relevant,\nbut the authority to open or close programmes lies with the university,\nespecially Unpad because as a PTNBH we already have autonomy,\u201d said\nRossie, as Zahrotur Rusyda Hinduan is known, when contacted on Saturday,\n25 April 2026.<\/p>\n
Rossie said Unpad does not want to take the extreme path of closing\nsuch programmes. Instead of closing the programmes, Unpad believes\nevaluation is better directed towards curriculum renewal and refreshing,\nso that study programmes can become relevant to job needs.<\/p>\n
Universitas Udayana<\/p>\n
Universitas Udayana Rector I Ketut Sudarsana stated the importance of\nperiodic evaluations of study programmes on campus. The aim is to ensure\nthat teaching implementation remains relevant to developments in science\nand societal needs.<\/p>\n
However, he said, evaluations of higher education relevance should be\ndone carefully and not hastily. He said evaluations or adjustments must\nbe comprehensive and based on academic studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evaluation process certainly needs to be done carefully,\ncomprehensively, and based on in-depth academic studies,\u201d Ketut said on\nSaturday, 24 April 2026.<\/p>\n
Universitas Indonesia<\/p>\n
UI\u2019s Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and\nInternational Relations, Erwin Agustian Panigoro, said UI has not yet\ndetermined any steps regarding the plan to close programmes. UI also\ncannot yet determine which programmes are deemed irrelevant to industry\nand thus must be closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince there is no letter or official directive from the ministry\nregarding programme closures, for now UI has no discussions or plans\nregarding which study programmes will be considered for closure,\u201d Erwin\nsaid when contacted on Saturday, 25 April 2026.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/responses-from-ui-unpad-to-ugm-on-the-proposal-to-close-study-programmes-1777423912", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }