RI to partner with foreign universities<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is drafting a regulation to allow foreign learning
\ninstitutions to open branches in Indonesia, in order to improve
\nthe quality of the country's human resources.<\/p>\n
Aji Sukmo, a senior official of the Ministry of National
\nEducation, said on Thursday, that higher learning institutions
\nthat require huge capital, such as polytechnics, would be among
\nthe first to open branches here.<\/p>\n
Currently, foreign learning institutions are not allowed to
\nenter into partnership with local institutions, but some have
\nestablished twin programs with overseas universities.<\/p>\n
Universities, however, will be excluded from the regulation.
\nAccording to Aji, foreign institutions may only control 50
\npercent of local universities.<\/p>\n
He also said big cities like Jakarta, Bandung, and Yogyakarta
\nwill become the first places where foreign learning institutions
\ncan set up branches.<\/p>\n
\"The plan can help improve the quality of the country's human
\nresource, reduce the number of Indonesian students studying
\noverseas and improve the quality of local universities,\" Aji
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
It was not clear if the foreign learning institutions involved
\nwill adopt Indonesia's curriculum or will be allowed to implement
\ntheir own curriculum.<\/p>\n
Tens of thousands of Indonesians, particularly those coming
\nfrom wealthy families, are studying overseas, including the
\nUnited States, Canada, Australia, and neighboring Singapore and
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Indonesians contribute US$25 million per year to Australian
\nuniversities alone by studying there.<\/p>\n
Aji did not say when the policy would be implemented.<\/p>\n
So far, the United States, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and
\nNew Zealand have shown interest in providing branches for higher
\nand adult education here.<\/p>\n
\"But, only foreign institutions recognized by their respective
\ngovernments will be allowed to establish their schools here,\" Aji
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Under the newly endorsed education law, Indonesia will open
\nits basic, middle, and high levels of education to foreign
\ninstitutions that are accredited by their respective governments.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's education institutions, particularly universities,
\nrank among the worst in Asia.<\/p>\n
However, a number of universities have expressed fears that
\nthe planned branches will finish them due to an increase in
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Another speaker Armida S. Alisjahbana from the University of
\nPadjajaran, Bandung, West Java said Indonesia should learn from
\nMalaysia in expanding its education sector.<\/p>\n
\"They invited well-known foreign universities to establish
\ntheir universities in Malaysia at a similar level to the original
\nuniversities,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Malaysia opened its education fields -- business, information
\ntechnology, science, and engineering, for example -- to achieve
\nits goal to become an advanced country in 2020.\"<\/p>\n
She agreed with the planned expansion of the education sector,
\nsaying that it would meet the demand for higher education at an
\ninternational standard.<\/p>\n
This would also encourage local universities to reach higher
\nstandards, as they would be forced to compete with the foreign
\neducation institutions, she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-to-partner-with-foreign-universities-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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