Agency to accredit state and private colleges set up

JAKARTA (JP): State universities will not be able to claim themselves to be more prestigious than private institutions in the future because the government has established a National Accreditation Agency (BAN) to assess all universities on the basis of the same criteria.

"The government doesn't mind if the agency considers a state university as inferior," said Director General for Higher Education Bambang Suhendro shortly after members of the agency were officially sworn in by Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro yesterday.

Currently state universities are considered more prestigious because for a lower tuition fee, but a tougher entrance exam, students are almost sure to receive good or even better-quality education than they would at most private universities, where tuition fees are higher.

In the future, if the accreditation agency decides to downgrade a state university, the only advantage students can get is a lower tuition, made possible with a heavy government subsidy.

The new agency is headed by Sukadji Ranuwihardjo, who is the ministry's former director general for higher education.

The agency's 17 members consist of individuals involved in various aspects of higher education, and include researchers, lecturers and business people, who are expected to employ university graduates.

Wardiman explained that the agency will be responsible for setting the criteria and mechanisms of assessment and for giving recommendations on the appropriate steps to take based on results of the assessment.

"They have a very tough job because they have to deal with a very large number of higher education institutions," he said.

Since Wardiman was inaugurated as minister in March 1993, 100 new private universities have been established.

"From the 1,200 private universities existing at present, only about 15 percent have the status equal to state universities," he said.

Private institutions are currently put into three categories: registered, being the lowest; approved, and equal, as the highest.

Asked whether a university would be shut down if the accreditation agency recommended a downgrading, Wardiman said it would depend on the criteria set by the agency.

However, he said there was a possibility of merging several universities as a step to improve quality.

Wardiman yesterday also installed a State Exams Agency (BUN) which oversees postgraduate studies managed by private universities.

The agency, consisting of 36 members, will provide the government with input and help in planning and monitoring state exams carried out in private universities' postgraduate schools.

The exam agency consists of professors of both state and private universities who have expertise in the various fields of science taught at the private university's postgraduate schools.

Wardiman yesterday also signed a ministerial decree on the Executive Boards of Private Universities, which was expected to improve communication between the government and private universities' boards of directors. (pwn)