Agency to accredit state and private colleges set up

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)