Celios Warns Russell Group of Risks in Indonesia's 10 New University Project

Media Wahyudi Askar, Director of Public Policy at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), has written to the Russell Group of Universities, the association of 24 elite research universities in the United Kingdom. He asked the association to consider the risks of cooperating with the Indonesian government on the project to build ten Universitas Republik Indonesia (URI) campuses.

Previously, Media was contacted by a representative of the Russell Group several months ago. The Russell Group said it had been approached by the Indonesian government to provide teaching support for the ten Universitas Republik Indonesia campuses planned for construction within two years. They asked Media whether such a plan was feasible.

Media considers the plan to build the Universitas Republik to be a misplaced policy priority. He reminded the Russell Group of several risks arising from such cooperation, one of which is the issue of teachers’ welfare in Indonesia.

“There is currently a judicial review underway at the Constitutional Court concerning lecturers’ welfare,” Media told Tempo on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Media, who completed a master’s degree and a PhD at the University of Manchester, a Russell Group member, said his experience studying in the UK gave him an understanding of the importance of academic quality and institutional integrity.

For this reason, in his letter to the Russell Group, Media expressed concern upon hearing of the planned cooperation between the association and the Indonesian government on the Universitas Republik project.

“We fully support strengthening academic cooperation between Indonesia and the UK. However, we believe this specific initiative is based on a misplaced policy priority,” he said.

According to Media, Indonesia does not lack universities. There are currently 4,303 higher education institutions for a population of around 285 million, or roughly one institution for every 66,000 residents. That ratio, he said, is higher than Japan, which has one university for every 153,000 residents, Australia with 159,000, and the UK with 418,000.

“Many universities in Indonesia are currently operating below capacity and struggling to attract students,” he said.

Media said the main challenge for Indonesian higher education is not the number of campuses, but the lack of investment in lecturers, laboratories, research funding, scholarships, and institutional quality improvement. In his view, building ten new universities could divert trillions of rupiah from more pressing needs.

Media acknowledged that Indonesia’s need for more doctors is a valid concern. However, he judged that expanding the capacity of existing medical faculties would be more effective and efficient than establishing new universities.

“Collaboration with UK universities can already be undertaken through existing institutions in Indonesia,” he said.

He also highlighted the issue of lecturers’ welfare. According to Media, the government still owes around Rp 5.7 trillion in unpaid professional allowances for civil servant lecturers.

“Media also recently reported that more than half of lecturers in Indonesia fund their own research out of their own pockets,” he said.

“Under these conditions, building ten new universities risks worsening tensions in the Indonesian higher education sector,” he continued.

Beyond the welfare of teaching staff, Media highlighted the potential fiscal burden of the project. He said Indonesia currently faces budget constraints.

“Many academics and policy experts are questioning whether this is an appropriate use of public resources,” he said.

Media asked the Russell Group to seek independent perspectives before committing to the project. He suggested the association speak with Indonesian researchers, university leaders, academic associations, and Indonesian scholars working in the UK.

“Their insights would provide a more balanced understanding of Indonesia’s higher education needs beyond the government’s official presentations,” he said.

According to Media, the cooperation risks worsening lecturers’ welfare, deepening existing tensions, and further polarising the Indonesian higher education sector. He also warned of reputational risks for the Russell Group.

Media told Tempo he is still awaiting a response from the Russell Group. Tempo contacted the Russell Group via its official email address but has yet to receive a response. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has also not responded to a request for confirmation.

Earlier, on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Deputy Defence Minister Donny Ermawan Taufanto as Governor of Universitas Republik Indonesia. On the same occasion, Yos Sunitiyoso, a professor of business at the Bandung Institute of Technology, was inaugurated as vice-governor.

The inauguration took place at the State Palace in Jakarta. Afterwards, Donny said Universitas Republik Indonesia is a new higher education institution designed to train future government officials and leaders of state-owned enterprises (BUMN).

“The President is very focused on human resources, especially for Indonesia’s future leaders,” he said on Wednesday.

According to Donny, Universitas Republik Indonesia plans to establish ten campuses. Its graduates will receive academic degrees just like graduates of other universities.