Higher Education Minister Denies Rumours of Programme Closures Circulated by His Aide
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yulianto has clarified the issue of programme closures. Brian stated that the government intends to develop programmes to keep pace with the times.
Brian’s statement also rebuts the remarks by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Badri Munir Sukoco, who had mentioned the idea of closing programmes deemed irrelevant. Brian wants the available programmes to adapt.
“Of course, regarding academic programmes, rather than closing them, we are developing these programmes. What does that mean? It means we are encouraging programmes to continuously update the knowledge being taught,” Brian said to reporters, as quoted on Thursday (30/4/2026).
Brian gave an example: electrical engineering programmes from the past and now certainly need adjustments. This is because technology based on the Internet of Things (IoT) has now emerged.
“So, for example, electrical engineering majors in the past are different from now. Back then, there was no IoT; now there is. So, rather than closing programmes, we are encouraging collaboration with universities to ensure these programmes regularly update the relevance between what is taught and developments in science and technology,” Brian said.
Brian also believes that renewing programmes in line with the times can influence the improvement of human resource quality. Thus, graduates of these programmes can work in accordance with current developments.
“Of course, developments in science and technology also produce new industries. So, industries and technological advancements then become references for every programme in Indonesia to continuously improve. This is what is called continuous improvement,” Brian said.
Therefore, Brian encourages universities in Indonesia to implement this programme upgrade. Brian assured that there will be no programme closures, but rather development of programmes.
“That’s why we are promoting this, and the whole world is doing it. Programmes undergo continuous improvement; every four years or even every two years, they differ. They review: what is the latest technology? For example, there is AI; how about this AI? There is IoT, and in the future, there is quantum computing. So, we must change so that when graduates enter the workforce, they are aligned with the technological developments that will be used four years from now,” Brian said.