Higher Education Minister States Irrelevant Programmes Will Be Developed, Not Closed
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendikti Saintek), Brian Yuliarto, emphasised that university programmes that are not relevant to the future will not be closed but developed.
“I have already stated that for programmes, rather than closing them, we will develop those programmes, meaning we conduct evaluations,” Brian said when met at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology office in Central Jakarta on Saturday (2/5/2026).
He stated that the substance of existing programmes must be developed to follow developments in science and technology.
“We carry out updates so that the substance of those programmes continuously follows developments in science and technology, as well as the latest findings,” Brian explained.
As an example, in the field of electrical engineering, there is now a need for integration of Internet of Things (IoT)-based technology.
“So I mentioned yesterday, for instance, Electrical Engineering previously did not have IoT or quantum computing, so we adjust accordingly,” Brian said.
“This is done continuously, what we call continuous improvement of the programme content substance that needs to be updated,” he added.
Previously, it was reported that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology revealed plans to close university programmes that are not relevant to future global life needs.
“Later, there may be several things that we must execute in a not too long time regarding programmes that need to be selected, sorted, and if necessary closed, to increase this relevance,” said the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Badri Munir Sukoco, at the 2026 National Population Symposium on Thursday (23/4/2026), quoted from the Ministry of Population and Family Planning YouTube channel.
Badri also said that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology will compile programmes needed in the future.
The determination will also be based on studies from the Higher Education Cares for Population (PTPK) programme.