IM57+ Institute Assesses Unsoed Rector Sting Operation as Serious Case in Higher Education
The Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) sting operation regarding alleged corruption in new student admissions at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) is seen as a momentum for improving higher education governance. IM57+ Institute Chairman Lakso Anindito said the case holds a strategic position. “This corruption has a strategic position because it involves senior officials and an important sector. Determining the strategic position of corruption is defined by the value of the impact or benefit of the corruption, the parties involved and/or the sector where the corruption occurred,” Lakso said in a statement on Wednesday (26/8/2026).
According to Lakso, the alleged corruption at Unsoed is strategic because it occurred in an educational institution and involved the university’s senior leadership. “This corruption has a strategic position,” he said. Lakso assessed that illegal levies, bribery and gratuities within higher education institutions have not been handled seriously. The issue, he continued, is sometimes treated as passing wind without any real action. “Illegal levies, bribery and gratuities in higher education institutions often become issues that are not handled seriously and merely seem to be ‘gossip’ without any concrete action,” Lakso said.
Lakso viewed the sting operation at Unsoed as a warning that there are fundamental problems in higher education governance. Moreover, a similar case previously occurred at Lampung University (Unila). “This sting operation is an eye-opener that a fundamental problem has occurred in higher education governance, especially as this is the latest in a series of sting operations following the one at Unila over a similar case,” Lakso said.
Lakso also said the situation should serve as a momentum to fix higher education governance. According to him, improvements can be made through at least two approaches. One is by improving the new student admissions mechanism, particularly regarding the various alternative pathways that have grown following the liberalisation of educational institutions. “The greater the discretion of university leaders in determining alternative entry pathways, the greater the opportunity for behind-the-scenes negotiation,” Lakso said.
Furthermore, Lakso urged for a nationally standardised new student admissions mechanism to prevent future misconduct. “There must be affirmation of measurable entry pathways and national standardisation,” Lakso said. In addition to system improvements, Lakso demanded that the legal process in the case be completed to the point of uncovering the network allegedly involved in the practice of buying and selling new student admission seats. “The KPK must undertake comprehensive efforts to find the network in this case,” Lakso said.
Lakso also urged the Ministry of Higher Education to immediately carry out governance reforms so that similar practices do not recur. “The ministry overseeing higher education affairs must complete this reform,” Lakso said.
Previously, the KPK named Unsoed Rector Akhmad Sodiq as a suspect in the alleged corruption case related to Unsoed’s new student admissions process. In this case, Sodiq sought profit from new student admissions through the independent pathway. In carrying out his actions, Sodiq was “assisted” by Vice Rector III Norman Arie Prayogo, Head of Academic Affairs Eko Sumanto, and three private parties, namely Dian Mulia Wardhana, Adhi Wiharto, and Mulyono, who is Akhmad Sodiq’s nephew.
The suspects are currently detained for the first 20 days from 21 August to 9 September 2026 at the KPK detention centre in the Merah Putih building. They are suspected of violating provisions in the Corruption Eradication Law, particularly Article 12 letter e or Article 12B, in conjunction with the latest Criminal Code.