Ministry of Education Urges Programmes to Be Aligned with Industry Needs, Observer Warns Philosophy Majors at Risk of Extinction

The Indonesian Network for Education Monitoring (JPPI) has sharply criticised the tendency in higher education that is seen as increasingly oriented solely towards industry needs. Education observer from JPPI, Ubaid Matraji, emphasised that universities are essentially educational institutions, not vocational training centres (BLK). “Universities are educational institutions, not vocational training centres (BLK). The primary task of campuses is to enlighten the nation’s life and develop scientific knowledge, not merely to produce cogs for industrial machines,” Ubaid said when contacted by Republika on Monday (27/4). JPPI’s statement also responds to the push from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology to sort and eliminate university programmes that do not align with workforce industry needs. He reminded that if all study programmes are measured solely by market needs, then pure sciences, humanities, and even philosophy could be sidelined or even become extinct. However, according to him, those disciplines are important foundations for civilisation. “If all programmes are measured by market rulers, then pure sciences, humanities, and philosophy will become extinct, even though they are the foundation of civilisation,” he said. Furthermore, Ubaid assessed that the approach to higher education that too closely follows industry needs actually risks making Indonesia lag behind. He emphasised that the industrial world is dynamic and changes rapidly. According to him, universities should be at the forefront in creating innovation and new opportunities, not merely becoming followers dependent on market fluctuations. “Industry is dynamic and changes quickly. What industry needs today may not be relevant in five years. If campuses only tail current market desires, we will always lag behind. Higher education should be ahead of industry, becoming a centre for innovation that creates new opportunities, not merely a follower whose fate is determined by market fluctuations,” he said.