Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to Strengthen Private Universities through PP-PTS 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting improvements in the quality and more equitable access to higher education through strengthening the role of private higher education institutions (PTS) under the 2026 Private Higher Education Strengthening Programme (PP-PTS). Acting Secretary General of Kemdiktisaintek, Badri Munir Sukoco, emphasised that strengthening PTS is not merely a short-term aid programme but a long-term strategy to reduce disparities in educational quality between regions and among private higher education institutions. “Strengthening PTS is a primary requirement in realising an inclusive and equitable higher education system. Additionally, this programme is the government’s effort to ensure that the quality of higher education is not concentrated in certain areas but can develop more evenly across Indonesia,” Badri stated at the launch of PP-PTS in Jakarta on Monday. Badri explained that this programme is a continuation of government efforts since 2016 to strengthen the capacity of PTS, which currently dominate the higher education ecosystem in Indonesia, accounting for more than 95% of the total number of higher education institutions. Meanwhile, Director of Institutions at Kemdiktisaintek, Mukhamad Najib, affirmed that PP-PTS 2026 is designed to deliver tangible impacts on improving learning quality and graduate competitiveness, in line with the direction of impactful higher education policies. “This programme is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the quality of higher education in Indonesia, including PTS,” he said. Secondly, Scheme B, namely Enhancing Graduate Competitiveness and Relevance, is directed at PTS that already have greater capacity, focusing on strengthening specific institutional advantages and improving the relevance of graduates to the needs of the workforce and society. The implementation of PP-PTS 2026 will be carried out accountably, transparently, and performance-based, through selection stages including administrative, substantive evaluations, and programme feasibility. Therefore, higher education institutions receiving assistance are required to utilise the aid in accordance with the approved proposal, submit reports on aid utilisation, and ensure the sustainability of facility use for improving learning quality. Based on evaluations of previous implementations, PP-PTS has proven to make significant contributions to enhancing the quality of the learning process, strengthening institutional capacity, and increasing graduate relevance. Through the implementation of PP-PTS 2026, it is hoped that PTS in Indonesia can expand access to quality higher education, enhance graduate competitiveness, and encourage higher education institutions to be more responsive to national and regional development needs.