Purbaya Confirms Budget for University of the Republic of Indonesia Still Under Review

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is still unable to confirm the budget for the newly established government institution, the University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI). Purbaya revealed that the financing of the educational institution would likely be linked to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek). “Some of the URI funds will… I don’t know, I will check again. If I’m not mistaken, there is a connection with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology,” Purbaya said at the Presidential Palace Complex on Thursday (23/7/2026). He also could not confirm whether URI would be funded from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN). “We will see later,” he said. President Prabowo Subianto has officially established a new institution in the education sector that integrates the management of elite schools, universities, and human resource development for ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises. The institution is named the University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI) and the National Education Management Agency (BPPK). It is led by the governor and deputy governor of URI, who were recently inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace on Wednesday (22/7/2026). Following his inauguration, URI Governor Donny Ermawan stated that his team is still compiling the required budget for URI. “There isn’t one yet; we are still drafting it. We are detailing it. The elite schools already exist under the Ministry of Higher Education, and the budget for building four elite schools is already in place. But we are preparing for the end of this year and also for next year,” he explained. After being sworn in by Prabowo, Donny explained that the establishment of the institution is part of the President’s concern for human resource development, particularly in preparing future Indonesian leaders. “The President is very concerned about human resources, especially for Indonesia’s future leaders. He wants to consolidate and integrate several existing educational programmes,” Donny said. Plans call for 10 state-owned campuses named the University of the Republic of Indonesia to be built. In addition, the BPPK will integrate several institutions, such as the Garuda Elite Schools, the University of the Republic of Indonesia, and the National Institute of Public Administration (LAN). Donny explained that three institutions will fall under the authority of the BPPK or the Governor of URI: the Elite School Management Agency, the Higher Education Management Agency, and the National Institute of Public Administration. “All of this is related to education, guidance, and the preparation of future human resources, both for the government and for state-owned enterprises,” he said.