UAD Rector Criticises State University Admissions, Calls for Scrapping of Independent Pathway

Prof Dr Muchlas, Rector of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), has complained that new student admissions at state universities (PTN) via the independent pathway are impacting enrolment figures at private universities (PTS), including his own. Muchlas has called for the implementation of the independent pathway to be evaluated.

Prof Muchlas stated that around 15 per cent of prospective UAD students who had completed registration and paid fees decided to withdraw once accepted at a PTN via the independent pathway.

“We surveyed UAD students who had already registered. In our system, if a student is accepted at a state university with legal entity status (PTN-BH), they can get a 75 per cent refund provided they show proof of acceptance. About 15 per cent of those who had already registered and paid at UAD fell into this category,” Muchlas said when met at the UAD Campus in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.

“From those who had already registered and paid at UAD, as soon as there is an independent programme there, 15 per cent are completely absorbed,” he continued.

The Professor of Technology and Vocational Education explained that the existence of the PTN independent pathway, which is open until the middle of the year, July or even August, creates difficulties for private campuses. This is because PTS have to face uncertainty over new student numbers until the PTN registration period truly ends.

“That is also a problem. Because students who have registered at a private university can still move when accepted through the PTN independent pathway,” he said.

Muchlas added that pressure on private campuses is intensifying. Beyond the public’s purchasing power, he assessed that PTN-BH institutions are becoming increasingly aggressive in recruiting new students. According to him, this situation is inseparable from the demand for financial independence faced by PTN-BH. With reduced government subsidies, PTN-BH are also relying on student tuition fees as one of their main sources of income.

“Now their mindset is the same as ours, financial independence. So the easiest thing is just to increase the quota,” he said.

Prof Muchlas voiced his hope that the government would re-regulate the admission quotas at PTN-BH and that the independent pathway could be evaluated.

“If possible, non-regular programmes like the independent pathway should be abolished. If that is not possible yet, at least the quota should be limited to give private universities located in the same city as PTN-BH an opportunity to obtain new students as well,” he concluded.