UI ready for implementation of campus autonomy
UI ready for implementation of campus autonomy
JAKARTA (JP): The University of Indonesia (UI) is ready for
the implementation of campus autonomy as it is an opportunity to
overcome its financial problems, Asman Budi Santoso, a rector at
the university said on Saturday.
Since the implementation of Government Regulation No. 152/2000
on Dec. 26 last year on campus autonomy, UI has become a state-
owned institution (BHMN).
With the new regulation, the university took possession of the
university's building and its land. However, its subsidy from the
government was reduced as it was expected to financially support
itself.
Asman said the government subsidy for state universities was
very small anyway.
"UI only received a subsidy of some Rp 176 million (US$18,526)
annually for its 12 faculties," Asman told reporters on Friday,
after the graduation ceremony of UI's postgraduate students.
That is, he said, Rp 2,500 for every student a month.
The university pays Rp 96 billion for its staffers every
month, he added.
"Therefore, we welcome the concept of campus autonomy and are
quite optimistic about it too. We're quite sure we can find
sources of revenue," Asman said, adding that in a recent charity
night, the university collected some Rp 3.5 billion.
With its new status, UI will need a public accountant, he
added.
"The transitional period for autonomy may take a year," he
said.
Campus autonomy, Asman said, would help UI achieve its vision
to become an integrated and autonomous international research
university.
Campus autonomy concept was introduced by then minister of
education Juwono Sudarsono during former president B.J. Habibie's
tenure.
Under the autonomy, higher learning institutions
(universities) will be allowed to seek funds for their
educational projects as government subsidies will be cut. The
universities will also be free to establish their own curriculum.
A pilot project was introduced this year at four leading state
institutions, namely UI, the Bandung Institute of Technology
(ITB), the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University and the Bogor
Institute of Agriculture (IPB).
Asman admitted that there would be some tuition fee revision
in the future.
But he declined to comment on the lawsuit filed by six UI
students who were suspended after staging a rally to protest the
newly-imposed additional college fees.
Beginning in 1999, students at the university must pay an
additional fee on top of the Rp 500,000 ($52) tuition fee per
semester.
The additional fee is Rp 1 million for students in the School
of Engineering and the School of Mathematics and Natural
Sciences, and Rp 750,000 for students in the School of Social
Sciences.
But the university has waived the additional fee for students
who cannot afford it. (hdn)