Universities Enter Efficiency Era, Lecturers Encouraged to Work from Home and Senior Students to Study Online

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Following the efficiency era policy, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek) has issued a Circular Letter (SE) regulating the adjustment of academic activities to support the government’s policy on saving energy usage.

Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendikti Saintek), Brian Yuliarto, stated that SE Mendiktisaintek Number 2 of 2026 Concerning Adjustment of Work Patterns and Academic Activities is aimed at both State Universities (PTN) and Private Universities (PTS).

“Of course, the circular we convey to the entire Dikti Saintek family covers PTN and PTS. Although by law PTS are under foundations, substantively they are under us,” said Brian when met at the Kemendikbud Ristek Office on Monday (6/4/2026).

The SE regulates the restriction of non-urgent operational and/or official vehicles, encouraging the use of public transportation, air conditioning settings, optimisation of classroom usage, and adjustment of academic activities based on programme readiness.

However, the implementation of this policy is not uniform.

Online learning (PJJ) for senior students is recommended with the aim of building a more efficient work culture.

“Why? Because during COVID-19, we learned that digitalisation is important and it makes us more efficient,” he said.

Brian then gave an example: previously, applications for professorship used paper, but now they no longer rely on physical stacks of files.

“I remember professorship applications could fill a container from Bandung. Now it’s all digital,” he said.

“When services become digital, transportation becomes much more efficient. For example, lecturers applying for research don’t need to go to Jakarta; they can do it through the system. This includes scholarship applications and requesting transcripts from the rectorate,” he added.

The question arises about how medical students who need practice would manage if this PJJ policy is applied to every study programme (prodi).

Therefore, Brian emphasised that the PJJ policy for students from semester 5 upwards is left to the discretion of each campus.

“Would veterinary medicine dissect animals via PJJ? So we leave it to each campus. Regarding lectures, we leave it to each campus and prodi,” said Brian.