University Responses to Government's Plan to Close Irrelevant Study Programmes
Several state universities have acknowledged that they have not yet received official information regarding the government’s proposal to close study programmes considered no longer relevant to industry. This plan has been put forward by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Badru Munir Sukoco, stated that the proposal to close study programmes is intended to reduce the gap between university graduates and the competencies required in the workforce. The ministry, he said, records that 1.9 million bachelor’s degree graduates are produced by universities each year.
This number is considered to have made it difficult for university graduates to find employment. The cause is that the needs in the field often do not match the background of the bachelor’s education.
Badru cited social sciences and education programmes as fields experiencing an oversupply of graduates. Therefore, he said, the plan to close study programmes that are no longer relevant to industry needs will be implemented soon.
“Later, there may be some that we have to execute in a not too long time regarding the programmes; we need to select them. If necessary, they should be closed to increase relevance,” said Badru at the National Population Symposium 2026, in Badung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Several universities, although they have not received official information, have responded to the proposal. Here are some of them.
- Universitas Padjadjaran
The Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs at Universitas Padjadjaran, Zahrotur Rusyda Hinduan, stated that the decision to close a study programme is the authority of each university. Especially for higher education institutions with legal entity status or PTN-BH, which have academic autonomy.
Zahrotur said that Unpad does not want to take the extreme path of closing such study programmes. Instead of closing the programmes, Unpad believes that evaluation should be directed towards curriculum renewal and refreshing, so that the study programmes can become relevant to job needs.
She assessed that the evaluation results do not have to lead to the closure of study programmes. There are several alternatives that can be taken, such as updating learning materials, adding multidisciplinary approaches, or merging study programmes with similar fields.
“The recommendation is not just to close them. It could be that the programme is updated to make it more relevant, or merged with other related programmes,” she said, on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
On the other hand, she explained that according to regulations, a study programme cannot be stopped or closed abruptly. The university, she said, must wait until the last cohort of students graduates. For the undergraduate level, this waiting period can take up to seven years or 14 semesters.
“It cannot be closed just like that. It must wait for the students to finish until they graduate. In addition, there is a tiered evaluation process from the faculty senate, academic senate, to the quality assurance unit,” she said.
- Universitas Indonesia
The Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International Affairs at Universitas Indonesia, Erwin Agustian Panigoro, said that his side has not yet determined steps regarding the government’s plan to close irrelevant study programmes. He stated that there has been no decision at all regarding which study programmes must be closed because they are no longer relevant to industry.
“Since there has been no letter or official instruction from the ministry regarding the closure of programmes, for now we have no discussion or plans regarding which study programmes will be considered for closure,” said Erwin when contacted on Saturday, 25 April 2026.
- Universitas Udayana
The Rector of Universitas Udayana, I Ketut Sudarsana, stated the importance of periodic evaluations of study programmes within the university environment. The aim is to ensure that the implementation of education remains relevant to developments in science and societal needs.
However, he said, evaluations of the relevance of higher education should be done carefully and not hastily. He stated that the evaluation or adjustment must be carried out comprehensively and based on academic studies.
“The evaluation process certainly needs to be done carefully, comprehensively, and based on in-depth academic studies,” said Ketut on Saturday, 24 April 2026.