Contributor ENFP for Indonesia: Arief Budiman
Lambung Mangkurat University
Higher education plays a fundamental role in national development by strengthening human capital, supporting innovation, and enhancing international competitiveness. Indonesia operates one of the largest education systems in the world, serving more than 50 million students across all education levels. The higher education sector alone comprises thousands of institutions distributed across the Indonesian archipelago. As of recent statistics, Indonesia has more than 4,400 higher education institutions, including universities, polytechnics, institutes, academies, and colleges. These institutions consist of both public and private providers and are supervised primarily by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs for Islamic higher education institutions.
Indonesia’s higher education system has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. Participation in tertiary education has increased significantly, with the gross enrolment ratio (GER) reaching approximately 44–45% in 2023, compared to much lower levels in previous decades. This expansion reflects government efforts to widen access to higher education and develop a knowledge-based economy. However, several structural challenges remain, including uneven institutional quality, limited research capacity, and relatively low national investment in research and development (R&D).
In response to these challenges, the government has introduced a series of major reforms aimed at strengthening the higher education ecosystem. These reforms include:
- institutional autonomy and governance reforms;
- curriculum flexibility through the Merdeka Belajar–Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) initiative;
- stronger links between universities and industry;
- expansion of research and innovation funding;
- increased international collaboration in higher education.
In addition, the integration of higher education, science, and technology governance under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology reflects a policy shift toward strengthening the national innovation ecosystem.
This report provides a comprehensive review of the current policy landscape, including recent legislative reforms, initiatives and programmes implemented in the past three years, examples of good practices, and the main stakeholders involved in the Indonesian higher education system.
Reviews of policies, initiatives, projects and/or stakeholders
Indonesia’s higher education policy framework has evolved significantly in recent years, focusing on improving educational quality, strengthening research capacity, and enhancing the relevance of higher education to national development needs.
The government has implemented a number of major policy initiatives designed to transform the higher education system.
Merdeka Belajar–Kampus Merdeka (MBKM)
One of the most influential reforms in Indonesian higher education is the Merdeka Belajar–Kampus Merdeka (Independent Learning–Independent Campus) policy framework.
MBKM allows university students to gain learning experiences outside their study programme for up to three semesters through activities such as:
- industry internships;
- entrepreneurship projects;
- research participation;
- community service;
- student exchange programmes.
This policy aims to develop graduates with stronger practical skills, interdisciplinary knowledge, and entrepreneurial capabilities.
The MBKM framework also encourages universities to collaborate with industry, government institutions, and civil society organisations to improve graduate employability and innovation capacity. The MBKM activities are similar to ICM in the Erasmus+ Programme.
Institutional Autonomy and Governance Reform
Another major policy priority is increasing the autonomy of higher education institutions.
Selected public universities have been granted legal entity status (PTN-BH), providing greater flexibility in governance, financial management, and academic programme development.
This policy aims to:
- increase institutional competitiveness;
- encourage innovation in education and research;
- reduce bureaucratic barriers within universities.
Strengthening Research and Innovation
The government has strengthened research funding mechanisms through competitive grant programmes and national research initiatives.
Policy priorities in research and innovation include:
- applied research with industrial relevance;
- technology commercialisation;
- strategic research in national priority areas;
- interdisciplinary and international research collaboration.
Despite progress, Indonesia still faces challenges in strengthening its research ecosystem. The number of R&D personnel per million inhabitants remains relatively low compared to regional peers. (oecd.org)
Digital Transformation of Higher Education
Digital transformation has become a central policy objective in Indonesian higher education.
Key initiatives include:
- development of national digital learning platforms;
- implementation of hybrid and online learning models;
- expansion of digital research infrastructure;
- integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics in education.
These initiatives aim to improve access to higher education across Indonesia’s geographically dispersed regions. This transformation is also due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the university to adopt a digital learning platform.
Legislative reforms and/or policies that have been put in place in the last three years or that are still being discussed
One of the most significant regulatory developments is Ministerial Regulation No. 53 of 2023 on Higher Education Quality Assurance.
This regulation integrates national standards for education, research, and community service within a unified quality assurance system. (bpm.unair.ac.id)
The regulation introduces several important reforms:
- outcome-based education standards,
- simplified accreditation procedures,
- automated accreditation renewal mechanisms,
- stronger monitoring of institutional performance.
The regulation also strengthens the role of national accreditation bodies such as BAN-PT (National Accreditation Board for Higher Education) and independent accreditation agencies.
Transition Toward International Standards
More recently, policy reforms have begun emphasising alignment with international standards and global accreditation frameworks.
A new regulation introduced in 2025 further promotes international quality benchmarks and encourages Indonesian universities to pursue global accreditation. (lpmp.unama.ac.id)
Strategic Policy Orientation
Recent policy discourse increasingly emphasises impact-oriented higher education, focusing on measurable contributions to:
- economic development;
- technological innovation;
- social impact.
This shift reflects the government’s intention to position universities as key drivers of national innovation and economic growth.
Initiatives and/or programmes that have been launched in the past three years
In addition to regulatory reforms, the government has launched a number of programmes designed to operationalise higher education policy objectives.
Kampus Merdeka Flagship Programmes
Several national programmes were introduced under the MBKM framework.
These include:
- Certified Internship Programme (Magang Bersertifikat), students undertake internships with industry partners to develop professional competencies.
- Independent Study Programme (Studi Independen), students participate in specialised training programmes developed in collaboration with industry.
- Teaching Assistance Programme, university students assist teaching activities in primary and secondary schools.
- Entrepreneurship Programme, students develop startup projects and receive mentorship from industry practitioners. These programmes aim to create experiential learning opportunities and enhance graduate employability.
Research Funding Programmes
The government has expanded research funding programmes to support:
- collaborative research;
- innovation development;
- technology transfer;
- commercialisation of research outputs.
These initiatives are intended to strengthen the national innovation ecosystem.
International Collaboration Programmes
Indonesia has also expanded international partnerships in higher education through:
- joint degree programmes;
- student mobility programmes;
- collaborative research initiatives;
- participation in international funding programmes such as Erasmus+.
These collaborations contribute to improving the global visibility and competitiveness of Indonesian universities.
There are some examples of research collaboration programme funded by the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia and other countries or regions' collaboration.
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The Partenariat Hubert Curien (PHC) Nusantara 2026 is a bilateral scientific cooperation scheme jointly implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, with operational support from Institut Français. The programme aims to strengthen collaborative research between Indonesian and French institutions by supporting short-term mobility of researchers, joint scientific activities, and the development of sustainable research networks.
PHC Nusantara prioritises high-quality joint proposals across diverse scientific fields, encouraging knowledge exchange, capacity building, and long-term institutional partnerships. Funding typically covers international travel and research mobility for both Indonesian and French research teams over a two-year project period, thereby facilitating joint publications, technology transfer, and the advancement of bilateral scientific cooperation (source: https://www.campusfrance.org/fr/nusantara).
- The e-ASIA Joint Research Program (e-ASIA JRP) 2026 is a multilateral scientific collaboration initiative that promotes joint research and innovation among partner countries in the East Asia region, including Indonesia, Japan, and several ASEAN member states. The programme is coordinated through the e-ASIA Joint Research Program Secretariat and implemented in Indonesia by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Indonesia. It aims to strengthen regional research networks, advance scientific knowledge, and address shared societal challenges through collaborative projects in strategic priority areas such as health, environment, advanced materials, and digital technologies. Funding under the programme supports multinational research consortia composed of teams from at least three participating countries, facilitating researcher mobility, knowledge exchange, and joint scientific outputs, including publications, technology development, and policy-relevant innovations (source: https://www.the-easia.org/jrp/).
Projects which are examples of good practice that have been launched in the past three years
Several projects implemented in recent years demonstrate good practices in higher education reform and innovation.
University–Industry Collaboration
Many universities have established strong partnerships with industry to support research and innovation. For example, research collaborations in engineering, digital technology, and renewable energy have strengthened technology transfer between universities and industry. These collaborations also support internship programmes and applied research initiatives.
Digital Learning and Open Education
Indonesia has developed large-scale digital education initiatives to improve access to higher education. An example is Universitas Terbuka, a national distance learning university that serves hundreds of thousands of students through online and distance education programmes. This model has been particularly important for expanding higher education access in remote regions.
Innovation and Startup Incubation Programmes
Several universities have established startup incubators and innovation hubs to promote entrepreneurship among students and researchers.
- These initiatives provide:
- mentoring and training;
- funding opportunities;
- access to innovation networks.
Such programmes contribute to the development of technology-based startups and innovation ecosystems.
LPDP Scholarship
The LPDP Scholarship Programme, administered by the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, constitutes one of Indonesia’s flagship human capital development initiatives aimed at strengthening national competitiveness through advanced education. The programme provides fully funded scholarships for Indonesian students to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at leading domestic and international universities across strategic disciplines aligned with national development priorities, including science and technology, public policy, health, and sustainable development. By facilitating access to high-quality global education, the LPDP scholarship contributes significantly to Indonesia’s long-term development by enhancing the quality of human resources, fostering research capacity, and generating highly skilled professionals who are expected to return and contribute to national institutions, innovation ecosystems, and public sector reform. Consequently, the programme supports Indonesia’s broader objectives of improving knowledge production, accelerating technological advancement, and strengthening evidence-based policymaking to achieve sustainable economic and social development.
Key players and networks (stakeholders) at the national level (or at the regional level with a national component)
The Indonesian higher education ecosystem involves multiple actors at the national and regional levels.
Government Institutions
The primary policymaking body is the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek).
Other relevant government institutions include:
- National research and innovation agencies;
- sectoral ministries involved in technology development;
- regional governments supporting local higher education institutions.
Higher Education Institutions
Indonesia’s higher education sector includes thousands of institutions across the public and private sectors.
These institutions play a central role in:
- education and training;
- research and innovation;
- community engagement.
Accreditation and Quality Assurance Bodies
Quality assurance in Indonesian higher education is supported by several institutions, including:
- BAN-PT (National Accreditation Board for Higher Education);
- independent accreditation agencies (LAM).
These organisations are responsible for evaluating the quality of academic programmes and institutions.
Industry and Private Sector
Industry partners contribute to higher education through:
- internship programmes;
- joint research initiatives;
- innovation partnerships;
- technology commercialisation.
Such collaborations are essential for strengthening the relevance of higher education to labour market needs.
International Networks
Indonesia actively participates in international academic networks, including:
- Erasmus+ programmes;
- ASEAN university networks;
- global research collaborations.
These networks support knowledge exchange and internationalisation of Indonesian higher education.
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