Building a Nation or Building Campuses? Indonesia Debates New University Plan

Indonesia is contemplating a significant educational initiative: the establishment of a "Republic of Indonesia University" (URI) aimed at cultivating a professional, integrity-driven bureaucratic elite capable of leading the nation in the 21st century. Conceptually, the goal of preparing future leaders is commendable, mirroring systems in countries like France with its École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) and Singapore's Civil Service College.

However, the proposal to build ten new campuses has drawn criticism regarding its feasibility and priority. Critics argue that Indonesia already possesses an extensive higher education infrastructure, with over 4,000 institutions, numerous public universities, thousands of doctoral and professorial staff, and various state-run educational bodies like LAN, IPDN, and Lemhannas. The existing network is spread across most provinces, raising questions about the need for entirely new institutions.

The core of the debate lies in the concept of opportunity cost. Establishing ten new universities would require substantial investment in land acquisition, construction, laboratories, and long-term operational expenses. This expenditure, critics contend, could be better allocated to enhancing the quality of existing universities, improving facilities, supporting research, and crucially, increasing the welfare of current educators.

This concern is particularly relevant given recent government approvals for additional funding to cover teacher and lecturer allowances, which had previously been unaccommodated. The plan for new, costly campuses appears to signal a low "sense of priority" in educational policy, especially when many contract teachers struggle with low incomes and university lecturers are advocating for better welfare. The article suggests that strengthening the existing educational system and supporting its personnel might be a more fundamental and effective investment in Indonesia's future leadership.