Indonesia's Private Universities Urge Pause on New University Construction

Indonesia's Association of Higher Education Institutions (APTISI) has voiced support for President Prabowo Subianto's strategic vision to establish 10 new Indonesian Republic Universities (URI). However, APTISI is calling for a temporary suspension of the physical construction phase until further assessments are completed.

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Until there is a needs assessment, public consultation, cost-benefit analysis, and mapping of the impact on public and private universities.

APTISI Chairman Muhammad Budi Djatmiko stated that while the goal of nurturing future national leaders is acknowledged, critical information remains scarce. This includes the absence of academic papers, feasibility studies, legal frameworks, and detailed budget projections for both construction and operation. Djatmiko emphasized the need for critical, objective, and evidence-based scrutiny of the URI plan.

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So that a critical, objective, and evidence-based perspective is needed to examine it further.

The association highlighted potential impacts on existing public and private universities if the URIs are established as large-scale, free undergraduate programs funded by the state budget. Djatmiko suggested that such a model could shift students away from private institutions rather than creating new student cohorts. He questioned whether building ten new universities is the most effective, economical, and equitable approach to developing better leaders, referencing Gary Becker's Human Capital Theory.

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Not creating new students.

APTISI also raised concerns about governance integration, noting that the public lacks clarity on the URI's relationship with relevant ministries like Education, Science and Technology, and the National Administration Agency (LAN). The association seeks a comprehensive understanding of the URI's role within the national higher education system and its potential effects on existing institutions before proceeding with physical development.

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The fundamental question is no longer whether Indonesia needs better leaders, but whether building ten new universities is the most effective, economical, and fair instrument.