Sanur, Bali, October 1, 2024 – Since 2020, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) has initiated the Independent Learning and Independent Campus (MBKM) policy to provide solutions to bridge the gap between universities and industry regarding the competencies of higher education graduates. Meeting industry demand for work-ready graduates remains a challenge facing higher education institutions in Indonesia. This challenge has prompted Kemendikbudristek to design a program that encourages equitable access for students to learn outside the classroom and improve their abilities and skills relevant to professional needs. Through a variety of activities such as internships and independent studies, student exchanges, entrepreneurship, and other project options over three semesters, students are expected to be increasingly tested in implementing good practices that support on-campus learning until the final semester.
Pramoda Dei Sudarmo, Special Staff to the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology for Competence and Management, explained to delegates participating in the 2024 Gateways Study Visit that MBKM is a matchmaking program that provides students with the opportunity to learn directly from top practitioners in the industry. "This approach accelerates students' access to high-standard skills," he said in Bali on Tuesday (October 1).
To date, more than two million students have participated in off-campus learning opportunities through the Independent Campus policy since 2020. This step is one solution to provide experience-based knowledge and increase competitiveness for more than 9.8 million Indonesian students spread across 32,592 study programs at 4,356 higher education institutions.
"With the complexity of the number and scale supported by the Independent Campus platform, the implementation of this policy not only matches the needs of students and industry but also allows students to enroll in programs of interest directly. Meanwhile, the university simultaneously monitors the progress and outcomes of students," explained Dei.
Another challenge in higher education outlined by Dei is the limited budget and research resources available to universities. In response, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology launched Kedaireka.id, the first and largest platform in Indonesia that provides opportunities for universities, industry, and the government to collaborate on innovations through various research projects. Furthermore, to improve the quality of learning in higher education, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is also facilitating internationally renowned universities to open campuses in Indonesia, provided they collaborate with local faculties.
The benefits of technology-based breakthroughs implemented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology have also yielded tangible results for students. Adhi Setiawan, a graduate of the Informatics Engineering program at Brawijaya University, is one of the alumni participating in the Bangkit program. As part of the Independent Campus (Kampus Merdeka), this independent, online, certified learning program focuses on the development of digital technologies such as machine learning, mobile development, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This system enables individuals, including people with disabilities like Adhi, to absorb knowledge about the digital industry from experts in their fields and apply it to the professional world.
"Every day, my knowledge grows. My 900 hours of experience studying machine learning and English have transformed me from a discouraged person to a more courageous one. Without realizing it, I've already taken a step forward. Now, I'm pursuing a career as an AI engineer and can contribute (by optimizing my knowledge and skills) to the national healthcare industry," said Adhi.
Adhi's success story is just one example of how he can apply the foundational knowledge he gained from college and compare it with the learning he gained in the program to complement his prior understanding and skills. Through this process, it is hoped that more positive impacts will be amplified.
The discussion in Deep Dive 2, "Higher Education Tech Ecosystem: Democratizing Access to Opportunities through Technology," at the Gateways Study Visit Indonesia 2024, took place in groups, with each group given time to discuss existing educational challenges and best practices based on case studies in their respective countries. Adding an entrepreneurial curriculum was one of the proposed topics raised in the discussion. This step is considered to sharpen students' analytical skills and problem-solving skills.
Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations
Secretariat General
Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology
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