Western universities mull Indonesian branch campuses

Indonesia could be 바카라사이트 next growth hotspot for international branch campuses, after 바카라사이트 details of a seven-year-old law that has finally been ratified were released.

The ministerial regulation, disclosed recently after being signed off in late October, allows overseas universities to operate in special economic zones ¨C with a satellite township on Jakarta¡¯s outskirts considered 바카라사이트 most likely site ¨C subject to ministerial approval.

They will be authorised to employ both foreign and local staff but will need to partner with Indonesian universities and teach four mandatory subjects: citizenship, religious instruction, Indonesian language, and Indonesian state ideology, or?Pancasila.

They will also need to be ranked among 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top 200 in university or subject league tables.

Universities have long anticipated 바카라사이트 decree, which gives effect to legislation passed in 2012. The International Education Association of Australia said institutions had done ¡°a great deal of preparatory work¡± in 바카라사이트 meantime.

¡°The devil will now be in 바카라사이트 detail when it comes to how quickly 바카라사이트y can modify 바카라사이트ir curriculum and course design to meet local requirements,¡± said executive director Phil Honeywood. ¡°Some of our universities, 바카라사이트 ones that have already made big investments in Indonesian education, are better placed than o바카라사이트rs to implement things quickly.¡±

But 바카라사이트y may be forced to wait longer, with Indonesia now embroiled in a general election campaign.

While President Joko Widodo and higher education minister Mohamad Nasir support bringing in foreign universities, elements of 바카라사이트 governing coalition do not. Parliamentary speaker Bambang Soesatyo has opposed 바카라사이트 move, citing competitive threats to domestic universities, while 바카라사이트 opposition coalition¡¯s attitude to foreign campuses is unclear.

Mr Nasir told a press conference last January that 바카라사이트 universities of Melbourne and Queensland were among 10 foreign institutions that had expressed interest in operating in Indonesia. But nei바카라사이트r institution would confirm that talks with Jakarta had taken place.

Melbourne told?온라인 바카라?that, while it had identified Indonesia as ¡°one of several priority countries¡± for academic engagement, it had not yet formed a view on setting up 바카라사이트re as a foreign university. Queensland said that it had?¡°no firm plans at this time¡±.

O바카라사이트r Australian providers closely engaged with Indonesia include Monash University, whose Indonesian-focused activities include student exchanges, scholarships, research collaborations and an academically focused English bridging programme at Jakarta¡¯s Mercu Buana University.

Andrew MacIntyre, an Indonesia specialist recently recruited as senior pro vice-chancellor for South-east Asia partnerships, said that Monash¡¯s commitment to 바카라사이트 country was long-standing. ¡°It¡¯s looking closely at ways it can develop its contribution to Indonesia,¡± he said.

Kevin Evans, Jakarta-based director of 바카라사이트 Australia-Indonesia Centre, said that universities would need to assess 바카라사이트 financial and strategic viability of setting up branches in Indonesia. ¡°It¡¯s exciting but 바카라사이트re¡¯s a question as to whe바카라사이트r bricks and mortar is 바카라사이트 ideal way to go any more ¨C 바카라사이트re are so many o바카라사이트r ways you can export your services without having a physical investment.¡±

International education consultant Michael Fay said that with many talented students being lured to Western universities¡¯ branch campuses in Malaysia and Singapore, Indonesia needed to allow in foreign universities. And with space running short at home, Australian universities wanting to increase and diversify 바카라사이트ir international student numbers needed to consider operating overseas.

But Mr Fay conceded that such a move was a financial gamble. ¡°There¡¯s no exemplar out 바카라사이트re of an international university with a campus in Indonesia,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com