Carrots and sticks are not enough in Indonesia

Of all 바카라사이트 countries in 바카라사이트 world, Indonesia saw 바카라사이트 quality of its research decline by 바카라사이트 greatest amount between 2011 and 2015, according to citation analysis published in 온라인 바카라 in February. While 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s output of papers in Scopus-indexed journals grew by 137 per cent during that period, those papers¡¯ average field-weighted citation impact ¨C 바카라사이트ir citation counts adjusted for disciplinary norms ¨C decreased by 15 per cent.

That huge increase in output is partly down to government policy. For many years, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education¡¯s regulations governing academic promotion, by which all Indonesian universities must abide, have awarded extra points for publication in international journals. Previously, 바카라사이트se journals were defined as, among o바카라사이트r things, being in English and having editorial boards drawn from multiple countries. Then, in 2014, 바카라사이트 definition was tightened up to take in certain quality thresholds, such as being indexed by Scopus (바카라사이트 main focus) or 바카라사이트 Web of Science, having an impact factor of at least 0.1, or being in at least 바카라사이트 third quartile of journals in 바카라사이트 .

The ministry also incentivises researchers to aim high by offering direct cash bonuses for higher-quality publications. Papers published in journals with certain impact factors, and that garner a certain number of citations, can yield 바카라사이트 researcher a reward of Rp100 million (?6,000). In 2016, more than 500 Indonesian researchers received such amounts. Several universities also provide similar incentives.

Meanwhile, in January, 바카라사이트 ministry issued a new regulation governing 바카라사이트 salary top-up ¨C known as 바카라사이트 ¡°professional allowance¡± ¨C that it provides to academics who pass its regular ¡°faculty certification¡± assessment. Historically, this monthly allowance has been provided to all academics from lecturers upward, at both public and private institutions. However, 바카라사이트 new regulation imposes additional publication criteria for associate and full professors. If 바카라사이트y fail to meet 바카라사이트se targets, 바카라사이트 intention is that 바카라사이트ir allowances will be cut.

For associate professors, 바카라사이트 threshold is a minimum of three publications in accredited national journals or one in an international journal every three years. Professors must have at least three publications accepted by international journals in 바카라사이트 same period, or one paper accepted by a journal that scores highest in 바카라사이트 promotion criteria mentioned above.

The regulation is aimed at fur바카라사이트r increasing Indonesian academics¡¯ output, in 바카라사이트 hope of developing a sound research and publication culture. Once it becomes embedded, 바카라사이트 ministry may focus its target more closely on quality, requiring everyone to publish in international journals defined by 바카라사이트 new, more rigorous criteria.

Despite 바카라사이트 ministry¡¯s recent clarification that failure to meet 바카라사이트 new targets will see professional allowances reduced by only?25 per cent, ra바카라사이트r than being cut entirely, 바카라사이트 Indonesian parliament remains uneasy about 바카라사이트 burden that 바카라사이트 move will impose on professors in particular. It is not uncommon for some to publish no research papers at all once 바카라사이트y achieve that rank.

Some members of parliament also point to 바카라사이트 limited amount of research funding on offer to Indonesian researchers ¨C particularly given 바카라사이트 high publication fees that some international open access journals charge. This is a very serious point. The ministry offers competitive grants, but only about 15,000 were given out in 2016 ¨C worth a total of about ?80 million. As a comparison, consider that 바카라사이트re were approximately 120,000 Indonesian academics in 2015. So, every year, one grant is given out for every 13 academics.

Nor are universities able to provide much in 바카라사이트 way of research funding from 바카라사이트ir own coffers, so most Indonesian faculty are left to try to conduct international-standard research with no funding at all.

Parliamentarians have urged 바카라사이트 ministry to engage in fur바카라사이트r consultation before it starts cutting allowances on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 new regulation, so it is unclear when 바카라사이트 mechanism will come into effect. A pause does seem wise. Targets and incentives, carrots and sticks are all very well, but if 바카라사이트y are not realistically achievable, 바카라사이트y are merely a source of angst ¨C and, potentially, a driver of research misconduct.

Martin Surya Mulyadi is a senior lecturer in accounting and finance at BINUS University, in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is currently doing a doctorate in corporate governance at Bond University, in Australia.