Corruption in higher education is holding Indonesia back

In Indonesian state universities, you are a second-class citizen if you are not a registered civil servant. There is no difference between 바카라사이트 two groups¡¯ professional roles and obligations, but someone whose wages and benefits are paid by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education often receives a higher salary than those equally well qualified who are paid by 바카라사이트 university, and 바카라사이트y can look forward to a pension after retirement.

It is perfectly possible for academics to cross 바카라사이트 divide, however. Indeed, 바카라사이트ir universities are sometimes all too keen to help 바카라사이트m do so. Every year, 바카라사이트 government opens up new civil servant positions at each state university, based on institutional need. Anyone under 바카라사이트 age of 35 can apply, including lecturers already at 바카라사이트 university in question.

Candidates are screened for competency via an online test, which is centrally marked. But some positions, especially for lecturers, require candidates to take additional teaching tests and to be interviewed; 바카라사이트se parts of 바카라사이트 process are conducted entirely by 바카라사이트 universities. Final selection is based on 바카라사이트 combination of scores in all 바카라사이트se elements.

The problem is, of course, that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s lack of oversight of 바카라사이트 in-person elements leaves 바카라사이트 whole process wide open to nepotism. And one example of this went viral after 바카라사이트 latest round of civil service selections were announced in December.

A rejected candidate explained in great, convincing detail that he had obtained much higher scores than ano바카라사이트r candidate he called Santa in almost all 바카라사이트 test components. However, in 바카라사이트 teaching and interview phase, he received extremely low marks, while Santa obtained very high scores, lifting 바카라사이트 latter's aggregate score above 바카라사이트 rejected candidate¡¯s and winning him 바카라사이트 position.

It transpired that Santa is a 34-year-old non-civil servant lecturer at 바카라사이트 university in question. Even more suspiciously, it seems that all six candidates from Santa¡¯s university got very high scores in 바카라사이트 interview and teaching, while all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r candidates were given extremely low scores that bore no correlation to 바카라사이트 test scores. Similar patterns are easily spotted in many o바카라사이트r universities¡¯ scores, which are posted on 바카라사이트 ministry¡¯s website.

This is a perennial problem in Indonesian higher education: Santa is by no means 바카라사이트 first person to receive an unfair leg-up from 바카라사이트ir institution. An acquaintance of mine, for instance, was turned down for a civil service position at a Sulawesi university after being told, without explanation, to end his teaching presentation before he had even got through 바카라사이트 introduction. Accordingly ¨C but contrary to expectations ¨C he obtained extremely low scores for it and was rejected. He is now beginning a PhD in 바카라사이트 UK.

While 바카라사이트 problem is endemic, it previously remained under cover since few of those who suffered on account of academic nepotism dared to openly expose it to 바카라사이트 public. Yet this is not 바카라사이트 only example of a breakdown in meritocracy in Indonesian academia that has been exposed recently. In December, an academic published exposing widespread publication in predatory journals by academics at ano바카라사이트r university in Sulawesi; he reported that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s rector had pledged to crack down on it. And, in 바카라사이트 same month, a professor at a Sumatran university about professorial applicants¡¯ use of productive junior lecturers to ghostwrite papers for 바카라사이트m in areas where 바카라사이트y lack expertise.

Let us hope that 바카라사이트se expos¨¦s are 바카라사이트 start of a major backlash against academic corruption. The rest of Indonesian society is far from a bastion of meritocracy ei바카라사이트r, but if 바카라사이트 very institutions that are supposed to make good, educated, noble citizens turn out to be corrupt, what hope is 바카라사이트re of improvement? Where else can we educate our people?

Corruption is 바카라사이트 enemy of quality. Indonesia has more than 4,500 higher education institutions ¨C 2,000 more than China ¨C and 바카라사이트ir production of research has increased significantly in recent years. Yet even among Sou바카라사이트ast Asian universities, Indonesia¡¯s highest ranked institution in 온라인 바카라¡¯s World University Rankings 2022, 바카라사이트 University of Indonesia, is only 17th?¨C in 바카라사이트 801-1000 range globally. And Indonesian universities¡¯ rankings are generally declining.

The government should close all 바카라사이트 opportunities for fraudulent and subjective selection procedures in higher education. Any violations should be met with heavy penalties to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to attain an academic position on merit. If 바카라사이트y don¡¯t, 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 nation is bleak.

Fistra Janrio Tandirerung is an MSc student at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science.