- Ministry promotes Open and Distance Learning to expand higher education access.
- Focus on cross-border collaboration to enhance skills and graduate employability.
- Efforts align with regional workforce needs and digital education transformation.
The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is encouraging universities to develop undergraduate and postgraduate programs through Open and Distance Learning (ODL). The move aims to make higher education more flexible, accessible, and aligned with regional job market needs.
The announcement came during a meeting in Jakarta with a delegation from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), where the ministry praised UKM’s efforts in digital learning innovation and international collaboration in education. Togar M. Simatupang, Secretary General, “ODL is a new platform to reach students and educate the public flexibly”.
Simatupang emphasized that Indonesia welcomes cross-border distance education, provided programs meet quality and accreditation standards and deliver comparable learning outcomes. He highlighted the importance of linking higher education partnerships to talent mobility, graduate skills, and regional workforce requirements.
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Officials also noted that foreign qualifications obtained through ODL are recognized via the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI), ensuring learning quality and formal recognition. The ministry envisions these initiatives as part of a broader strategy to make Indonesia a regional partner in sustainable, impactful higher education, expanding access to quality programs through digital transformation.
UKM has already collaborated with several Indonesian universities, including Gadjah Mada, UPI, Hasanuddin, and Semarang State University, on joint research, academic exchanges, and collaborative programs, strengthening regional education ties.
