Higher Education Development and Study Abroad Experiences of Faculty in Indonesia

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the higher education sector in Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and a discussion of the impact of faculty study abroad programs. As of 2022, there are 4,481 higher education institutions in Indonesia. While the higher education enrollment rate has now reached 40% and the number of students exceeds nine million, the quality of education continues to be a challenge. The government’s higher education policy calls for collaboration with external stakeholders, promotion of internationalization, and enhancement of equitable access. The government continues to offer a variety of scholarship programs, with Japan as the largest destination, followed by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. ITB and UGM are considered top universities, both representing Indonesia. ITB is an engineering university with approximately 1300 faculty members and 25,000 students, while UGM is a comprehensive university with approximately 3600 faculty members and 50,000 students. This study has confirmed that study abroad programs have significant impacts, most notably in terms of improved curriculum and faculty-student relationships. It also demonstrates the importance of strengthening the ties between returning students and the host country and conducting research based on the needs of employers, local business and industries, as a means of deepening the impacts of study abroad programs.