Seven Indonesian state universities, namely UGM, UI, Institut Pertanian Bogor, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, and Universitas Airlangga, expressed their stance on the review of Law No 12 Year 2012 on Higher Learning against State Constitution that is proposed by Constitutional Court.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M.Soc.Sc, said the expression of stance signed on 29 March 2013 contains concerns about misunderstanding of the concept of higher learning autonomy in compliance with Law No 12 Year 2012.
“There is misunderstanding among some people who misinterpreted the concept of autonomy in higher learning as higher learning commercialisation,” Pratikno said on Wednesday (3/4).
The seven universities believe that higher learning autonomy that includes academic autonomy and non-academic autonomy is the authority of higher learning institutions. The academic autonomy is a prerequisite for carrying out the higher learning tridharma motto (education, research, and community service) in order to build excellent and qualified human beings that can contribute to the welfare of humankind and world civilisation. The non-academic autonomy is a prerequisite for establishing good university governance. The absence of non-academic autonomy will negate the academic autonomy.
The leadership of those seven universities confirmed that Law No 12 Year 2012 also guarantees higher learning autonomy and regulates state responsibility of higher learning education administration and funding to prevent commercialisation, to extend access to higher learning for disadvantaged people and equal opportunity for people in the outlaying, disadvantaged and most remote regions.
Meanwhile, to guarantee non-academic autonomy requires authorities, including independent decision making, implementation of merit system in human resource management, assets management and freedom in accountable financial management. Such authorities in state financial management can only be owned by legal body of state universities in which people as shareholders are involved in decision making in higher learning management.