Several policies have sparked debate across various sectors over the past 100 days in the Prabowo-Gibran administration of the ‘Merah Putih’ cabinet.
One of the significant moves came through Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 1 of 2025, where the government initiated budget cuts affecting several areas, including higher education and research.
Notably, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology faced a budget reduction of IDR 14.3 trillion from its initial allocation of IDR 56.6 trillion.
Agustina Kustulasari, a lecturer in Public Policy Management at UGM with expertise in higher education policy, commented on the implications of this budget cut for higher education and research.
She questioned the logic behind the efficiency measures.
“The word ‘efficiency’ means cutting waste. But the question is, what part is considered wasteful? If we cut such a large amount, is it really because previous practices were that wasteful?” she probed on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
She also stressed that budget efficiency should not come at the expense of effectiveness.
In her view, efficiency is only meaningful if it aligns with effectiveness, ensuring that the primary objectives are still met but more efficiently.
“If efficiency reduces support for research and innovation, this policy must be reconsidered,” she explained.
In the context of university research, Kustulasari highlighted that the budget cut could greatly impact faculty and students.
Universities often plan their programs based on the previous year’s budget.
Sudden changes like this can disrupt workflow program planning and even hinder ongoing research.
Yet, research and innovation are crucial for enhancing the nation’s competitiveness.
Kustulasari pointed out that universities will need to become even more creative in seeking alternative funding sources, including partnerships with industries and international organizations.
However, she noted that this is not a new approach and has been in place for a while.
“The question now is, what else can we do? If research funding is already limited and is now further reduced, this becomes a major challenge for researchers and academic institutions. We must remain creative, but the government also needs to continue playing its role,” she said.
She further emphasized the importance of considering the long-term impacts of this efficiency policy.
Budget cuts must be carefully planned and should not hinder the achievement of key education and research goals.
“The government needs to ensure that this efficiency is genuinely beneficial and not politically motivated,” she concluded.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang
Photo: Freepik