New STEM Campus Partners with Imperial College, Minister of Education and Technology: International Accreditation Cannot Be Instant

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto. (IST)

JAKARTA - The government is preparing a step-by-step plan to build a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) based campus with the support of world-class universities. One of the partners that has been mentioned is Imperial College London, a campus that is currently in the top ranks of the world rankings.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto emphasized that the new campus would not immediately pursue international accreditation. According to him, the process takes time because the institution is still in the formation stage and does not have a track record of graduates.

"It is a gradual process. The new campus is shaped, there are graduates. Therefore, what is being built is a strategic partnership that emphasizes quality and substance," said Minister of Education and Technology Brian Yuliarto at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Monday (22/6).

The main focus of cooperation is not only the use of the big names of partner campuses, but the transfer of academic quality. The STEM curriculum that will be implemented later will receive direct assistance from partner universities, including Imperial College.

According to the Minister of Education and Technology, this support includes strengthening the quality of teaching, research, and training of lecturers. The effect is not only felt by the new campus that the government is preparing, but also has the potential to reach other universities in Indonesia.

"The curriculum will later be assisted and guided by campus partners, one of which is Imperial College. The quality of teaching, the quality of research, including training for lecturers," he said.

The government has also not determined the location of the 10 campuses that are included in the development plan. The location is still waiting for the study process, including land readiness and areas that are considered most in need.

"Not everything has been determined. We are still waiting for the process related to the availability of land and which location needs it most," he said.

When asked whether the campuses would be built in Java or outside Java, the Minister of Education and Technology had not provided details. However, he emphasized that the opportunity for cooperation was open to all universities in Indonesia.

According to Brian, the presence of world-class professors and academics must be utilized as much as possible to accelerate the improvement of the quality of national higher education.

"All campuses are open for cooperation. They are world-class professors. It's a shame if they are not used," he said.

The statement also answered questions regarding the possibility of the involvement of the Defense University (Unhan). The Minister of Education and Technology confirmed that there was no restriction on a specific campus.

"All campuses. Later we will invite campuses that are interested and can be involved," he said.

The plan to partner with Imperial College is a signal that the government is not only building new campus infrastructure, but also trying to import global academic standards. The next challenge is to ensure that this cooperation really results in an improvement in the quality of higher education, not stopping at a memorandum of understanding and a symbol of international collaboration.