Controversial Doctoral Degree Case

Students must study before getting a bachelor's degree from campus. (Freepik.com illustration)

A doctorate is the highest peak in the academic world. He is a symbol of a long struggle, mastery of science, and a real contribution to knowledge. However, what happens if the symbol loses its meaning? In Indonesia, doctorates are now often a subject of suspicion, not pride. Controversy involving Bahlil Lahadalia "Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources as well as the General Chair of the Golkar Party" is one example.

In November 2024, shocking news came from the University of Indonesia (UI). The Board of Trustees (MWA) decided to suspend the judiciary of Bahlil's doctorate. Previously, he had passed. The reason was that Bahlil was deemed not to have fulfilled Rector Regulation Number 26 of 2022, which required research-based doctoral program students to complete a minimum of four semesters before the promotional exam.

Bahlil's dissertation was published in a journal suspected of being predators. In the academic world, this term refers to a journal that offers instant publications without strict peer-reviewing processes. Although Bahlil later re-published his work in aputated journal such as Scopus and SINTA 2, this is not enough to erase the initial trace that tarnished credibility. This issue raises a big question: Is academic standards ignored in order to pursue titles?

The predatory journal is a tempting choice for those who want to complete the study without going through a rigorous process. However, behind that convenience there is an expensive price: loss of trust. Imagine a prestigious university, even entering the best one, had to bear the stigma of being negligent in verifying the publication of doctoral students. If surveillance of journals like this is not tightened, shortcuts will continue to be an option, and academic standards are only a formality.

This controversy does not stop in the journal of predators. The allegation that Bahlil Lahadalia's dissertation involved an "academic jockey" further made the situation worse. The Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM), which became the main resource person in the study, expressed its objection. They revealed that other researchers from the University of Indonesia were suspected of helping with interviews in the research process. If these allegations are true, how can these dissertations be considered individual works?

Dissertation is the highest test for a doctoral candidate. It must reflect the original, independent, and methodological thinking that can be accounted for. In this case, dissertation is more like an opaque collaboration result than individual work. This is not just Bahlil's problem, but a reflection of an academic culture that sacrifices integrity for instantaneous results.

This phenomenon reflects a permissive culture that has deepened in the world of higher education in Indonesia. The pressure to pass quickly, obsession with titles, and lack of supervision creates loopholes for fraudulent practices. Universities, which should be a bulwark of integrity, often ignore the basic principles of academics. If this culture continues, it will not only be individuals like Bahlil who will be in the spotlight, but the entire higher education system.

The case of Bahlil Lahadalia is not a personal matter. This reflects a systemic failure that threatens the reputation of Indonesian academics. At the global level, universities connected to predatory journals will lose credibility. In the digital era, reputation is everything. Imagine a talented young researcher who has to bear the stigma just because of their affiliation with institutions that are considered permissive to ethical violations. This is not only a matter of the good name of the university, but the future of Indonesian academics.

Indeed, it seems normative and always repeated, but indeed the government and universities must immediately reorganize the higher education system. Independent audits must be carried out to ensure that every dissertation is the result of original work. Universities also need to use technology to verify the credibility of the journal where students publish their research. Enforcement of rules must be more assertive, including revoking academic titles if violations are found. In addition, academic ethics must be strengthened to instill the value of honesty among students and lecturers. A doctorate should be a symbol of intellectual struggle, not just an empty formality. Without integrity, this title loses its meaning.

Interestingly, in the midst of this controversy, netizens play an important role. Through social media, they uncover irregularities missed by academic institutions. In the era of information disclosure, transparency is no longer an institution's exclusive domain, but also the public. However, if this could happen to a public figure such as Bahlil Lahadalia, what about those who are not well-known or not in the spotlight? How many similar cases have escaped attention?