Indonesia faces a significant challenge in its higher education sector: the shortage of highly qualified human resources, specifically PhDs and professors. In an era of increasing global competition, this scarcity of advanced academic professionals has hindered research, innovation, and overall educational quality. According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), only about 13% of Indonesian lecturers hold doctoral degrees, and even fewer have achieved full professorship. This number falls well below international standards, especially when compared to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore, which maintain higher ratios of PhDs and professors in their academic institutions.
The limited pool of highly qualified academic professionals impacts not only the quality of education but also reduces Indonesia’s global research competitiveness. This lack of advanced academic human resources restricts the contributions of higher education institutions to science, technology, and innovation. Therefore, we need to take strategic action to address this issue and enhance the quality of Indonesia’s higher education system.
Challenges in increasing the number of PhDs and professors in Indonesia
- The high cost of doctoral education and limited scholarship support
Pursuing a doctoral degree requires substantial financial investment, including tuition fees and living expenses. Although some scholarships are available from the government and institutions, they remain limited and often do not cover all necessary costs. This discourages many potential doctoral candidates from reaching the highest academic level. - Lack of incentives for lecturers to pursue PhDs or professorships
For many lecturers, particularly those at regional or private institutions, there are minimal incentives to obtain a PhD or achieve professorship. This lack of motivation leads to stagnation in academic career advancement, thereby limiting the increase in qualified academic staff. - Limited access to high-quality doctoral programs
Access to high-quality doctoral programs, both domestically and internationally, remains limited. Many doctoral programs do not meet international standards or have limited research quality. Additionally, a lack of international partnerships with renowned universities restricts opportunities for lecturers to receive education that meets global standards. - Insufficient research infrastructure and facilities
The limited availability of adequate research facilities poses a significant barrier for lecturers striving to engage in quality research. This factor greatly impacts those aiming to earn a PhD or professorship, as these qualifications require extensive research experience and results. The lack of infrastructure also diminishes the appeal of an academic career for potential PhDs or professors. - There are heavy teaching loads and limited research time available.
Many Indonesian lecturers face high teaching loads, leaving little time for academic research and development. Without sufficient time for research, lecturers cannot meet the academic requirements to obtain a PhD or professorship, which demand substantial scientific contributions.
Solutions to increase the number of PhDs and professors in Indonesia
Addressing the shortage of PhDs and professors requires a strategic approach from the government, higher education institutions, and the private sector. The following solutions are proposed:
1. Increasing access to scholarships for doctoral programs.
The government and educational institutions should increase the availability of scholarships for prospective PhDs, providing full coverage for tuition, living expenses, and research costs. Additionally, partnerships with international institutions to offer overseas scholarships would allow lecturers to gain globally standardized education, benefiting Indonesia’s educational landscape.
2. Providing career incentives for lecturers who attain PhDs or professorships.
Educational institutions can offer career incentives such as salary increases, allowances, or academic awards for lecturers who successfully earn a PhD or professorship. Such incentives will increase lecturers’ motivation to further their studies and advance academically, thereby increasing the number of highly qualified academic professionals.
3. Developing high-quality doctoral programs with international standards.
Higher education institutions should invest in enhancing the quality of doctoral programs by establishing international collaborations, developing research-based curricula, and improving faculty qualifications. By strengthening local doctoral programs to meet international standards, more lecturers can access them without needing to study abroad, thereby increasing the domestic pool of PhDs.
4. Providing adequate research infrastructure and facilities.
The government and educational institutions must allocate funding for comprehensive research facilities. Well-equipped research infrastructure will support lecturers and students in conducting quality research. Modern research infrastructure will encourage lecturers to actively participate in research and publish in scientific journals, a crucial step towards achieving professorship.
5. Reducing teaching loads and increasing research time
Higher education institutions should restructure lecturers’ workloads to allow more time for research. Relief from certain teaching obligations would enable lecturers aspiring to earn a PhD or achieve professorship to concentrate on their research. This policy would allow lecturers to produce quality academic work, enhancing their chances of advancing to full professorship.
Increasing the number of PhDs and professors in Indonesia is a critical step toward developing an advanced workforce capable of competing globally and driving research across various fields. Through improved access to doctoral education, career incentives, enhanced research infrastructure, and support from multiple stakeholders, Indonesia can accelerate its efforts to achieve international standards in higher education. As a result, Indonesia will enhance the quality of its higher education and increase its influence in scientific knowledge and technological innovation globally.
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