“Based on accreditation data up to the end of 2025, only about six percent of universities are accredited as Excellent,” Najib said during the Denpasar 12 Discussion Forum held online in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He noted that the majority of institutions—around 67 percent—remain at the “Good” or “C” level.
At the program level, just 22 percent of Indonesia’s 33,741 study programs have achieved Excellent accreditation, while some programs remain unaccredited, meaning they are legally prohibited from issuing diplomas.
Najib stressed that this situation highlights a pressing challenge for Indonesia’s higher education system.
“Education is an investment, and we must ensure it yields results. Improving the quality of higher education must be a continuous effort,” he emphasized.
He added that Indonesia faces the dual challenge of raising education standards while also harnessing the demographic bonus.
Without significant improvements, the demographic advantage could turn into a liability.
Najib also pointed to the low proportion of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), which stands at just 18.47 percent—far below the 30 percent benchmark in advanced economies.
This gap, he warned, limits the supply of highly skilled workers in Indonesia.
To accelerate progress, Najib called for stronger alignment between higher education and industry needs.
“Too often, when new investments arrive, our people remain spectators because industries bring in foreign workers. We must equip our own graduates with the skills to drive industrialization at home,” he said.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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