Although the quality of education remains a problem in Indonesia, the government just made it easier for foreign students to follow in local universities.
In January, the Indonesian government released international student visa requirements to encourage foreign students to attend college in Indonesia. Therefore, international students can now apply online for a student visa and residence permit. The immigration office in Indonesia has recently announced its intention to allow foreign extend their temporary residence permit (ITAS) online. The plan is scheduled to take effect in the first quarter of 2016, and extensions can be granted to those who already hold temporary visas residence permit (VITAS).
The move is a major step forward for the education system in Indonesia, and a seemingly warm invitation to international students. There is a year Akhmaloka, former director of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB); and Muhammad Anis, head of the University of Indonesia (UI) lamented the Okezone on how it has been difficult for foreign students to come to Indonesia.
Akhmaloka said earlier, foreign students who came to Indonesia using tourist visas had to go back to renew their residence permits. In addition, these students had to pay illegal fees facilitation throughout the process. Anis added that foreign students must apply for a KITAS could end up paying more tuition in Indonesia than they would in their own country.
In terms of bureaucracy, however, it seems progress is underway. Regarding student visas, the government says it will monitor the new policy and make further improvements in the future.
"student exchange programs will not be the only things getting positive effects of the existence of a student visa. Joint research activities between Indonesian universities and partner universities abroad will also get the benefits, "says technology, research, and the Minister of higher Education Muhammad Nasir on the official website of the Ministry.
the Minister says that there are currently 5,700 foreign students in Indonesia . This number is low compared to the number of foreign students in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia. According to UNESCO data from 2014, the two countries have more than 52,000 international and 63,000 university students respectively.
is Indonesia has what it takes to attract more international students?
Indonesian universities can consider itself legitimized internationally . UI, ITB, and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) are among the 150 Asian universities according to QS World University notes 2015/16.
The students of the Indonesian higher education regularly participate in international competitions. In 2015 UGM students defended the ASME Innovation Showcase in India (an international engineering competition), while a student at Padjadjaran University also took first place in an international competition of business launch in Vietnam .
Global management consulting firm McKinsey said in Indonesia is about to become the seventh largest economy in the world by 2030. PricewaterhouseCoopers pegs Indonesia to become one of the top five countries in terms of GDP in the coming years. In a 2015 study, Nielsen placed the archipelago as the second most optimistic country in the world in terms of economic outlook.
However, last year the Indonesian economy began to slow. The growth has dipped below 5 percent for the first three quarters of 2015, a significant decline in the annual increase of 6 percent of GDP in recent years. In response, the government has taken steps to strengthen the nation's economy. This included making it easier for foreign companies to invest in Indonesia by revising the list of negative investments. The government has not commented on the issue directly, but pulling more tuition of foreign university students is likely another mechanism to help the local economy.
The quality of education remains a problem in Indonesia. A recent report by the Boston Consulting Group, the Indonesian companies will struggle to fill half of their entry-level positions with qualified candidates at the end of the decade because of low enrollment rates in secondary and the higher education combined with lower quality of education.
This is also illustrated by the 2015 ranking Universitas 21 national higher education systems, which placed Indonesia in 48th place out of 50 countries. Indonesia particularly misplaced in terms of investment, production, research, and graduate employability.
A large difference in cultural values also comes into play, as foreign students considering coming to Indonesia. Despite relative freedom of expression, the nation with the largest Muslim population is still very sensitive to issues related to people who consider themselves lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).
Police and events and gatherings, even universities have disbanded involving LGBT societies, even if the participants are engaged in an academic discussion.
In general, universities in Western countries accept and even formalize LGBT clubs on campus, provided they engage in public discourse on the issue of public education.
What expatriate students need to know about the higher education system in Indonesia
New Plan Colombo student Nicole Winter on a study tour to Indonesia? | Courtesy of DFAT
The nation has five types of official categories of the teaching body: universities, institutes, colleges, academies and polytechnics. There are currently 4,402 higher education institutions in Indonesia, offering four degree levels (D1 to D4), the holder of a Bachelor (S1), a Master (S2), and PhD (S3).
Degrees vary depending on the number of credits taken by the student. For example, D1 is equivalent to an associate's degree, and requires students to complete a year of study. Usually it takes about four years to complete an undergraduate degree full-time in Indonesia, while a Master lasts about two years.
Local students are required to pass the entrance exams to attend public and private universities. However, depending on the institution, foreign students can be accepted without these tests. They may not need to submit a score of proficiency in English, a high school certificate of graduation and a SAT score.
Some local universities are ready to accept foreign students. UI, ITB and Binus offer international programs with English as the language of course delivery.
However, these world-class sequences costs nearly four times the price of local programs, depending on the expatriate guide online JustLanded. A semester at a public university could cost about $ 157, while a private university in the price could rise to US $ 1000. private institutions generally charge of development costs and equipment costs for students.
Students can find various scholarships to help with tuition fees and living expenses. American students can apply for Fulbright scholarships. The Indonesian government also has scholarships for international students. One of them is the Darmasiswa scholarship, which covers tuition and living expenses for foreign students wishing to study Indonesian, and arts of the country, music and crafts. Each year, the program gives away hundreds of scholarships and places students in 54 different universities across the country. The study period is between six months and one year. It is important to note, however, that the Darmasiswa scholarship is a non-degree program.
In addition to full-time studies, there are other ways international students can come to Indonesia. exchange programs for part-time students between the partner universities, and credits are transferable. Foreign students can also join external organizations such as AIESEC. The group allows students to volunteer and intern in Indonesia for defined periods. AIESEC itself is present in over 15 universities in Indonesia.
Local Student Councils
Elizabeth Charlotte Widjojo, a student at the local university who has just returned to Jakarta after studying for a semester in Taiwan, shares his thoughts on the main differences between study abroad and Indonesia. "Taiwan's tasks were more oriented towards practical than theoretical. Most of our missions revolved around research projects and video field," she said Indonesia Expat .
According Widjojo, professors in Taiwan often asked students to observe what happens in the real world and report. She has participated in several study tours, ranging from offices and exhibitions of various companies. for comparison, assignments Widjojo Indonesia were referred to academic writing, critical, argumentative essays, and paperwork, which required him to analyze research.
Adi Putra Lim echoed the sentiment of Widjojo. Lim spent a year studying in Malaysia. he then completed his BA in Indonesia. "as to the methods of teaching, I felt teachers in Malaysia really stressed student understanding, and that Indonesia, we were taught to memorize the study material, "he explains.
Lim said students in Malaysia can see the formula in mathematics or physical tests. The exams tested understanding of how to use the formula to meet advanced or case studies of students equations; while in Indonesia, students had to memorize the formula. Most often, Lim felt like were students in Indonesia to answer theoretical questions using the answers manuals.
"I think the foreign students who come to Indonesia and study our program could go a little culture shock," said Lim. "They have to memorize a lot of things [to pass exams]." He adds that one thing many international students will also see in the study in Indonesia is that the locals are naturally very friendly people, especially to expatriates. "Indonesians meet more foreigners, it is the culture [here]," Lim said.