Indonesian universities are facing a critical turning point as the boundary between academic autonomy and state implementation begins to blur. While Law 12 of 2012 is designed to protect scientific autonomy and academic freedom, new patterns of state involvement are putting these legal protections at risk.
The shift away from traditional authoritarianism toward a model of “benign collaboration” suggests that the state may no longer need blunt coercion to influence campuses. Instead, universities are increasingly being positioned as executors of government policy.
The Expansion of State Programs on Campus
A primary example of this trend is the Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis, or MBG) program. This flagship social policy of the Prabowo Subianto administration aims to provide food to millions of children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.
Despite controversies surrounding the program, including reported cases of food poisoning, higher education institutions are being called upon to support it. In April 2026, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto inaugurated a campus-based MBG kitchen at Hasanuddin University.
Minister Yuliarto argued that such kitchens could serve as sites for research, practice, and program development. However, the willingness of Hasanuddin University and other campuses to embrace this role has raised concerns regarding the independence of higher education.
Structural Risks to University Autonomy
The influence of the central government is also being felt through direct engagement with university leadership. In March 2025 and January 2026, President Prabowo held briefings with rectors and professors to discuss “national progress.”
Such interactions risk transforming autonomous institutions into bureaucratic partners that wait for official direction. This concern was reinforced when the Indonesian Rectors Forum reportedly declared support for the president’s priority programs.
Structural vulnerabilities exist within the selection process for leadership as well. Under Ministerial Regulation 19 of 2017, the minister holds 35% of the vote in state university rector elections, a factor that critics say can encourage political lobbying.
A Growing Climate of Censorship
On the student level, reports of a “climate of fear” are emerging following instances of disciplinary action against those expressing dissent. At Universitas Airlangga, three student leaders were suspended following the display of a satirical flower board criticizing the new administration.
Similarly, at the University of August 17 1945 in Jakarta, a student faced suspension for organizing a discussion titled “Soeharto is Not a Hero.” The event, which addressed the decision to award the former president the title of National Hero, was canceled by the Dean.
Cultural and political expression is also facing pressure, as seen with the 2026 documentary Pesta Babi. Screenings of the film, which examines national strategic projects in South Papua, were reportedly disrupted by university authorities and military members.
Declining Academic Freedom Scores
Data from the Academic Freedom Index highlights the severity of this decline. The 2025 index placed Indonesia in the bottom 40–50% globally, with scores for campus integrity and academic expression consistently falling.
More recently, the 2026 Academic Freedom Index reported that Indonesia’s score for 2025 fell to 0.33 on a scale of 1. The weakest indicators identified were the freedom to research and teach, followed by campus integrity.
The Path Ahead
The current trajectory suggests that universities may continue to evolve into extensions of state policy. If administrators prioritize political convenience over independent inquiry, the capacity for campuses to function as democratic safeguards could be lost.
This shift may result in a higher degree of “campus capture,” where research and protest are filtered through the lens of government priority. Maintaining autonomy is increasingly seen as a necessity to ensure universities can still examine and criticize power when it exceeds its limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG) program? It is a flagship social policy of the Prabowo administration intended to provide food for children and vulnerable groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- How does the government influence the selection of university rectors? Under Ministerial Regulation 19 of 2017, the minister holds a 35% share of the vote in the election of state university rectors.
- What does the Academic Freedom Index say about Indonesia? The 2026 index shows Indonesia’s 2025 score fell to 0.33 on a scale of 1, noting significant declines in the freedom to research and teach.
Can a university truly remain an independent seeker of truth if it becomes an implementer of state policy?
