Australia could avert the looming collapse of domestic expertise on Indonesia for less than A$10 million (£5.2 million) annually, according to proposals presented at the Asia Capability Forum. University of Sydney professor Michele Ford argues this investment would be sufficient to establish a national “hubs and spokes” network to stabilize Indonesian language and regional studies, Times Higher Education reported.
The model aims to address a critical decline in student demand that has rendered the subject a “loss-making game” for most institutions. Under this plan, one university in each state would serve as a central hub, employing a specialized team of academics covering language, politics, economics, and society. Students at smaller “spoke” institutions would access these resources through remote lectures, supplemented by local tutors to maintain a collaborative, in-person learning environment.
The risk of functional extinction by 2031
A June report from the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education warned that the teaching of Indonesian is on track to become “functionally extinct” by 2031. Currently, fewer than 500 domestic university students are enrolled in the language of Australia’s nearest neighbor.
Committee chair Tim Watts noted that the decline is particularly stark in secondary education, with Queensland projected to have only one student sitting for final exams in the subject next year. While some have suggested that Australia’s Indonesian diaspora might fill the gap in expertise, Watts cautioned that language proficiency within migrant communities typically dissipates after one or two generations in an open, multicultural society.
Atec evaluates recommendations for Asian language hubs
The Australian Tertiary Education Commission (Atec) is currently evaluating the committee’s recommendations for a network of Asian language hubs. Atec CEO David Turvey stated that while the government has not issued a formal response, the commission plans to engage with universities next year to explore collaborative delivery models for subjects struggling with low demand.
Atec is also reviewing its A$44 million [Outreach Program], which currently allocates funds based on the share of students from under-represented groups. Turvey indicated that the commission is investigating other ways to target that kind of effort. Part of the challenge involves ensuring that these inter-institutional collaborations do not violate national competition laws, a hurdle Atec plans to analyze throughout the year.
Bridging the gap between tourism and academic interest
Despite Indonesia being Australia’s most popular overseas tourist destination, the lack of student interest in learning the language remains a concern for diplomats and academics. Indonesian ambassador Siswo Pramono expressed concern that the high volume of visitors has not translated into a deeper understanding of the country among young Australians.
“Tourists have interest, but the young people do not have that interest,” Pramono told the forum. As the largest economy in Southeast Asia, the current trajectory suggests a future where few Australians possess the necessary skills to manage this relationship.
Questions regarding the future of Indonesian studies
Why is student demand for Indonesian falling?
Academics report that the subject has become financially unsustainable for many universities. With dwindling enrollments, institutions are under pressure to cut programs, leaving the field reliant on a shrinking cohort of senior academics who began their studies in the 1970s.
What is the “hubs and spokes” model?
It is a proposed structural change where one university in each state becomes a central “hub” for Indonesian language and regional studies. Students at other “spoke” universities would attend these hub lectures remotely, ensuring that specialized teaching remains available even if their home institution does not have a dedicated department.
How does the government currently support university outreach?
The government operates an [Outreach Program] that provides funding to universities based on their enrollment of students from under-represented groups. Atec is currently assessing other ways to target this kind of effort.
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