Abstract
This chapter explores the challenges that Indonesian academics face in producing policy-relevant research and using research evidence to inform policymaking. National- and university-level policies and practices discourage academics from undertaking research. These disincentives include a lack of funding for research, an overly strong emphasis on teaching and undervaluing of research and a less financially rewarding and unclear career path for researchers. Teaching and research in Indonesian universities tend to promote specialised, rather than broad-based, knowledge. This limits universities’ ability to bring interdisciplinary perspectives to bear on the complex social and economic problems faced by Indonesia. There is a marked divide between the political world of policymaking and the intellectual world of research: policymakers’ needs and priorities are not well communicated, and academic researchers seldom see policymakers or the public as key audiences for their research. The authors of this chapter reflect on these challenges and provide insights into how the development of a strong, interdisciplinary research culture in universities can support policymakers to develop appropriate policy responses to the issues confronting Indonesia today and in the future.
Whilst creativity, ideas and questioning are of value in their own right, economies and societies which invest in research generally show faster rates of growth in output and human development.(Stern 2016)
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Notes
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Teaching and learning, research and community engagement
- 2.
The Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kementerian Riset, Teknologi dan Pendidikan Tinggi – KemRistekDikti) is the regulatory body for Indonesia’s higher education. In 2014, the Ministry was formed through a merger of Higher Education (formerly within the Ministry of Education and Culture) and the Ministry of Research and Technology. Before the merger, the body managing university research funding was the Directorate General of Higher Education (Direktorat Jenderal Pendidikan Tinggi – DJPT).
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See also Chap. 7, Sect. 3.2.1.
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A relatively small number of autonomous universities have authority to manage their own resources.
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Teaching and learning, research and community engagement
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The credit system is a tool for academic assessment. Kum system rules, faculty workload and promotion of academic staff are expected to increase the performance and productivity of academic staff in the implementation of tridarma (three main functions) of higher education. The legal basis for this system is the Joint Ministerial Decision between the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Head of the State Employment Body (Mendikbud and Kepala Badan Kepegawaian Negara) No. 61409/MPK/KP/99 and No. 181/1999 on the Operational Guidance on the Functional Title of Lecturer and Their Credit Values (Petunjuk Pelaksanaan Jabatan Fungsional Dosen dan Angka Kreditnya). This basis was recently renewed by Ministerial Regulation (Permendikbud) No. 92/2014, on the Technical Guidance on the Operationalisation of the Assessment of the Credit Values for Functional Position of Lecturer.
- 7.
Teaching and learning, research and community engagement
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Prasetiamartati, B., Carden, F., Ruhanawati, S., Rakhmani, I., Nugroho, Y. (2018). Linking Academic Research and Policymaking. In: Pellini, A., Prasetiamartati, B., Nugroho, K., Jackson, E., Carden, F. (eds) Knowledge, Politics and Policymaking in Indonesia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0167-4_2
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