Indonesia Ministry of Higher Education targets disaster research and program reform

Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology is implementing strategic initiatives to improve academic relevance and disaster preparedness. In Banda Aceh, Deputy Minister Fauzan announced plans to strengthen universities in disaster-prone areas by developing specialized disaster laboratories. These facilities are intended to serve as research hubs and coordination centers to assist surrounding institutions in disaster management and risk reduction.

Separately, Minister Brian Yuliarto has called for a reduction in the proliferation of new academic study programs. He suggested merging similar programs to simplify administration and accreditation processes. Deputy Minister Stella Christie clarified that the goal of such mergers is to enhance graduate competence to meet labor market demands, particularly as artificial intelligence begins to reshape job landscapes. This comes amid data showing that approximately 1.03 million unemployed individuals in Indonesia hold degrees ranging from D4 to S3.