Higher education and the public good: Creating inclusive and diverse national universities in Indonesia in the era of globalization

Abstract

This chapter examines the tensions in the dynamics between public good purposes and provisions in the context of Indonesian national universities in the era of globalization. The focus is on how universities can represent and contribute to a diverse society while also aiming to be world-class institutions. I approach the concept of public good in terms of ultimate aspirations for the future, such as the development of citizenry and leadership in support of social improvement across the nation. I go on to relate public good to tangible means in the present, including educational legislative mandates, university regulations, coursework content, pedagogical strategies, and campus life. Three research questions guide this inquiry. First, what are the aims of Indonesian national universities in terms of public good in the era of globalization? Second, what are the initiatives through which Indonesian national universities attempt to reach those goals? Third, how are those public good purposes and provisions challenging the globally prevailing education paradigm? I examine both national regulations and the case of the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), one of the three top universities in Indonesia and a leading institution in educational reform.