Financial Sustainability of HEIs: Evidence from Indonesia

• In Event: Financing Quality Higher Education: Cross-National Analysis of the Financial Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions in LMICs

Proposal

This paper presentation will focus on sharing findings, insights, and reflections on the financial sustainability of HEIs in Indonesia. In Indonesia, a large sector of private HEIs coexists with public HEIs to meet the high demand for tertiary education and improve the quality of training in HEIs (Rosser, 2018; Rivandra R. and D. Rahwidiati, 2013). While the Indonesian government has increased spending and made efforts to enhance institutional autonomy, there are challenges to developing and implementing sustainable financing strategies in the country. These challenges include the allocation of public resources, regulations for HEI status that determine their autonomy in financial management, accountability in the use of public funding, the support of private HEIs with public funds, and reliance on student fees as a revenue source (Cerdan-Infante, 2013; World Bank, 2019). An analysis of empirical data (e.g., interviews with relevant stakeholders, government documents, and audited financial documents) on sustainable financing strategies in Indonesia can provide valuable insights for other LMICs that aim to improve their HEI systems with similar aspirations and macroeconomic characteristics.

Author

• Ahmad Gamal, Smart City Universitas Indonesia