Indonesia is a nation full of potential and ambition, and Transnational Education (TNE) could be the key to unlocking its future success. With a rapidly growing population, Indonesia needs to develop its human capital to compete in a global economy. TNE offers an opportunity to improve the quality of education and provide access to opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. In this article, we explore the potential of TNE and its implications for Indonesia’s future.
Transnational Education: What It Means for Indonesia’s Future
The number of Indonesian students who choose to study abroad has increased by 21% since 2014, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. These students are increasingly looking for a wider range of study destinations and options for higher education in other countries. This is where transnational education (TNE) comes in. TNE has been around for some time and commonly involves the joint delivery of higher education programmes by different institutions from different countries. It can include programmes delivered by distance-learning, franchise, branch campus, articulation, credit transfer, dual or joint degree and progression such as 2+2. TNE has grown significantly, and the UK is a leading provider of it. In 2020-2021, 510,835 students from 228 countries and territories enrolled in TNE programmes from 162 UK providers, with a 12.7% increase from the previous year.
The benefits of TNE go beyond the economic matrix; they can also be felt by institutions, students, and communities at large. On a global level, TNE partnerships can improve access to education, enhance social and economic mobility and are, therefore, a vital driver of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially in improving the quality of education and reducing inequality. TNE can also help reduce brain drain, lead to university internationalisation and attract international talents.
For universities, TNE offers opportunities to enhance their international outlook. Partnering with international institutions allows home universities to offer their students access to world-class teaching, cutting-edge research and diverse pedagogical approaches. At the same time, TNE can help strengthen local institutions by improving their faculty, facilities, and research capabilities. Collaborative learning and teaching at the postgraduate level contribute to capacity building, and the production of collaborative research is a natural extension and by-product of TNE partnerships. Policymakers identify this potential link as a rationale for supporting TNE partnerships in their countries.
Indonesia has been a latecomer in embracing TNE compared to other ASEAN countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. However, increasingly TNE is accepted as one of the options for Indonesian students to gain an internationally recognised degree. About 900 Indonesian students are currently enrolled in UK TNE programmes. A more supportive regulatory environment helps grow TNE partnerships between Indonesian universities and their overseas partners, including the UK, and there is an increased appetite from the Indonesian government for TNE partnerships. Indonesian students can benefit from foundation programs that are available as a pathway to study overseas.
The government of Indonesia recognises that a quality higher education sector is essential for national competitiveness. The value of TNE is seen through its contribution to building capacity in local institutions and producing graduates with knowledge and skills relevant to local or regional economic development. This complements President Jokowi’s focus on human capital development, which is key to Indonesia’s future.
As the Indonesian Government’s Kampus Merdeka (Emancipated Learning) programme gives students the freedom to choose multiple pathways to develop competencies, there is a great potential for TNE to offer Indonesian students the flexibility of learning and to increase their chance of benefitting from some of the best education systems the world has to offer.
Ultimately, the value of transnational education in Indonesia lies in its ability to build a strong and vibrant higher education sector, equipping Indonesian students with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to compete and succeed in the global economy. The British Council is encouraged by the Indonesian Government’s KPI and scholarship commitments and looks forward to supporting Indonesia in its TNE journey. Let us embrace the opportunities that TNE offers, and work together to build a brighter and more prosperous future for Indonesia and its people.
