Enhance the Government of Indonesia’s recognition of Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) qualifications

In early 2017, the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (RISTEK DIKTI) agreed to automatically recognise Australian 3-year bachelor degrees as equivalent to Indonesian bachelor degrees (sarjana 1), except those in the fields of commerce, finance, management and communications. These exemptions are notable considering that management and commerce is the most popular area of study for Indonesian higher education students, accounting for approximately half of all Indonesian higher education enrolments in Australia.
RISTEK DIKTI asserts Australia’s bachelor degrees in these four fields of study typically lack a significant thesis component equivalent to Indonesia’s ‘skripsi’ requirement for a single 10,000 word essay. On this basis, the exempt degrees continue to be assessed by Indonesia on a case-by-case basis, whereby graduates of these degrees seeking entry to further study or the public service in Indonesia must submit their testamurs and examples of course work to RISTEK DIKTI to receive recognition. While recognition may therefore be granted, it involves a cumbersome process and is not guaranteed.
In the context of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) discussions, Indonesia indicated it seeks further information from Australia on these exempt degrees before it will consider providing unconditional recognition.

The project aims to provide evidence to secure Indonesia’s unconditional recognition of all Australian three-year bachelor degrees, including those in commerce, finance, management and communications (henceforth - the ‘exempt’ degrees).
More broadly, the project will provide recommendations for sustainable and scalable qualifications recognition practices in Indonesia, in order to support improved mobility.