The United States and the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (RISTEK DIKTI) held an event today to celebrate advancements in higher education in Indonesia over the past five years. Approximately 150 people attended the event including honored guests RISTEK DIKTI Directorate General of Institutional Development Dr. Patdono Suwignjo, United States Chargé d'Affaires Brian McFeeters, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Erin McKee.

From 2011 to 2016, USAID's $19 million Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) project has worked in partnership with RISTEK DIKTI to build capacity and improve performance of 50 Indonesian higher education institutions across the country. USAID HELM supported these institutions in building skills in such areas as leadership, administration, financial management, quality assurance, and research, the ultimate goal to provide a world-class, quality education for Indonesian students.

"It is essential to empower higher education institutions to create systems that support access to resources, networks, professional development, and management. These systems are critical to improving the quality of higher education in Indonesia," said RISTEK DIKTI Director General Suwignjo. "We are thankful for the great work of USAID along with many partners."

"The changing economic landscape in Indonesia requires a diverse workforce that is educated, skilled and adapted to a knowledge-based economy," said U.S. Chargé d'Affaires McFeeters. "The United States is proud to partner with the Government of Indonesia in initiatives ranging from innovative research, expanding access to high quality basic and vocational education, to strengthening the higher education system. The breadth of U.S.-supported education programs in Indonesia is reflective of the deep ties and close collaboration between our two nations."

"After our intensive work with USAID HELM, we improved from a Level C to a Level A ranking by the National Higher Education Accreditation Body (BAN-PT). This is the first time for an institution accreditation to improve so much," said Prof. Dr. Ir. Samsul Rizal, M.Eng, Rector of Syiah Kuala University. Of the 4,000 higher education institutions in Indonesia, only 26 received an A level accreditation.

Highlights of USAID HELM achievements from 2011-2016 include:

• Forty of the 50 partner higher education institutions have received institutional accreditation, seven of which were awarded the A ranking
• 1,561 study programs accredited with ranking A or B, based on the data published by BAN-PT
• Sixty-four percent developed new or improved standard operating procedures in finance as of Fiscal Year 2015 to streamline operations
• Twelve higher education partnerships between US and Indonesia that address regional, national, and local development needs
• Twenty-five action research projects completed with significant systemic change such as improved accreditation ratings; new educational bridging programs that help underserved students improve academic and non-academic skills; a customized learning management system that allows more efficient teaching and learning processes; and an innovative management information system that promotes timely study completion
• A legal entity established to promote women's leadership in higher education and collaborative research mapping women's participation in higher education leadership
• Interactive webinar learning system established with more than 11,302 logins
• New and improved Career Development Centers introduced across the country
• Four networks created across higher education institutions in Indonesia, including the Collaboration and Innovation Network (COIN), Higher Education Leadership and Management Network (FORKOM KMPT), Higher Education Financial Management Network (HEFIN), and the Higher Education Leadership and Management Program Alliance (AP-KMPT)

"USAID is honored to be able to hand over the USAID HELM achievements to our Government of Indonesia partners today. We hope our investment over the past five years have further empowered higher education institutions to provide students with a world-class education," said USAID Mission Director McKee.