Mapping Academic Freedom Violations to Promote Academic Freedom Protection Policies in Universities in Indonesia - 2025

Sep 10, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

Academic freedom in Indonesia is constitutionally and legally guaranteed, including in higher education institutions, yet violations on campuses remain widespread. The policy paper maps recurring abuses such as intimidation, repression, administrative sanctions, restrictions, and criminalization of academic community members. It analyzes the gap between normative policy frameworks and real-world implementation, identifying threats arising both within and outside universities. Grounded in research conducted from April to July 2025, it proposes a rights-based, cross-sector strategy to strengthen protection policies and sustain universities as secure academic freedom hubs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages120

Reading Time5 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Research findings and policy direction

Executive Summary

Legal foundations and persistent threats

Context and historical constraints

Study scope and qualitative methods

POLICY PAPER Mapping Academic Freedom Violations to Promote Academic Freedom Protection Policies in Universities in Indonesia 2025 POLICY PAPER Mapping Academic Freedom Violations to Promote Academic Freedom Protection Policies in Universities in Indonesia 2025 The Indonesian Institute, Center for Public Policy Research, was established on October 21, 2004, in Jakarta by a group of dynamic young activists and intellectuals. It is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization funded through grants and contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. The Indonesian Institute focuses on public policy research, with a strong commitment to contributing to policymaking processes and improving the quality of public policy in Indonesia. Policy Paper: Mapping Academic Freedom Violations to Promote Academic Freedom Protection Policies in Universities in Indonesia @2025, The Indonesian Institute, Center for Public Policy Research (TII) Size 176 x 250 mm xii, 106 pages AUTHORS: Researchers at The Indonesian Institute Adinda Tenriangke Muchtar Christina Clarissa Intania Felia Primaresti Translators: Made Natasya Restu Dewi Pratiwi Putu Rusta Adijaya Editor: Adinda Tenriangke Muchtar Design & Layout: Harhar Muharam- @za1oe Cover Illustration: M. Ramone Diaz, AI-generated visuals, retouched. Published by: The Indonesian Institute, Center for Public Policy Research (TII) Jalan HOS. Cokroaminoto No. 92, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat 10310 Telepon: +62-21-3158-032 Email: [contact@theindonesianinstitute.com](contact@theindonesianinstitute.com) [Website: www.theindonesianinstitute.com](Website: www.theindonesianinstitute.com) [Social Media:](Social Media: - @the_indonesian)[ -](Social Media: - @the_indonesian)[ @the_indonesian](Social Media: - @the_indonesian) E Tii Jakarta [Q](Q @indonesian.institute)[ @indonesian.institute](Q @indonesian.institute) M indonesian institute Supported by: [https://www.atlasnetwork.org](https://www.atlasnetwork.org) Foreword Academic freedom in Indonesia is grounded in a strong legal framework that guarantees and protects it, including within higher education institutions. However, violations of academic freedom in campuses remain widespread. Certain existing laws, such as those on electronic information and transactions, criminal law, and criminal procedure, are often used as references to criminalize academic activities. Various forms of violations persist, including intimidation, repression, administrative sanctions, restrictions, and criminalization of members of the academic community, whether as individuals or groups, in exercising their academic freedom. This situation reinforces the commitment of The Indonesian Institute, Center for Public Policy Research (TII), to continue conducting research and advocacy in support of protecting academic freedom in universities in Indonesia. The study’s findings reveal that, in the context of public policy evaluation, violations of academic freedom continue to expose a significant gap between the normative framework of policies and the realities of their implementation in promoting and protecting academic freedom in universities in Indonesia. Threats to academic freedom arise from both within and outside universities, affecting multiple indicators of academic freedom. The study calls for an uncompromising, rights-based strategy driven by firm commitment and robust cross-sector collaboration to ensure universities remain secure, dynamic, and empowering bastions of academic freedom, while fully advancing the mandate of the Three Pillars of Higher Education ( Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi) . We extend our gratitude to all those who supported and assisted in the completion of this research. Through this research, we aspire to provide rigorous analysis and forward-looking policy recommendations that inspire collaborative action to uphold and advance academic freedom across Indonesia’s univers

FAQs

What types of academic freedom violations are addressed in the policy paper?

The paper highlights intimidation, repression, administrative sanctions, restrictions, and criminalization of academic community members, whether individually or in groups.

What gap does the research identify regarding academic freedom policies in universities?

It finds a significant gap between the normative framework of policies and the realities of their implementation in promoting and protecting academic freedom.

How was the study conducted and what period does it cover?

The Indonesian Institute conducted the study from April to July 2025 using qualitative methods, collecting data through document studies to identify violation patterns and assess policy implementation.

Sep 10, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

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