Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education Mandates On-Campus Academic Services Following Surge in Sexual Violence Reports at Major Universities

The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology has officially moved to restrict all academic consultations and student services to university grounds in a strategic effort to curb the rising tide of sexual violence within the nation’s tertiary education system. This directive, announced by Deputy Minister Fauzan, comes as a direct response to a series of high-profile cases involving faculty members and students at several of Indonesia’s most prestigious institutions. By mandating that all interactions—ranging from thesis advisement to general academic counseling—occur strictly within the monitored environment of the campus, the government aims to eliminate the "gray areas" often exploited by predators who utilize off-campus settings to facilitate abuse.

The urgency of this policy shift was underscored by the recent viral reports concerning 16 students from the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia (FH UI). The case, which trended extensively on social media platforms, served as a catalyst for a broader national conversation regarding the safety of students and the accountability of academic staff. The allegations have not been limited to junior staff or students; they have reached the highest echelons of the academic hierarchy, involving lecturers, senior advisors, and even tenured professors.

The Policy Shift: Relocating the Academic Interface

Deputy Minister Fauzan, speaking during the signing of the 2026 Research and Development Funding Program Contract at Graha Diktisaintek in Central Jakarta, emphasized that the physical location of academic services is a critical factor in the safety of students. According to the Deputy Minister, the move to ensure that services such as thesis guidance (bimbingan skripsi) and other forms of academic consultation remain on campus is a preventative measure against the misuse of authority.

"Academic services to students should not be conducted outside the campus because it is suspected that such environments can trigger violence, particularly within the context of the power relationship between lecturers and students," Fauzan stated on Monday, April 20, 2026. This directive aims to create a transparent and professional boundary that protects both parties, ensuring that the student-teacher dynamic remains strictly professional and observable by the institution.

The Ministry’s stance is rooted in the observation that many reported incidents of sexual harassment and assault begin with seemingly legitimate academic requests—such as meeting at a cafe for thesis revisions or a private residence for additional tutoring—which then escalate into predatory behavior in an environment where the student lacks the protection of university oversight.

Understanding the Dynamics of Power Relations

Central to the government’s argument is the concept of "Relasi Kuasa" or power relations. In the context of higher education, this refers to the inherent and significant imbalance of power between a student and a faculty member. According to the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS) at Universitas Airlangga, power relations exist when one party possesses greater authority, influence, or control over another due to factors such as job title, social status, age, or institutional seniority.

In an academic setting, this imbalance is particularly acute. A lecturer or professor holds the power to determine a student’s grades, the progress of their research, and their eventual graduation. This authority creates a fertile ground for manipulation. Victims often find themselves in a "double bind": they may recognize the behavior as inappropriate but fear that reporting it or refusing the perpetrator’s advances will result in academic retaliation, such as being failed in a course or having their graduation delayed.

The psychological impact of this power dynamic often leads to "tonic immobility" or a state of paralysis during the event, followed by a reluctance to report the incident afterward. The perpetrator, aware of their status and the student’s vulnerability, may use emotional manipulation or professional threats to ensure silence.

A Chronology of Institutional Failures and Accountability

The Ministry’s directive is supported by a grim timeline of confirmed cases across various Indonesian provinces over the past two years. These cases illustrate a recurring pattern where academic services were used as a front for sexual misconduct.

In early 2025, the academic community was shaken by the dismissal of Edy Meiyanto, a prominent professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Following an internal investigation, it was proven that Meiyanto had committed various acts of sexual violence against multiple students throughout the 2023-2024 academic year.

Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, the Secretary of UGM, revealed that the professor’s modus operandi consistently involved academic services conducted outside the university. "There were discussions, guidance sessions, and meetings held off-campus to discuss ongoing projects or competitions the students were participating in," Andi stated in April 2025. The UGM case highlighted that even high-ranking academics with significant reputations are not immune to predatory behavior, necessitating strict institutional barriers.

The issue is not confined to Java. In Makassar, South Sulawesi, two significant cases emerged in mid-2025. Firman Saleh, a lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), was found guilty of harassing a female student during a thesis consultation. Simultaneously, at the State University of Makassar (UNM), a lecturer identified as Khaeruddin was exposed for harassing a male student.

The UNM case was particularly noted for the perpetrator’s use of diverse excuses to lure the victim to his private residence. According to Police Commissioner Zaki Sunkar of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, the perpetrator initially used the pretext of a "makeup exam" to bring the student to his home. On another occasion, the lecturer allegedly attempted to initiate physical contact under the guise of offering a massage. When the victim resisted and the investigation proceeded, both lecturers in Makassar were named suspects under the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS).

Supporting Data and the Legal Framework

The prevalence of sexual violence in Indonesian higher education is reflected in broader national statistics. Data from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has consistently shown that the education sector is among the top environments where sexual violence occurs, with universities often reporting higher numbers than primary or secondary schools. This is attributed to the increased independence of university students and the frequent one-on-one nature of advanced academic guidance.

The Indonesian government has sought to address this through legislative measures, most notably the Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS). This law provides a more comprehensive legal basis for prosecuting offenders, covering various forms of violence that were previously difficult to litigate under the old penal code.

Under UU TPKS, specifically Articles 6a and 6c, perpetrators who abuse their position of authority to commit sexual acts or harassment can face up to 12 years in prison and substantial fines, often reaching IDR 300 million. The police investigation into the Makassar cases utilized these specific articles, signaling a shift toward more rigorous legal enforcement against academic predators.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology’s Regulation No. 30 of 2021 (Permendikbudristek 30/2021) remains the primary administrative tool for universities. It mandates the formation of Satgas PPKS (Task Forces) on every campus, tasked with investigating reports and providing support to victims. However, as the recent UI and UGM cases suggest, the existence of a task force is only the first step; the physical and procedural environment of the university must also change to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place.

Official Reactions and Institutional Implications

The Ministry’s new mandate has elicited a range of responses from academic stakeholders. While many student advocacy groups have welcomed the move as a necessary step toward transparency, some faculty members have raised concerns regarding the logistics of strictly on-campus meetings, citing limited office space and the need for flexible schedules.

However, the government remains firm. The Deputy Minister’s statement reflects a "zero-tolerance" approach that prioritizes student safety over administrative convenience. By centralizing academic interactions, the Ministry hopes to foster a culture of "witnessing," where the presence of other students and staff acts as a natural deterrent to inappropriate behavior.

The implications for universities are significant. Institutions are now expected to:

1. Audit and Expand Consultation Spaces: Universities must provide adequate, safe, and semi-public spaces for student-lecturer interactions.
2. Digitalize Academic Monitoring: Some institutions are considering digital logs for thesis guidance sessions to track the time, location, and duration of meetings.
3. Strengthen Satgas PPKS: Task forces must be given more autonomy and resources to handle the influx of reports that often follows such high-profile policy announcements.
4. Cultural Reform: There is an urgent need to dismantle the "culture of silence" that protects high-status academics.

Broader Impact and the Path Forward

The decision to mandate on-campus services is more than a logistical change; it is a symbolic reclamation of the university as a safe space for intellectual growth. For too long, the privacy of the "off-campus meeting" has been used as a shield for misconduct. By bringing these interactions back into the light of the campus environment, the Ministry is asserting that academic authority does not grant a right to personal privacy when dealing with students.

The ongoing cases at UI, UGM, Unhas, and UNM serve as a reminder that the road to eradicating sexual violence in academia is long. Legal prosecution and administrative dismissals are reactive measures. The Ministry’s new policy represents a proactive attempt to change the structural conditions that allow abuse to flourish.

As Indonesia continues to modernize its higher education system, the focus is shifting toward a holistic definition of academic excellence—one that includes not only research output and teaching quality but also the fundamental safety and dignity of every student. The success of this policy will depend on the rigorous implementation by university rectors and the continued vigilance of the student body in holding their institutions accountable. The message from the Ministry is clear: the era of unchecked power in the shadows of off-campus meetings is coming to an end.