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The Indonesian Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) has arrested the Rector of the University of Lampung for allegedly receiving IDR5 billion (US$336,000) in bribes from the families of students who failed the university entrance exams known as the autonomous admissions scheme. According to KPK, the ‘autonomous channel’ exam conducted by universities is vulnerable to bribery due to a lack of transparency and specific guidelines from the Ministry of Education, leaving state universities unsupervised.

A 2021 Ministry of Education and Culture survey found that 77% of lecturers in Indonesia admitted that sexual harassment cases happened at their universities, but 63% chose not to report the cases to the police or other relevant institutions. Only 49 out of 122 universities had set up task forces against sexual harassment involving administrative staff, lecturers, and students. Sanctions outlined in the decree include financial penalties for institutions that do not prevent sexual violence and the dismissal or expulsion of perpetrators.

Instead of following the national regulations for granting honorary academic titles, the State University of Jakarta decided to pass its own rules. While politicians want academic titles to boost their public image and reputation, they are concerned about their careers rather than the university itself. “Usually, after the title-granting ceremony, funds or projects come in from the grantee’s office,” said a senior lecturer.

An Indonesian presidential spokesman has stated that the President has called on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate alleged corruption involving the Education and Culture Deputy Minister for Culture.

Former inspector general of the Ministry of Education and Culture has been accused of embezzling travel funds. The former inspector general will be attending the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta.

The Ministry of Education and Culture is investigating a watchdog's allegation of possible corruption during the tender process of the national exam printing. The call for investigation of the tender process came after the national exam was postponed in 11 provinces when one of the companies that won the printing tender failed to deliver the test on time.

Jakarta's Pramuka Street intersection is well known for its essay-production services, as Indonesian universities continue to be dogged by the problem of ghostwritten essays. By paying a sum, a student can graduate without making much effort writing the final-year dissertation.

A graft watchdog in Indonesia has sounded a red alert for the education sector as it recorded some 40 cases of corruption in 2012, causing losses to the state of around Rp139 billion (US$14.4 million).

Anticorruption efforts are by no means a new concept in Indonesia. But since the 1950s, corruption has been mostly investigated and prosecuted, while preventative methods have been overlooked. A new collaboration involving more than 100 universities across the archipelago wants to change that.

Education agency officials denied a graft allegation in the distribution of funds from the central government and the city administration under the School Operational Aids and Education Operational Aids schemes.