JAKARTA, El Sky News – Allegations regarding the practice of buying and selling the highest academic title, Professor (or Guru Besar), have resurfaced. A prominent Political Economy Analyst, Ichsanuddin Noorsy, openly revealed this practice during a public discussion event aired by iNews, stating that the price for the title can reach billions of rupiah.
Title Price Reaches IDR 2 Billion
In the circulating video, Ichsanuddin Noorsy asserted that the practice of purchasing Professor titles is already widespread. When asked about the difficulty of achieving the Professor title, he responded seriously and candidly.
“Not really. Just buy it, many are buying it,” Ichsanuddin revealed. He then elaborated that many individuals acquire the title through purchase at exorbitant prices.
”Many bought it. Serious? Serious. Many bought it. How much is the price? Well, some can attain the title for two billion,” said Ichsanuddin Noorsy. He added that the price of this title varies, with estimates ranging from IDR 1.5 billion to IDR 2 billion to achieve Professor status. This confession immediately drew a shocked reaction from the host and the audience.
The Questionable Profile of “Instant” Professors
Ichsanuddin Noorsy not only exposed the fantastic price of the titles being sold but also explained how this practice undermines academic integrity. He mentioned that the title buyers often have dubious academic backgrounds and professional histories.
According to him, these ‘instant’ Professor titles are obtained by individuals with the following characteristics:
- Unclear Doctoral Background: Their doctoral education (S3) records lack clear and verifiable traceability.
- No Clear Teaching History: The recipients of the title do not possess a clear record or history of teaching as a lecturer at any higher education institution, despite the Professor title being the highest academic position for a lecturer.
”There are people whose doctoral background is unclear, whose teaching history is unclear, yet they get to be a professor,” he emphasized.
Challenge to the Relevant Ministry
In response to the controversial statement, the host highlighted that the issue must be immediately followed up by the authorities. Coincidentally, the event was also attended by a representative from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), which is responsible for overseeing the quality of higher education and the conferment of Professor titles.
Ichsanuddin Noorsy welcomed the spotlight and openly challenged the relevant parties to investigate and prove the truth of his claim.
”Go ahead and ask. I can prove what I am saying,” Ichsanuddin Noorsy challenged.
This statement reaffirms that the practice of buying Professor titles poses a serious threat to the credibility of the education sector and the quality of graduates from Indonesian universities. The government is urged to conduct a thorough audit of the process of appointing Professors, especially for those with questionable academic histories.
