The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Social Mobility in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper examines the role of higher education in promoting social mobility in Indonesia, focusing on how access to and outcomes from higher education can alter socio-economic trajectories. Despite the expansion of higher education institutions in recent years, access remains unequal, with significant barriers faced by students from low-income, rural, and ethnic minority backgrounds. Through a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and interviews with university students, graduates, and policymakers, the paper assesses the factors that enable or hinder social mobility through higher education. The study finds that while higher education provides substantial opportunities for social mobility, disparities in access, quality, and financial support continue to limit opportunities for disadvantaged students. The paper concludes by recommending policy reforms to increase access to higher education for marginalized groups, such as improving scholarship programs, increasing public-private partnerships, and enhancing career support services for graduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds.