USAID Indonesia RFI 72049721RFI00002 - HEPI.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Date of Issuance: November 6, 2020

Reference No.: 72049721RFI00002

Preliminary Activity Title: Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI)

Deadline to Submit Responses: November 24, 2020; 8:00 am, Jakarta local time

Submit Responses to: applications-indo@usaid.gov

Dear Interested Parties:

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to collect written information about an activity with the preliminary title of “Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI)” in which USAID seeks to strengthen higher-education partnerships between the U.S. and Indonesia, as further described in Attachment 1.

This RFI is open for comments from any US or non-US organization. This is an RFI, not a Request for Application (RFA). Do not submit any applications at this time; only the information requested in this RFI will be reviewed. Responses will be treated as confidential. A solicitation is expected to be released in early 2021.

USAID is seeking input regarding the list of inquiries contained in Attachment 2. The information provided will be used to help finalize the activity design in order to improve development outcomes.

USAID may revise the structure and concept of the activity based on comments received but is not obligated to do so.

All responses should be sent using the cover page that is part of Attachment 2 - Response Form to this RFI. All comments must be submitted electronically via email to applications-indo@usaid.gov with the subject of “RFI: Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI)” no later than the date/time stated above.

This issuance of this RFI will not restrict the Government’s ultimate approach, if any. Respondents are advised that USAID is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information, answer questions or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information provided. Any information submitted in response to this notice is voluntary. Not responding to this required does not preclude participation in any future solicitations, if any is issued.

Please note that release of this RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government to issue any notice of funding opportunity or solicitation or ultimately award on the basis of this RFI.

USAID is not responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this RFI nor will funding be made available prior to any award. Respondents are responsible for all costs incurred prior to award.

mailto:applications-indo@usaid.gov

RFI No. 72049721RFI00002 USAID Indonesia

Thank you for your interest in USAID/Indonesia’s programs and we look forward to your comments.

Sincerely, Alexis McGinness Contracting/Agreement Officer USAID/Indonesia

Attachments:

1. Activity Description

2. Cover Sheet and Questions

Attachment 1 - Activity Description

Preliminary Activity Title:

Higher Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI)

Development Objective: DO 2: Inclusive Economic Growth Increased IR 2.1 Workforce Productivity Increased Sub IR 2.1.1 Access to Quality, Global Standard University Increased

Activity Purpose: To strengthen higher-education partnerships between the U.S. and Indonesia.

Geographic Location: Indonesia (nation-wide)

Period of Performance: Up to Five Years

Anticipated Available Funding $4-6 million

Anticipated Number of Awards: One or more awards

I. Introduction

USAID/Indonesia is committed to assisting the Government of Indonesia (GOI) to strengthen human capital to achieve sustainable, quality learning and education outcomes to support the country’s Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR). Past USAID investments have allowed Indonesian and American faculty and institutions to partner in an effort to modernize the Indonesian system to improve teaching and mentoring and conduct quality research. USAID aims to work with U.S. and Indonesian education institutions, the private sector, the government, and non-government organizations to leverage their respective resources to increase access for youth to gain global standard education and training to meet the demands of the labor market.

This activity will support leading U.S. universities in building partnerships with top Indonesian universities to advance the recognition of mutual credits, with a particular focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies.

II. Background and Context

The Government of Indonesia’s Mid-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2020-2024 prioritizes developing human resources, particularly in the areas of science and technology, in an effort to strengthen the country’s ability to compete globally. However, despite a vast higher education system with nearly 4,000 institutions, serving more than seven million students, the system does not currently produce graduates with the requisite skill sets demanded by the private sector. Weaknesses include the critical thinking and technical skills needed by the private sector to reach Indonesia’s innovation and economic growth goals.

Internationalization of higher education institutions (HEIs), through partnerships, is a potent tool to raise the quality of Indonesian universities. The Higher Education Law of 2012 allows Indonesia to host foreign students and enables foreign universities to open branches or research centers in the country1.

The recent USAID discussions with Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC) officials confirmed its desire to increase HEI competitiveness through international partnerships with foreign universities.

Officials from the Higher Education Directorate (DIKTI) of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC) also emphasized the importance of U.S. partnerships and the low number of agreements with U.S.

universities compared to the European Union (EU), Australia, and East Asia, like Japan and the Republic of Korea.

III. Relationship to Mission CDCS & GOI 2020-2024 Medium-term Development Plan

USAID/Indonesia’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) 2020-2024 emphasizes building partnerships that allow USAID/Indonesia to collaborate with both the public and private sectors in the joint definition of development challenges; together identify the most promising, impactful, solutions;

mutually contribute resources. The proposed activity directly responds to CDCS Development Objective (DO) 2, Inclusive Economic Growth Increased and will advance Intermediate Result (IR) 2.1: Workforce Productivity Increased. The activity will directly further IR 2.1.1 Access to Quality, Global Standard University Increased by engaging both public and private universities to work in a partnership to address host country’s development challenges. The activity aligns with the Indo-Pacific Vision, which emphasizes the importance of programs focused on people-to-people exchanges, science and technology, and education that are rooted in trust and personal relationships.2

As mentioned above this activity will also support the GOI’s 2020-2024 Medium-term Development Plan,3 which focuses on developing skilled human resources in sciences and technology through strengthening academic partnerships between higher education institutions and the private sector.

Furthermore, the activity will potentially engage with other USAID-funded activities in health and environment sectors. For example, the USAID One Health Workforce activity promotes a university network in public health issues. Participating universities may engage with the partnerships activity if it focuses on similar issues.

IV. Problem Statement

Despite the vast number of Indonesian HEIs, the nation does not yet effectively respond to industry demand for skills to contribute significantly to innovation as a driver of economic growth, particularly in today's industry 4.0 world -- a trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. As the biggest contributor to the internet economy’s growth in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s technology sector is booming. However, its growth is being held back by a shortage of skilled Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) talent, producing only 278 engineers per million people a year.4 Institutional quality can not be improved, with outdated STEM curricula, lecturer-centered learning, 1 https://theaseanpost.com/article/indonesia-must-get-future-ready

2 U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Free-and-Open-Indo-Pacific- 4Nov2019.pdf

3 RPJMN 2020-2024 https://www.bappenas.go.id/files/rpjmn/Narasi%20RPJMN%20IV%202020- 2024_Revisi%2028%20Juni%202019.pdf

4 https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2020/06/02/online-stem-learning-helps-digital-natives-to-thrive.html https://theaseanpost.com/article/indonesia-must-get-future-ready https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Free-and-Open-Indo-Pacific-4Nov2019.pdf https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Free-and-Open-Indo-Pacific-4Nov2019.pdf https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Free-and-Open-Indo-Pacific-4Nov2019.pdf https://www.bappenas.go.id/files/rpjmn/Narasi%20RPJMN%20IV%202020-2024_Revisi%2028%20Juni%202019.pdf https://www.bappenas.go.id/files/rpjmn/Narasi%20RPJMN%20IV%202020-2024_Revisi%2028%20Juni%202019.pdf inadequate facilities to utilize science and technology, weak research quality, and bureaucratic management systems. This has caused a lack of STEM graduates’ skills desired by industry. This is particularly the case of Indonesian universities outside Java, where institutional performance is generally less strong. As a consequence, university graduates are ill-prepared to enter the labor market due to a lack of good STEM, communication, problem solving, critical thinking, people management, and English language skills. Those young workers also often lack the ability to work in teams or interact and collaborate effectively with others.5

Despite several established partnerships between universities -- including models for academic exchanges, joint research, joint/dual degrees, joint seminars or workshops, joint publications, and internships for faculty members to increase institutional performance -- Indonesian universities have not ranked high globally or regionally, with only three universities in the world’s top 500.6 The country also scores poorly on international indices for science, technology, and knowledge-sector performance. With the low quantity and quality of research and researchers and uneven distribution of research, Indonesia ranks 85th out of 129 on the Global Innovation Index (2019)7.

USAID knows of only three Indonesian universities (all private) have partnered with U.S. institutions in undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs. Involvement of U.S. HEIs in this type of partnership is also challenging. U.S. costs and requirements, such as a long bureaucratic process and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirements or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, often hinder partnerships to offer a joint- or dual-degree program with U.S. universities.8

Fostering collaboration and partnerships with U.S. universities for courses and research will raise the university's reputation and standards in the local education market and enable the country’s most gifted students and researchers to stay in Indonesia instead of going abroad, also known as internationalization at home.

V. Development Hypothesis (Theory of Change)

IF Indonesian universities develop effective collaboration and partnership with world-class U.S.

universities, And IF these partnerships enable Indonesian universities to improve their STEM curricula, instruction, faculty skills, research performance, and facilities that meet world-class standards, THEN Indonesian universities will produce graduates with higher-level qualifications and stronger skills to meet industry demand.

VI. Goal and Objectives

Goal: To increase mutually recognized credits in STEM fields through increased collaboration between

5 https://jakartaglobe.id/news/leaders-say-graduates-indonesia-dont-make-grade/

6 The 2019 USAID Assessment Report on Higher Education Partnerships.

https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/Detail_Presto.aspx?ctID=ODVhZjk4NWQtM2YyMi00YjRmLTkxNjktZTcxMjM2ND BmY2Uy&rID=NTcxNjU2&inr=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&dc=YWRk&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&bckToL=

7https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20190725131051-4-87538/duh-ri-jauh-tertinggal-di-indeks-inovasi-global- 8 Ibid.

https://jakartaglobe.id/news/leaders-say-graduates-indonesia-dont-make-grade/ https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/Detail_Presto.aspx?ctID=ODVhZjk4NWQtM2YyMi00YjRmLTkxNjktZTcxMjM2NDBmY2Uy&rID=NTcxNjU2&inr=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&dc=YWRk&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&bckToL= https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/Detail_Presto.aspx?ctID=ODVhZjk4NWQtM2YyMi00YjRmLTkxNjktZTcxMjM2NDBmY2Uy&rID=NTcxNjU2&inr=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&dc=YWRk&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ%3d%3d&bckToL= https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20190725131051-4-87538/duh-ri-jauh-tertinggal-di-indeks-inovasi-global-2019 https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20190725131051-4-87538/duh-ri-jauh-tertinggal-di-indeks-inovasi-global-2019

U.S. and Indonesian universities.

Objectives:

1. Strengthen collaboration between Indonesian and U.S. universities and their staff

2. Improve faculty skills and study programs in Indonesion universities

3. Improve curricula of partner Indonesian universities to meet world-class standards for international credit recognition

4. Increase exchanges between Indonesian and U.S. universities toward establishing joint programs and internships.

At the end of five years, USAID expects:

● U.S. and Indonesian universities mutually recognize credits in STEM fields.

● Improved curricula and other joint programs at participating universities.

● Enhanced ability of Indonesian universities to manage partnership programs.

● Increased mobility between Indonesian and American academics.

● Strong foundation (e.g. signed agreements and/or committed resources) for continuing partnerships between participating universities following the end of the activity.

VII. Potential Activities

HEPI is anticipated to support leading U.S. universities in building partnerships with top Indonesian universities to advance the recognition of mutual credits, with a particular focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies.

Potential illustrative activities to achieve this result may include:

● Facilitate partnerships between U.S.-based and Indonesian universities towards long-term commitment and innovative partnership approaches.

● Build the capacity of Indonesian universities to collaborate with U.S. institutions in curriculum development, human and financial management, and program planning.

● Strengthen curricula and instruction at Indonesian universities in STEM studies through staff and faculty exchanges and curricula review and revision that lead to credit transfer.

● Enhance mentoring program for Indonesian faculty in developing curricula and delivering instruction that meet the international standards

● Promote the internationalization of Indonesian university partner programs, including mapping opportunities and challenges for establishing credit recognition programs, national regulations on credit transfers, and priority fields of study.

● Promote the U.S. STEM curricula and best practices to Indonesian institutions for adoption and dissemination

● Support joint workshops and conferences to increase international mobility in academic forums through blended or virtual platforms.

● Embed U.S. professors in Indonesian universities to promote efficient coordination in partnership development, activity planning, and monitoring of partnership progress.

● Encourage the participation of private companies to support the partnerships for research, curriculum development, career planning, and student internship programs in STEM fields.

[End of Attachment 1]

Attachment 2 – Response Form

RESPONSE FORM

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NO. 72049721RFI00002

General Information

Name of Organization: _______________________________________________

Contact Person:

Name: _______________________________________________ Position Title: _______________________________________________ Email Address: _______________________________________________

Type of Organization:

US Organization, Large Business

US Organization, Small Business

Indonesian Higher Education Institution

US Higher Education Institution

Indonesian Organization (Other Than HEI)

Other - Please indicate: _________________________________

Questions (Please note that you are not obliged to answer all questions)

1. Is there any interest from U.S. higher education institutions to recognize Indonesian universities’ course credits in the fields of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)? What kind of incentive is suitable for the U.S. higher education institution to build partnerships with Indonesian universities? What criteria would be used for Indonesian universities to build the intended cooperation? Please describe.

2. What additional activities should be included to achieve the sought results outlined in Attachment 1, including in response to the current Covid-19 pandemic?

3. What performance indicators should be used to measure success? How can the quality of any proposed partnerships be measured?

4. What are potential challenges/obstacles and opportunities in building such partnerships leading to mutual credit recognition?

5. What government regulations and policies are in place that promote or retard course credit recognition?

6. How do you envision the role of the private sector in collaborating to achieve the intended results?

7. What measures for sustainability (of interventions and results) would you recommend the activity take?

8. Based on the above activity description, how would you structure the management of the activities?

Would you recommend that individual awards be granted for specific partnerships or should an entity “manage” the partnerships with universities?

9. Do you believe the goal, objectives, and expected outcomes of this activity would be more effectively served by assistance (a cooperative agreement) or acquisition (a contract)? What are the pros and cons of either mechanism?

10. If an assistance mechanism is selected, should there be a cost share for participating organizations?

And if so, what percentage would you recommend?

11. Would you advocate that further development of this activity be conducted via co-design? What form would you recommend that co-design take?

12. USAID’s New Partnership Initiative seeks USAID to partner with new and underutilized, local and locally established partners. How would you recommend USAID incorporate this initiative into the activity’s procurement strategy?

13. Additional comments may be provided here.

[End of Attachment 1]