Neoliberal governance in Indonesian universities: the impact upon academic identity

PurposeThis study was aimed at understanding the under life of Indonesian academics during ongoing implementation of government-driven policy enacted in higher education instititutions in Indonesia. The attention was specifically focused on the new program of accountability and quality assurance moderated by the implementation of online assessment system to monitor and evaluate the perfromance of lecturers directly and how this system impacted upon the meaning of academic identity perceived by them. Design/methodology/approachThis study was drawn from a qualitative research of case study approach. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data and conducted with thirty academics from three state universities. FindingsThis study revealed that academics were grappling to balance their schism between keeping their existing identity tenable and excercising new prescribed roles from external environment. However, academics were still able to practice their preceived identity through their principled personal project that legitimate them to become academics and pursue their success rather than use instrumental means. Practical implicationsThe results of this study will be expected to contribute to a better understanding on the dynamics of academics’ world as it is encountered agaisnt government-driven policy, and provide indications for policy makers to take into account this issue in the formulation and enactment of their policy. Originality/valueA new aspect of identity in academic profession was found, that is to say religion