Pictured from left to right: Dr. M. Tri Andika Kurniawan, S.Sos, M.A. (Vice Rector II, Bakrie University); Dr. Holila Hatta (Head of the International Office, Bakrie University); Michael Noble (CEO, Noble Solutions); Dr Nick Halafihi (Director of Global Engagement and Head of Subject for Leadership, Governance and People Management, Leeds Business School, Leeds Beckett University); Nam Pham (Managing Director, Noble Solutions); and Dominic Ramsden (Head of Academic Quality Enhancement, Leeds Beckett University)
JAKARTA — Leeds Beckett University and Universitas Bakrie have formed a partnership to deliver a Business Management dual degree programme in Jakarta, giving Indonesian students access to a UK qualification without requiring them to complete their studies overseas.
The dual degree model combines the curricula of both institutions, blending international academic standards with Indonesian industry context. It reflects a broader shift in how Indonesian students are accessing international education: rather than travelling abroad for an entire degree, students can now earn recognised UK credentials while remaining in Indonesia.
Dominic Ramsden, Head of Academic Quality at Leeds Beckett University, said Indonesia’s strong quality assurance framework in higher education was a key factor behind the partnership.
“This gives us confidence that we can maintain our academic standards while delivering high-quality international education to Indonesian students,” he said.
According to Ramsden, that shared commitment to academic quality has underpinned what both universities describe as a long-term partnership.
Nick Halafihi, Head of Subject at Leeds Business School, said the collaboration reflects a wider need for universities to adapt to shifting workforce expectations by combining classroom learning with practical, industry-relevant experience.
Rather than exporting a single curriculum to every market, Leeds Beckett develops each programme jointly with local partners so that it responds to the needs of students, employers and industry in that country. The same collaborative model has previously been applied in partnerships in India and Vietnam before being introduced in Indonesia.
Beyond the undergraduate programme, the partnership also covers research collaboration, student mobility, academic and staff exchanges, executive education and industry-focused short courses.
Michael Noble, Chief Executive Officer of Noble Solutions, an education consultancy specialising in transnational education partnerships across Southeast Asia, said models such as this are likely to expand as demand grows for international education that remains financially accessible.
He noted that although more overseas universities have opened branch campuses in Indonesia in recent years, the cost of these programmes remains out of reach for many Indonesian families. Noble said dual degree partnerships offer an alternative that keeps costs more manageable while still delivering value to both institutions.
The partnership, he added, allows both universities to strengthen institutional capacity and share expertise, giving students an educational experience that draws on the strengths of both the Indonesian and British higher education systems.
For Indonesian students, the programme offers a pathway to internationally recognised education without the cost and disruption of relocating overseas for an entire degree, combining a globally benchmarked curriculum with local context to prepare graduates for an increasingly global labour market.
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About Noble Solutions
Noble Solutions is an education consultancy specialising in the development of transnational education (TNE) partnerships across Southeast Asia. Representing a number of leading universities from Ireland and the United Kingdom, Noble Solutions works closely with institutions to identify strategic partnership opportunities and support the delivery of high-quality international education throughout the region.
