The Responsible University in Southeast Asia : A Tale of the Transition from an Elite to a Mass Higher Education System

AbstractAs is the case in the Nordic countries, universities in Southeast Asia are expected to act in a responsible manner by fostering greater participation in higher education across different social groups and by promoting regional development. To date, however, few studies have investigated such important aspects within the context of emerging economies undergoing considerable political, social and economic changes. Our study setting is Indonesia, a country with large socio-economic asymmetries that is undergoing the historical transition from an elite to a mass higher education system. The chapter provides evidence of the roles played by different types of universities located in speci…