ABSTRACT
The requirement of achieving world-class university status has become a fundamental framework for higher education institutions in Indonesia. Higher education in Eastern Indonesia lags behind Western Indonesian universities. This study explores the challenges Eastern Indonesian universities experience in their quest to attain world-class university status. The study employs qualitative data and thematic content analysis to formulate the concepts of strategy, design policies and provide recommendation to achieve world-class university status. Improving the quality of universities will also improve the quality of degrees and graduates and have a flow-on effect onto skills, productivity and economic development. University quality is linked to developing the future quality of the workforce. The implications for higher education policy and strategies for change are presented.
