UNAIR NEWS – Inflation isn’t limited to rising prices or economic conditions—it’s now becoming an issue in academia. The phenomenon of GPA inflation refers to the steady increase in undergraduate students’ Grade Point Averages (GPAs), often without a corresponding rise in actual competence or competitiveness.

This trend has sparked critical discussion about the state of Indonesia’s education system. Professor Dr. Tuti Budirahayu, Dra., M.Si., a senior lecturer in the Sociology of Education at Universitas Airlangga’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), shared her perspective. She argues that the root of the issue lies in the commercialization of education.

“We call it educational capitalism because universities today are expected—even pressured—to meet market demands. That means enrolling as many students as possible and ensuring they graduate in large numbers,” she explained.

Pressures from accreditation

Accreditation standards also contribute to GPA inflation. According to Prof. Budirahayu, universities risk losing their accreditation status if too many students receive low grades or fail to graduate. This, in turn, can make it more difficult for graduates to find employment.

“If students graduate with average grades, they’ll struggle in the job market. Nowadays, when companies evaluate job applicants, the first thing they look at is GPA. The second is which university the graduate attended,” she noted.

Still, Prof. Budirahayu emphasized that GPA should only serve as an initial screening tool when evaluating graduates. In addition to strong academic performance, graduates should demonstrate broader competencies. “A student’s quality shouldn’t be judged solely by GPA. You can also assess it through involvement in student organizations, leadership roles, or now, through SKP (Achievement Credit System) activities,” she added.

Rethinking evaluation standards

Building on this point, Prof. Budirahayu advocated for more comprehensive evaluation methods. “I believe assessment systems should apply weighted scoring. Moving forward, GPA should be considered alongside other aspects such as engagement, creativity, and activities that demonstrate a student’s full potential—tailored, of course, to each academic discipline,” she explained.

Prof. Budirahayu also acknowledged that GPA inflation can happen organically. She expressed confidence that lecturers uphold academic integrity, discipline, and hard work in their evaluations. She believes educators can fairly judge students based on their integrity, and she urged students to demonstrate the capabilities reflected in their academic records.

“There are many ways to measure a student’s ability and competence. I’m confident that no single metric can capture it all. We have various tools to assess student quality, and it’s up to students to showcase that,” she concluded.

Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati