PTN BH in critical theory perspective: Capitalism and the commercialization of higher education

The transformation of State Universities with Legal Entity status or Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Badan Hukum (PTN BH) represents one of the most significant reforms in Indonesian higher education governance. While PTN BH has frequently been criticized as a manifestation of educational capitalism, it has also been promoted as a policy intended to strengthen institutional autonomy, improve governance, enhance research competitiveness, and support internationalization. This study aims to critically examine PTN BH through the lens of Critical Theory by exploring the tension between institutional autonomy and market-oriented governance. Employing a qualitative literature review with a semi-systematic review approach, the study analyzes academic publications, policy documents, and previous empirical studies related to PTN BH, educational capitalism, and higher education governance in Indonesia. The findings indicate that PTN BH should not be understood merely as an expression of educational capitalism but rather as a contested governance model in which institutional autonomy, academic competitiveness, public accountability, commercialization, and social justice continuously interact. Greater institutional autonomy has encouraged innovation, research development, and governance flexibility; however, it has also expanded market-oriented mechanisms through diversified revenue generation, university-industry collaboration, and increasing dependence on non-state funding. From a Critical Theory perspective, these developments illustrate the coexistence of emancipatory opportunities and structural inequalities within higher education governance. The study concludes that the central challenge of PTN BH is not institutional autonomy itself but ensuring that autonomy is implemented within a framework of public accountability, equitable educational access, and the preservation of higher education as a public good.