Yogyakarta – A number of private universities in Yogyakarta have been forced to merge and scrap study programs due to limited enrollments.

"This month alone, I have received letters from three private universities stating their intention to merge," head of the Yogyakarta Private Universities Association Budi Santoso said.

He declined to reveal the names of the universities as they were still in the merging process. Budi said a decline in student numbers was the main cause of mergers among private universities.

Out of 120 private universities in Yogyakarta, 35 are in a critical financial situation due to a lack of enrollments.

"The 35 universities will likely merge with other universities, and that is the best thing to do. But it depends on each university," Budi told The Jakarta Post.

Mergers between private universities, according to Budi, are a positive step, in that they generally improve human resources. "This is no longer a good time for universities to offer so many programs to students," said Budi.

The limited number of student enrollments, he said, would also have an impact on dozens of study programs faced with closure. "Students are not interested in certain study programs, such as fisheries, livestock breeding and agriculture."

He said to be able to survive, each study program needed at least 120 student enrollments. This was based on a 1:20 ratio of lecturers to students.

Several private universities have been feeling the pinch since 2002. The decline in enrollments at private universities has been attributed to the wide array of diploma programs currently being offered by Gadjah Mada University and the Teacher Training and Education Institute's (IKIP) status being upgraded from academy to university.

Previously, students who were not accepted into state universities generally chose to study at private universities. However, the current trend is for such students to enroll in diploma programs.

Reports of drug abuse and promiscuity among students in Yogyakarta has also discouraged parents from sending their children to study in the city.

The chairman of Gunungkidul University's Community Services Institute, Darli, said his office was in the process of closing down its maritime and fisheries school.

"It's ironic because Gunungkidul has an abundance of marine resources," he said. "But what can we say? No one wants to study at the marine and fisheries school at the moment."

He said the university would replace the program with a more popular course. "If we cannot decide upon an appropriate program, we'll have to close the school down," said Darli.

He said the six study programs on offer at the university could accommodate 180 students, but in the most recent intake only 98 students enrolled.