GATS dan Liberalization of Education Service (International Trade Law Perspective - Indonesia)

Service has become an object of international trade since it was accommodated by General Agreement Trade-in Service (GATS) in Uruguay Round. However, GATS does not provide a clear definition of what service is. Education is one of the service forms that can be offered among the members of World Trade Organization (WTO).

Education and trade are two very different sectors, with the former characterized by caritative socio-cultural nuance, whereas the latter concerned with economic and business affairs—which are in principal commercial. However, in GATS, the distinction between the two seems to be rather vague.

In Indonesia, the access to the education service trade requires a holistic preparation, including the human resources, legal frameworks, curricula, dispute resolution measures, and competitive advantage.