Counseling vital before studying in U.S: Expert<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Young Indonesians who intend to pursue their
\neducation in the United States are strongly advised to seek
\nproper counseling on the fields of study they intend to pursue.<\/p>\n
An education expert yesterday said many Indonesian graduates
\nreturned from the U.S. finding that the skills and expertise they
\ngained are inappropriate in this country.<\/p>\n
This is largely because they left for America virtually
\nunadvised, Kay Ikranagara, the Executive Director of the
\nInternational Education Foundation, said.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians often decide to major in inappropriate fields
\nof discipline because they seldom think about future employment
\nupon their return to Indonesia, Ikranagara said.<\/p>\n
"Many Indonesians study for the sake of studying abroad... or
\nthey may choose a certain college because there are many
\nIndonesians in the neighborhood, or because the region has a warm
\nclimate," she said, citing several examples of the "wrong
\nreasons" to study in the United States.<\/p>\n
Earlier at a press conference at the Balai Pustaka building,
\nIkranagara discussed the upcoming "Sixth Annual U.S. University
\nFair" which is scheduled to be held on Oct. 17 at the Manggala
\nWanabakti building.<\/p>\n
Representatives from 76 accredited U.S. universities will be
\non hand to introduce themselves to prospective students.<\/p>\n
During the fair, university representatives will provide
\ninformation on their programs and explain about the U.S.
\neducational system and procedures for applying to U.S.
\nuniversities.<\/p>\n
A ceremony was also held yesterday to inaugurate the new
\noffice of the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) on
\nthe sixth floor of the Balai Pustaka building on Jl. Gunung
\nSahari.<\/p>\n
Fulbright<\/p>\n
AMINEF Executive Director A. Dahana explained that the
\nfoundation's main activities in Indonesia are the Fulbright
\nScholarship Exchange Program in humanitarian and social sciences
\nand the Educational Advising Service.<\/p>\n
Ikranagara believes Indonesia needs more graduates in applied,
\nservice-oriented sciences to fill managerial positions in
\ncompanies, which, in many cases, are still occupied by
\nforeigners. "I think there are already too many post-graduate
\nengineering students," he added.<\/p>\n
More than 10,000 Indonesian students are presently studying in
\nthe U.S. Most are graduate students studying business,
\nmanagement, engineering and computer sciences, but there are also
\na large number of undergraduate students.<\/p>\n
Besides inappropriate choices of fields of discipline,
\nIkranagara acknowledged that many Indonesians also face language
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
Combining the two, she said, often results in an extended
\nperiod of study which is actually longer than necessary.<\/p>\n
"After doing four years of a certain discipline and finding
\nout that it is inapplicable in Indonesia, many students then go
\nthrough another extra two years studying the 'right' field."<\/p>\n
She said the university fair, which is expected to be visited
\nby some 2,000 people, should help prevent such problems because
\nit would facilitate conversation between prospective students or
\ntheir parents and representatives of the universities. (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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