Discipline essential for ISI<\/p>\n
Two articles side-by-side in The Jakarta Post on Friday, Dec.
\n5 caught my eye. The first announced that Dr. Made Bandem has
\nbeen inaugurated as the new rector of the Institut Seni Indonesia
\n(Indonesian Arts Institute, or ISI) in Yogyakarta. I was pleased
\nto read of that as Dr. Bandem has a worldwide reputation as a
\nmusic scholar. His contribution on Balinese music to the New
\nGrove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, for example, is a model
\nof concise discourse backed up by evidence and immense knowledge.
\nBut Dr. Bandem also wears another hat; he is a member of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, and his experiences there will be
\ninvaluable in the administration of Indonesia's premier arts
\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bandem's skills are sorely needed. The second article
\nreported that of 12 courses offered by ISI seven have lost their
\naccreditation with the National Accreditation Board. I am not at
\nall surprised that over 50 percent of the courses were considered
\nto be below standard. Five years ago I was a visiting professor
\nat the Western Music department of ISI, so I have first hand
\nexperience. Any cataloging of mismanagement, dubious dealings and
\nlack of discipline of the poorly paid staff I encountered there
\nwould be both pointless and boring to your readers. But one
\ntelling anecdote will suffice.<\/p>\n
Five minutes before I was due to give a lesson, my immediate
\nsuperior asked to see me about some minor administrative matter.
\nI was greeted warmly and asked to sit down and have tea. I
\nthanked him, but pointed out I had to give a composition lesson
\nto a student in five minutes. This he ignored, the tea was
\nbrought and we pursued our discussion. Ten minutes later I was
\nedgy; I had previously impressed upon all my students the need
\nfor discipline, especially in timekeeping ("Who will
\nemploy you if you turn up late for rehearsals?") and here I was
\nalready very late for a lesson. Another 10 minutes went by; the
\nconversation was not important and by now had gone off on a
\ntangent. I summoned up the courage to differ with my superior,
\n"I'm very sorry Doctor, but I must go. I am already very late for
\na lesson." He waved his hand airily. "Oh! don't worry." He said
\nin English. "It's only a student."<\/p>\n
And there you have the crux of the problem. I am sure ISI is
\nnot alone in Indonesian Higher Education for not being student
\nbased. Whilst you have top-heavy institutions which seem to exist
\nsolely for the advantage of the staff and not for the benefit of
\nthe students, Indonesia's worldwide reputation for learning will
\nsuffer and students will be discontent.<\/p>\n
I wish Dr. Bandem well in his new position. I hope he gets the
\nsupport he needs to ensure ISI will again be the great
\ninstitution it once was, and no longer suffer the ignominy of
\nhaving seven of its courses supervised by the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture.<\/p>\n
ROBERT WALKER<\/p>\n
Amlapura, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/discipline-essential-for-isi-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }