Indonesians flock to U.S. universities<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesians studying in American
\nuniversities continues to increase.<\/p>\n
Since 1993, the number has increased 7.5 percent, said Kay
\nIkranagara, executive director of The International Education
\nFoundation.<\/p>\n
"There are now nearly 12,000 Indonesians studying at American
\nuniversities compared to 11,000 last year and 10,000 in 1993,"
\nshe told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
According to Ikranagara, the figure is growing mostly because
\nonly 7.7 percent of Indonesia's high school graduates are
\nadmitted to state universities.<\/p>\n
"We try to provide opportunities for the rest of them to get
\nhigher education in the United States," she said, adding that the
\nmajority of Indonesians studying in American schools are not
\nthere on scholarships or grants.<\/p>\n
The International Education Foundation is a private
\norganization based in Jakarta that organizes the sending of
\nIndonesian students to the U.S.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a Worldnet live show at the United States
\nInformation Service yesterday, Ikranagara said that business
\nmanagement and engineering are the subjects preferred by
\nIndonesian students at both the graduate and undergraduate
\nlevels.<\/p>\n
"More than 40 percent of Indonesian undergraduate students and
\nabout 35 percent of the graduate students choose business
\nmanagement," she said.<\/p>\n
Engineering, she added, is pursued by about 20 percent of each
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
The live show featured Michael Lambert, executive director of
\nthe Distance Education and Training Council, who spoke to local
\npanelists from Washington D.C. via satellite.<\/p>\n
Lambert said that one source of accreditation is from the
\nCommission of Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, a
\nprivate organization.<\/p>\n
He said that foreign students should research their choices
\nbefore making a decision.<\/p>\n
"Students should check carefully about the accreditation
\npolicy of the university," he said.<\/p>\n
Lambert said that many universities in U.S. have set up
\nadaptation programs for foreign students to help them overcome
\nculture shock.<\/p>\n
"A two-week program usually takes place in August," he said.<\/p>\n
Freshmen are expected to participate in the briefing and
\ncampus orientation, he added.<\/p>\n
Lambert also said that the average age of university students
\nin the U.S. is increasing.<\/p>\n
"The average age is now 28 years," he said, adding that
\nIndonesians between 30 and 35 should not worry about their age if
\nthey are hoping to pursue an advanced degree. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesians-flock-to-us-universities-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}