Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
Respect at Swiss German University<\/p>\n
Respect is an important factor in the Swiss German University,
\none of the best institutes of learning in the country.<\/p>\n
"All of the lecturers and the students should respect each
\nother. This is one of the requirements that we seek, to enable
\nthem to teach the students well and give them enough attention,"
\nuniversity rector Peter Pscheid said.<\/p>\n
It was Prof. Pscheid's respect for Indonesia that gave birth
\nto the university, which was built here during the peak of the
\neconomic crisis in the late 1990s.<\/p>\n
SGU, a government and privately sponsored university for the
\nASEAN region, is located not in Singapore or Malaysia, but in the
\nGerman Centre in Bumi Serpong Damai, West Java, about half an
\nhour's drive from Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The foundation (Yayasan Swiss German University-Asia), which
\nwas established in the year 2000, is a joint effort between
\nGermany, Austria, Switzerland and Indonesia. The university,
\nwhich began operating in 2000, was set up with a long-term
\ncommitment in Indonesia to develop skilled professionals to
\nfulfil the need for qualified graduates to strengthen links
\nbetween Asia and Europe.<\/p>\n
Last weekend (Sept.27) SGU inaugurated 25 students who had
\nsuccessfully completed their Master's Degree program after
\nstudying for two years.<\/p>\n
SGU offers programs in mechatronics, information technology,
\nbusiness administration and hotel and tourism management. In
\naddition, it also has the Studienkolleg program, or preparation
\nfor German University Entrance Tests. The programs and degrees
\nare internationally recognized and students are awarded double
\ndegrees.<\/p>\n
Modern facilities, such as high-tech laboratories and access
\nto videoconferencing, are available. By the end of the year, SGU
\nis scheduled to start building its laser-welding facility, which
\nwill be the first of its kind in the country.<\/p>\n
All classes for the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs,
\nexcept Indonesian law, are taught in English. German and Mandarin
\nare offered as extracurricular activities, while business Arabic
\nwill also be taught in the near future.<\/p>\n
About 500 students, including a few international students,
\nare currently studying at SGU, which also offers a PhD program in
\ncooperation with Technical University Ilmenau in Germany.<\/p>\n
The tuition fee is US$2,200 per semester, but those with the
\nbest semester results in each faculty are eligible for a
\nscholarship for one semester, thanks to the Swiss government,
\nGerman industry and SGU.<\/p>\n
What makes SGU different from other universities is its
\ninternship program, as it offers courses that combine both
\ntheoretical and practical training. Third-semester bachelor's
\nstudents have to take an internship here in Jakarta or West Java,
\nand those in the sixth semester do their training in Germany,
\nwhere -- in a way -- they become "ambassadors" for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The internship program has brought benefits, not only for
\nstudents, but also employers. "In one case, a company in Germany
\nwas so impressed with a student that it plans to open an office
\nin Indonesia and has requested the student to manage it after
\nfinishing studies at SGU", said the rector.<\/p>\n
"After eight semesters of studying here, students should have
\na job," Pscheid said. "We motivate them to start their own
\nbusiness, to become small- or medium-sized entrepreneurs."<\/p>\n
The internship program also aims to introduce students to the
\nreal world of work and to learn about social behaviour. This is
\nimportant, particularly as most students are from middle-income
\nfamilies, and might have been pampered.<\/p>\n
The university emphasizes that students should be self-
\ndisciplined and reprimands those who come late or are lazy.
\nConsequently, students learn not only academic skills, but also
\nethics and, more importantly, to develop their intellect and
\nspeak their mind. And of course, they also learn about critical
\nthinking, essential for any decision maker.<\/p>\n
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\nInfo : The Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
File: The Jakarta Post\/ by: IK\/30-09-03<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-post-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }