Sofian Effendi elected new Gadjah Mada rector<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Sofian Effendi, a former head of the State Personnel
\nAdministration Body (BAKN) during B.J. Habibie's presidency, won
\nthe election for Gadjah Mada University (UGM) rector on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sofian garnered 21 votes from the total of 32 votes cast by 22
\nmembers of the university's board of trustees, defeating the
\nother two candidates -- outgoing rector Ichlasul Amal, who got
\nnine votes, and head of the university senate Boma Wikan Tyasa,
\nwho came away with two votes.<\/p>\n
Usually, there are 25 people on the board of trustees: the
\noutgoing rector, lecturers, the minister of national education,
\ncommunity leaders, and university students.<\/p>\n
In this instance, however, two student representatives refused
\nto take part, while the outgoing rector was not allowed to vote,
\naccording to regulations.<\/p>\n
The minister of national education, as a government
\nrepresentative, controlled 35 percent of the total number of
\nvotes, or 11 votes in the election.<\/p>\n
"I will do my best to improve the university's financial
\nresources," pledged Sofian, who is also director of UGM's post-
\ngraduate program in public administration.<\/p>\n
The Sultan of Yogyakarta Palace, Hamengku Buwono X, who is
\nalso Yogyakarta Governor, also participated in the election as
\nmember of the board who represents community leaders.<\/p>\n
Under government decree No. 153, 2001, UGM, along with the
\nUniversity of Indonesia in Jakarta; the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB); the Bogor Agriculture University (IPB), and the
\nSurabaya-based Airlangga University, have been named by the
\ngovernment as autonomous public universities.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the universities must raise their own finances
\nto their academic operations, as the government only subsidizes a
\nportion of their budgets.<\/p>\n
Private parties, including industry, Sofian said, would be
\nsources of income, as the yearly budget from the government would
\nnot meet UGM's entire needs.<\/p>\n
He is only the nation's second rector to be elected by his own
\nuniversity, other than Kusmayanto Kardiman, who was named as the
\nnew rector for ITB on Oct. 29 last year.<\/p>\n
Previously, heads of state-run universities were appointed by
\nthe minister of education with the endorsement of the president.<\/p>\n
The outgoing rector, Ichlasul Amal, whose four-year-term
\nexpires later this month, suggested that Sofian continue the
\nefforts he had begun to raise money, which included establishing
\na business company, PT Gama Multi Usaha.<\/p>\n
He also expressed his approval of Sofian's election, saying
\nthat his former rival was his sparring-partner. "It is good that
\nhe succeeds me as UGM rector."<\/p>\n
The election process was almost interrupted by hundreds of
\nstudent protesters who forced their way into the university's
\ncentral office where the elections took place.<\/p>\n
"We reject autonomy if it a means a more expensive
\neducation!" one student shouted.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sofian-effendi-elected-new-gadjah-mada-rector-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}