Students advised to prepare for globalization<\/p>\n
By Achmad Nurhoeri<\/p>\n
DEPOK, West Java (JP): Indonesian university students must be
\nable to grasp and interpret rapid world change in order to
\nsafeguard the nation from the pitfalls of globalization, several
\nacademics said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
"If students cannot interpret cultural changes, they will
\nleave this nation bewildered by globalization," Dorodjatun
\nKuntjoro-Jakti, the dean of the School of Economics of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia, said at a seminar on Saturday.<\/p>\n
"Remember, the only thing that is permanent is change itself.
\nIf you do not know how the latest technology works, you are below
\nAmerican high school students who are familiar with it,"
\nDorodjatun said.<\/p>\n
The seminar on the relations between globalization and campus
\nlife was held to mark the School of Economics' 45th anniversary.
\nPolitical scientist Juwono Sudarsono also addressed the forum.<\/p>\n
Globalization is bringing down barriers created by time and
\ndistance, Dorodjatun said."We are now entering the global village
\nwhere technology will be a new kind of imperialism."<\/p>\n
He expressed concern with the poor image of contemporary
\nIndonesian intellectuals.<\/p>\n
"Today's intellectuals are in stagnation. They only quote
\nforeign opinions without giving out their own solutions," he
\nsaid. "The main problem we are facing today is how to bridge our
\nculture with global culture without losing our dignity."<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun reminded the students that they have "accidentally"
\nbecome part of the nation's elite. "Only five percent of
\nIndonesia's population has the privilege to go to university," he
\nsaid, adding the nation has high expectations in return.<\/p>\n
Juwono, the former dean of the university's School of Social
\nand Political Studies and now vice chairman of the National
\nResilience Institute, underlined the responsibility that
\nuniversity students shoulder.<\/p>\n
"You are members of the society's creme de la creme. The
\nnation's future is in the hands of this group," he said.<\/p>\n
Juwono made a frightening comparison between today's
\nintellectual community in Indonesia and the intellectuals in the
\nSoviet Union just before its demise.<\/p>\n
"Soviet Union collapsed at the time their leaders and
\nintellectuals became more and more disloyal to the people. They
\nlived like capitalists while the people rotted," he said. "What
\nhappened in the USSR in 1991 could happen here in Indonesia ..
\nThere is a tendency especially when you observe that the reality
\nis going further away from the Pancasila ideology."<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun said the future intellectuals of Indonesia must
\nreject the distortions found in politics and the economy.<\/p>\n
"If we remain indifferent to these (distortions), our values
\nwill be eroded," he said. "If that happens, we will not know what
\nis wrong and what is right."<\/p>\n
Simply put, Dorodjatun said, "If you let corruption continue,
\nyou will end up in a corrupt society."<\/p>\n
Juwono said students must strive to improve their so far poor
\nability to express and communicate their ideas.<\/p>\n
"We are way behind in making presentations. Our education
\nsystem does not teach students how to present their views
\nproperly," he said.<\/p>\n
He recalled that an Indonesian student sent on an assignment
\nto the United States once "wet himself" because he was asked to
\nmake a presentation before an audience.<\/p>\n
Saturday's seminar was one of the various activities held to
\nmark the anniversary of the highly prestigious School of
\nEconomics, which has supplied many of the past and present
\ncabinet ministers. Of the current top officials who are alumni of
\nthe school are Minister of Finance Marie Muhammad and Minister of
\nTrade B.S Joedono.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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