UI to use English as medium of instruction<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia (UI) is planning to use English as a
\nmedium of instruction beginning the 2005\/06 academic year as part
\nof an effort to boost its competitiveness in the globalized
\nworld, UI Rector Usman Chatib Warsa said.<\/p>\n
\"We feel we are not that competent in English now. So, to
\nboost our presence in the global context we will make English a
\nmedium of instruction beginning in the 2005\/6 academic year,\"
\nUsman said during a ceremony to mark the university's 55th
\nanniversary in Depok on Sunday.<\/p>\n
According to UI spokeswoman Henny Widyadingsih, the
\npreparations for the use of English as a medium of instruction
\nstarted in 2002 when a number of the university's schools signed
\ncollaboration deals with several universities overseas for
\nteaching staff exchange programs.<\/p>\n
The overseas universities involved include Singapore's Nanyang
\nUniversity and several universities in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
She also said that all UI lecturers would take English
\nproficiency tests, followed by English courses.<\/p>\n
The subjects to be taught in English would be determined by
\neach school, with priority being given to subjects
\nrelated to international affairs, such as the international
\ncommunications course offered by the School of Communications.<\/p>\n
The program would start to be rolled out in early 2006, the
\nsecond semester of the 2005\/6 academic year.<\/p>\n
Usman also said the UI was planning to increase the salaries
\nand allowances offered to lecturers and staff to improve overall
\nquality of service.<\/p>\n
\"We are planning to increase staff salaries and provide more
\nincentives for lecturers. Starting 2006, the university will
\nstrive to pay lecturers and professors salaries ranging from Rp 5
\nmillion to around Rp 10 million,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The current salaries offered to lecturers and professors at UI
\nrange between Rp 2 million and Rp 3 million.<\/p>\n
It is hoped that the planned salary and allowances increase
\nwill improve the attitudes and morale of staff and lecturers so
\nthat they will jettison the old, passive civil service style and
\nbecome dynamic and active educational service providers, Usman said.<\/p>\n
To ensure the success of the plan, the university had prepared
\na funding mechanism as part of its budget.<\/p>\n
\"One-third of the university's budget comes from student
\ntuition fees, one third from research and the remaining one-third
\nfrom the government subsidy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"However, the government, which is supposed to provide one-
\nthird of our budget, is only actually paying around one fifth of
\nwhat we need. To cover the shortfall, we look for extra money by
\nconducting research and building cooperation with the private
\nsector.\"<\/p>\n
According to Usman, high tax on donations hinders the private
\nsectors from donating money to the university and other state-
\nbacked educational institutes.<\/p>\n
\"The high rate of tax makes them reluctant to donate to the
\nuniversity. Universities abroad rarely face this kind of
\nproblem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Usman said UI and other state universities were holding
\ndiscussions with the Ministry of Finance with a view to finding a
\nsolution to the problem.<\/p>\n
\"We are also proposing the setting up of a research grant
\nscheme as part of the effort to improve the competitiveness of
\nour researchers,\" said Usman. (001)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ui-to-use-english-as-medium-of-instruction-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}