Universities urged to make reforms<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior official called on universities
\nyesterday to immediately reform their practices to meet client
\ndemand and to increase the quality of graduates.<\/p>\n
Higher Education Director General Bambang Soehendro said that
\nuniversities should evaluate their programs, practices and the
\nquality of their graduates to ensure they meet the demands of the
\nnations communities, work force and government.<\/p>\n
\"So far, only one percent of the country's universities
\nconduct evaluations in order assess performance in relation to
\ndemand,\" Bambang told some 150 participants, mostly education
\nexperts at a two day seminar on The Management of Higher
\nEducation: Anticipation of the Year 2020.<\/p>\n
The seminar was organized by Trisakti University, Indiana
\nUniversity, and Malay University, and attended by Trisakti rector
\nR. Moedanton Moertedjo.<\/p>\n
Client interests should be the primary focus in both education
\nplanning and program delivery at universities, and it is
\nessential that universities produce quality graduates for the
\nbusiness sector, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Universities should reform their management to meet future
\ndemand,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Currently demand for some programs cannot be met due to
\nlimited places, forcing students to take whatever programs are
\navailable, mostly in the social sciences.<\/p>\n
As a result, there are a lot of social sciences graduates in
\ncomparison to the number of natural sciences graduates, who make
\nup only 25 percent of total graduates, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Now, there is a gap between universities output of graduates
\nand the community demand for places,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
\"Private university management bodies should take the
\nopportunity to provide the sought-after programs,\" he said<\/p>\n
He said staff needed to be considered in the reform of
\nuniversities and lamented the current lack of 'academic
\nenvironment' at universities because lecturers usually teach in
\nmore than one university.<\/p>\n
\"How can lecturers commit to the university if they are busy
\ntrying to manage their own schedules?\" Bambang asked.<\/p>\n
Current education ministry data recorded there are 47,000
\nstate-owned universities lecturers and 9,000 private universities
\nlecturers.<\/p>\n
The government sets regulations for the supervision of
\nuniversities and has developed a national accreditation system,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"This year, the accreditation board is planning to evaluate
\nabout 1,500 universities, private and state-owned universities,
\nand specialized training academies,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
The number of private universities has increased from 1,076 in
\n1993 to 1,228 this year, while the number of state-owned
\nuniversities has remained at 76. Indonesian universities are
\npredicted to have graduated 5.5 million students by the year
\n2020. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/universities-urged-to-make-reforms-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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