Wardiman wants more useful research projects<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro said most research projects conducted by universities
\nin Indonesia have been largely inapplicable and are irrelevant to
\nthe country's development problems.<\/p>\n
Universities should concentrate more on applied sciences
\nbecause Indonesia needs fast and pragmatic solutions to its
\nvarious problems, Wardiman said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
"If research institutions in Indonesia choose the applied
\nscientific approach over basic sciences, this should not be
\nconstrued as a setback," he said after inaugurating the Graduate
\nStudies Research Council (MPPT) at his office.<\/p>\n
Wardiman said Indonesia cannot afford to carry out research in
\nbasic sciences because funding for these types of research were
\ntoo large, whereas applied science "can be used according to our
\nneeds."<\/p>\n
"Don't look down upon applied science, because much research
\nin this field requires a high level of knowledge, sophisticated
\nequipment and high-quality people," he said, citing agricultural
\nbiotechnology as an example of an applied science.<\/p>\n
The new council recommends the Ministry of Education on
\nresearch policies best carried out at the graduate and post-
\ngraduate levels, based on the "link and match" approach.<\/p>\n
Wardiman deplored the continuing low level of research
\nactivity at most universities in Indonesia which he blamed on the
\nlack of "research culture" as well as funding and equipment.<\/p>\n
As of last year, Indonesian post-graduate students only
\ncomprised 0.5 percent of the total number of graduate students.<\/p>\n
This is very low compared to Thailand (2.4 percent), Brazil
\n(2.7), China (3.2), Mexico (3.3) and Korea (5.7). Currently
\n10,000 students in Indonesia are completing their master's
\ndegrees and 1,000 others their doctoral work.<\/p>\n
The number of Indonesian scientists who contribute to
\ninternational publications is also low in both quality and
\nquantity, amounting to only a third of the number from Thailand
\nand Kenya, one fourth of Nigerians, a 10th of Koreans and one
\n50th of the total in China.<\/p>\n
MPPT, chaired by Dr. Bambang Soehendro, comprises seven
\npermanent commissions for science, engineering, agriculture,
\nhealth, social sciences, humanitarian sciences and education.<\/p>\n
Vice-chairperson Dr. Jajah Koswara said the council has
\nobtained a $60 million loan from the World Bank's University
\nResearch for Graduate Education (URGE) project.<\/p>\n
A total of $97 million will be disseminated in the next five
\nyears, Jajah said. "MPPT will likely seek its own funds in the
\nfuture... we will work and provide input to both the government
\nand the private sector, who are both involved with us through the
\nlink and match system." (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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