Yogyakarta's private colleges offer quality education<\/p>\n
By R. Fadjri<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): About 50,000 high school graduates from
\nthroughout the country apply for a place at a university in
\nYogyakarta every academic year. Their first choice is usually the
\nprestigious state-run Gadjah Mada University (UGM).<\/p>\n
Not all of them decide to pit themselves against others in the
\nscramble for a coveted place at UGM, where only 13,000 of 30,000
\ncandidates who take the entrance examination are accepted. Many
\nprospective students opt instead for one of the excellent private
\nuniversities in the city.<\/p>\n
Three favored private universities in the area are Atma Jaya
\nUniversity of Yogyakarta (UAJY), Islamic University of Indonesia
\n(UII), and Sanatha Dharma University (USD). Some of the schools
\nat the universities are stronger than others in drawing students.<\/p>\n
The School of Economics at UAJY, offering programs in
\naccounting and management, is strongly favored. Enrollment
\nincreases markedly each year. Both disciplines are recognized by
\nthe government and the school has a complete infrastructure,
\nincluding a library, laboratory, audiovisual facilities,
\ncomputer center, a campus publication, language center, and even
\na research center. Its library is replete with CD-ROMS containing
\ntechnical information on business and management.<\/p>\n
Atma Jaya Yogyakarta is managed by Yayasan Slamet Riyadi
\n(Slamet Riyadi Foundation) which was established in 1965. This
\nschool was initially a branch of the Catholic Atma Jaya
\nUniversity in Jakarta, but became independent on Dec. 31, 1973.<\/p>\n
The UAJY campus is one of the most comprehensive campuses in
\nYogyakarta. Today, there are three separate campuses for six
\nschools in economics, biology, law, social sciences, political
\nscience, engineering and industrial technology.<\/p>\n
UAJY's faculty includes 225 bachelor degree (S1) holders, 200
\nmaster's degree holders, 50 staff with doctorates and 150 full
\nprofessors. UAJY is known for its aggressive efforts to recruit
\nprofessors retired from UGM.<\/p>\n
Sanata Dharma<\/p>\n
Many incoming university students also consider Sanata Dharma
\nUniversity (USD), particularly for its English language program.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sastrapratedja SJ, the university's rector, said the
\nprogram aims to teach active comprehension of English to
\nstudents. Graduates are recruited by foreign companies, the mass
\nmedia, publications, translating services, tourism, hotel
\nbusiness and language centers, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are not able to meet all the requests of various
\ninstitutions,\" he added.<\/p>\n
To accommodate the overflow of high school graduates who want
\nto study English in the university, USD runs an English Extension
\nCourse. Although the program looks like other English language
\ncourses, it is a rigorous course with a strict selection process
\nfor new students.<\/p>\n
USD receives about 8,500 applicants for its bachelor's program
\nannually but accepts only 1,500 students. Its extension program
\naccepts just 207 students.<\/p>\n
USD was formerly a Teacher's Training Institute (IKIP)
\nestablished in 1955. In 1993, it became a university. It has
\neight schools, including one of theology, and was originally set
\nup for Catholic priests.<\/p>\n
Islamic University<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Islamic University is another renowned private
\nuniversity. It was established on July 8, 1945 by well-known
\npoliticians, including former vice president Muhammad Hatta and
\nMuhammad Natsir, Kahar Mauzakar, Wahid Hasyim and Soekiman
\nWirjosanjoyo of the Masyumi party. It is the oldest private
\nuniversity in Indonesia and is known for its schools of economics
\nand law.<\/p>\n
The School of Economics boasts several laboratories and other
\nfaciltiies, including accounting and statistics labs, a computer
\ncenter, a library, Internet facilities accessible to the public,
\nand an on-line booth of the Jakarta Stock Exchange.<\/p>\n
In the 1995\/1996 academic year, UII's School of Economics
\nstarted an international program. In this class, all
\ncommunication is in English. \"We hope UII graduates will be able
\nto communicate at a global level,\" said Muhammad Mahfud,
\nassistant rector at the university.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, the ratio of applicants for admission and
\nthose accepted to the economics school is 9:1. Up to now it has
\nhad the greatest number of students compared to the other seven
\nschools in technology, industrial technology, Syariah (Islamic
\nlaw), Tarbiyah (Islamic education), mathematics and natural
\nsciences, and psychology.<\/p>\n
UII's School of Law is recognized for graduating qualified
\nlawyers and most lawyers in Yogyakarta are graduates of the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
Like Atma Jaya University, UII has higher tuition fees than
\nmany universities. A UII student pays tuition of Rp 1.3 million a
\nyear. Additional fees vary in amount among the students.<\/p>\n
Most of the students are from the upper-middle class. Few of
\nthem apply for the 250 different scholarships provided by the
\nuniversity.<\/p>\n
As a center of the arts, Yogyakarta also has the Indonesian
\nArts Institute (ISI). The institute was founded from the merging
\nof the Indonesian Music Academy, the Indonesian Dance Academy and
\nthe Indonesian Arts Academy.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Arts Institute has trained many artists in the
\nfields of dance, music and arts. Among them are Abas Alibasyah,
\nWidayat and Fadjar Sidik, and younger ones like Eddie Hara, Heri
\nDono, Dadang Christanto, Nindityo Adipurnomo and Anusapati, who
\nhave gained international reputations.<\/p>\n
Candidates for ISI's School of Arts and Design were
\ntraditionally from vocational art high schools, but there is now
\nan increasing enrollment from graduates of general high schools.
\nMost graduates of ISI pursue careers in artistic fields.<\/p>",
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