26 generals inducted at graduation ceremony

26 generals inducted at graduation ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of the almost 1,400 students in Open
University's graduation ceremony at its Ciputat campus on Tuesday
stood out; if not by their uniforms, then most definitely by
their crew cuts.

They were members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) who have taken
advantage of the degree programs offered by the state-run
college.

Twenty-six of them were senior ranking officers. They include
Rear Admiral Roesdi Roesli, Rear Admiral Sumartono, Rear Admiral
TNI Soegiono, Rear Marshal Zainal Abidin and Rear Marshal Udin
Kurniadi, all of whom received economic degrees.

The others include Maj. Gen Ismail, Maj. Gen. Sutahan, Rear
Admiral Anwar Affandi, Maj. Gen. (Marine) M.A. Tambunan and Rear
Marshal Dadi Sukardi. They obtained degrees in state
administration.

In addition, there were 60 middle-ranking officers among the
new economic graduates and 35 among state administration
graduates.

Open University Rector Prof. Dr. B. Suprapto Brotosiswoyoat
presided over the ceremony to induct the 1,367 new graduates at
the university's campus.

The university, founded in 1984, conducts its lectures and
tutoring by means of television and correspondence. Its programs
are chiefly geared towards working adults intending to further
their studies without giving up their jobs.

The university, however, has also struck up an agreement with
the Ministry of Defense to provide courses for middle and senior
ranking officers.

Rector Suprapto said the university is now preparing to
organize post-graduate programs.

It is also re-orienting its study programs in order to produce
ready-to-work graduates, meaning that some social studies could
be phased out. (emb)