Bedugul's executive center promises world class training
Rita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Tabanan, Bali
Bedugul, a holiday resort area some 50 kilometers north of Denpasar in the mountains, is now offering more than just its gorgeous panoramic views and its cool weather. The area is now the center of activities that can hone ones intellectual agility.
Located between Tabanan and Buleleng regencies, Bedugul has been regarded by the local administration as one of Bali's top tourist sites.
The area is surrounded by Mount Catur and three large natural lakes, Bratan, Bunyan and Tamblilingan. Its beautiful landscape with clipped lawns and colorful flower blankets are a never- ending source of inspiration for artists and writers. An ancient Pura Ulun Danu, a Hindu temple dedicated to Dewi (goddess) Danu Bratan, an agricultural deity who is honored by local farmers, is another tourist attraction.
Some people believe that they can refresh their intellectual capabilities when working in a place with such beautiful and peaceful surroundings.
Bedugul is currently home to Bali's "Silicon Valley" with Bali Camp in Pacung and Candi Kuning, where visitors may witness the rapid development of the island's Information Technology (IT) and software industry.
Bedugul also is home to a Botanical garden, a perfect place for scientists from around the world to study its 365 acres of tropical rainforest and thousands of varieties of wild and cultivated tropical plantations, including a vast collection of orchids.
In early February, a new training ground, called the Executive Center for Global Leadership (ECGL), was opened in Bali with its main campus in Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club, a fully- equipped mountain resort with hotels, villas, spa, convention hall and a splendid 18-hole championship golf course.
The ECGL was the vision of a number of ambitious businesspeople and current and former bureaucrats.
To name a few, members of the executive board include Aburizal Bakrie of The Bakrie group (chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce), Pontjo Sutowo, Tanri Abeng, Coordinating Minister for Peoples' Welfare Jusuf Kalla, State Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo and banker Robby Johan.
Committee members include Sabam Siagian (former Indonesian ambassador to Australia), James R. Moffet (CEO Freeport-McMoran), Ian Buchanan (Vice President and Partner, Booz Allen & Hamilton) and many others.
The academic committee also includes several prominent professors from well-known universities from all over the world. Among the members are Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Roger Gill from Strathclyde University in Scotland, William Miller from Stanford University, in California and Ichlasul Amal from University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta.
With those VIPs on board, ECGL looks set to offer quality programs.
As Tanri Abeng claims, it would provide a place in Indonesia that could develop leaders, "We are eager to make a breakthrough in producing leaders of international standard. People usually have to go abroad to pursue this type of education and leadership skills."
In the globalization era, Indonesia desperately needs quality, open-minded leaders.
"...but there are still gaps all over," Tanri said after the official opening ceremony by Minister of Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi in Nusa Dua last month. "Gaps in knowledge, gaps in skill, and due to globalization ... gaps in understanding between cultures, traditions and customs, as well as between the public and private sectors," Tanri added.
Pontjo Sutowo, who is also chairperson of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association, added that ECGL was dedicated to filling in these gaps with programs tailored to international standards of education and professionalism for a very good value.
"You couldn't pay less for a similar quality of education and training," Pontjo promoted.
For a fee of around US$2,500, executives at government and private sectors would be able to attend a variety of programs, conferences, leadership forums, CEO briefings and various public sector dialogs.
ECGL will regularly invite world leaders including Thai Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra as well as several visiting professors to share their views with local participants.
If the project works well, ECGL could be a valuable contribution to the nation which is still mired in a multi- dimensional crisis.
But, before that, all the big names at ECGL must first pass on their knowledge and leadership skills, before they can produce Indonesia's leaders of tomorrow.