Farming college passes 768 new graduates
Farming college passes 768 new graduates
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Economic independence can be reached by
strengthening the economic base of the majority of people, the
rector of the Bogor Agriculture Institute said Saturday.
When such independence is achieved, "there will be no need for
intervention, pressure or dependency" in reaching a higher level
of competitiveness in the free trade era, Soleh Solahuddin said.
Addressing 768 new graduates at the campus in Darmaga, the
rector said education is increasingly geared towards economic and
social independence to enhance people's dignity.
"Social independence", he added, is an attitude that must be
developed in order to be able to interact in all kinds of
encounters with various cultures.
According to statistics, the majority of Indonesia's work
force is still concentrated in agriculture.
However, observers and college's administrators have earlier
expressed concerns that this is not what graduates want.
A 1994 survey from the college's School of Agriculture found
that most students preferred white-collar positions in non-
agricultural jobs.
Low investment in agriculture education and lack of job market
demand were among the factors cited as contributing to the lack
of graduates with high agricultural entrepreneurship, which the
Institute was expected to produce.
Among the nine top graduates announced during Saturday's
ceremony were Shinta Milasari Singgih from the School of
Agriculture, Heryanto Iskandar from the School of Veterinary
Science and Sriyono Pujokesumo from the School of Fishery.
Others were Alla Asmara from the School of Animal Husbandry,
Didiet Widky Hidayat from the School of Forestry, Ira Lestari
Adriantom from the School of Agricultural Technology and Wahidin
from the School of Mathematics and Physics.
Two others were Domu Simbolon from the post-graduate
department and Gunawan Waluyo Martono of the diploma programs.
The ceremony installed 593 post-graduate students, 87
magisters of science, 13 magisters of agribusiness management, 15
doctorate holders and 60 diploma program graduates.
Graduates, parents and amateur photographers shared the joyful
day.
Ahadi, 67, said he paid his son Ahmaji's fees through his cow
farm. Ahmaji was one of the graduates from the Department of
Agronomy.
"I am very proud," Ahadi said of his son, who graduated with
high marks.
A photographer, Dasrul, said he could make up to Rp 300,000 at
such events.
"I sell pictures for Rp 7,500 each," said Dasrul, who has
spent 10 years in his profession.
It was not yet clear whether graduates will find jobs in their
areas of study and strengthen the agricultural sector, as rector
Soleh hoped.
The 1994 survey found that most graduates of the School of
Agriculture were white-collar workers in the agribusiness field,
while 20 percent were spread in the industry, banking,
journalism, finance, trade and services sectors. Similar trends
were found in the other schools. (21/anr)