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)