Foreign universities

Foreign universities

From Kompas

With respect to the possibility of foreign institutions being
allowed to set up universities in Indonesia, I am in agreement
with Dr. Mochtar Buchori. It is public assumption that in terms
of qualification foreign graduates are better (and perhaps they
are) than local university graduates. Why? There are a lot of
variables affecting this matter. The greatest influence comes
from the education system and local teaching methods. So, why
don't we simply adopt a foreign system, apply the method and use
English as a medium of instruction? Isn't it at all possible to
establish cooperation involving all universities across the
country with a view to standardizing the curriculum and
management without having to allow foreign universities into the
country?

I believe many Indonesian education experts have a good grasp
of the matter. Of course, education systems in the United States,
Europe, Australia and many other countries differ. Therefore, it
would be more appropriate to authorize state and private
universities to improve their own quality and give them enough
freedom in designing a system that they think best to educate
their students (for example, a semester or quarterly system) and
to teach them.

Proper attention must also be paid to the provision of
complete and beneficial auxiliary educational facilities such as
overhead projectors, computers and access to the Internet,
amplifiers and libraries. I am sure the quality of education in
Indonesia can be improved without having to pay foreign
teachers/lecturers and consequently lose some amount of our
foreign exchange. In this way we would also spur our own
lecturers to improve their qualifications and later, as a result,
be entitled to a higher income (the better the qualification, the
higher the salary). Most important of all is that we would not
become market objects in our own country. Who else but ourselves
can we trust in the use of the services of our educational
institutions?

DIDI ARIFIN

Texas, U.S.