Ginandjar receives honorary degree

Ginandjar receives honorary degree

Jakarta (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning
Ginandjar Kartasasmita has been awarded an honorary degree by a
leading American university in acknowledgement of his eminent
public service.

Northeastern University, in Boston, one of America's oldest
educational institutes, conferred him with the title Doctor of
Public Service on June 18 at the school's annual commencement
ceremony, the Antara news agency reported yesterday.

Ginandjar, 53, was recognized with the honoris causa
designation for his initiatives in cooperative education, the
Antara news agency reported quoting Sri Edi Swasono, the chairman
of the Indonesian Council of Cooperatives who attended the
ceremony.

According to Sri Edi, the university lauded Ginandjar's strong
commitment to sustained economic growth, stability and equality.

Sri Edi said, of the 3,500 graduates and undergraduates sent
off during the university commencement at the Boston's Celtic
stadium, 10 were Indonesians, two of them obtaining their
master's degree magna cum laude and one cum laude.

In May this year, Ginandjar, a three-star air marshal, was
also presented with a Doctor Honoris Causa degree by Takushoka
University in Tokyo.

Ginandjar had strongly backed Northeastern University's
initiatives to create cooperative education programs with
Indonesian state and private companies engaged in the oil,
telecommunications and power sectors, the Indonesian consulate
general in New York said in a press release for the occasion.

"He has also agreed to establish a Secretariat of Cooperative
Education in Indonesia and to fund a Northeastern Home Country
Co-op Placement Project," according to the release.

In April, the government and PT Freeport Indonesia pledged to
continue an undergraduate cooperative education program led by
the university, which is a leader in cooperative education, with
Ginandjar's support.

Ginandjar joined the government cabinet as a junior minister
in 1983.

Born in Bandung, West Java, in 1941, he earned a degree in
public administration and chemical engineering at the Tokyo
University of Agriculture and Technology in 1965.

He and his wife, Yutin Harlotina, now live in Jakarta and have
four children. (17)