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)