Gus Dur, candidate for ITB rectorship

BANDUNG: Winds of change are blowing in the election of the rector of the Institute of Technology of Bandung (ITB), as many public candidates, including former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, have been submitted by the institute's employees, lecturers and students.

Ali Basyah Siregar, chairman of the (rector) election committee said on Thursday that former president B.J. Habibie, current speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) and respected Muslim scholar Murcholish Madjid, Fadel Muhammad, president of Bukaka Group, were among the "big guns" submitted to the committee since Monday.

ITB becomes the first institution of higher education in the country to offer the post of rector to the public, in line with the autonomy handed over by the government to the institute last December.

Only Habibie and Fadel, out of the five names, have backgrounds in technology. Fadel is an ITB graduate.

According to Siregar, there have been 18 names submitted to the committee. "The number will surely increase before the closing date on Friday, Aug. 10."

The committee will hand over the 18 names to the special council, the highest decision-making body in ITB, for further consideration. "The council will pick 15 out of the total number of applicants before screening the candidates to only five and then three."

"Officially the new rector will be announced on Monday, August 13." (25/sur)