Harimurti takes over as new Atma Jaya rector

JAKARTA (JP): Harimurti Kridalaksana, a professor in Indonesian linguistics and literature at the University of Indonesia, was inaugurated on Tuesday as the new rector of Atma Jaya University until 2003, replacing Thomas Suyatno.

The inauguration ceremony at the Jl. Sudirman campus in South Jakarta was led by Djokopranoto, chairman of the Atma Jaya Foundation that runs the university.

Harimurti, a fellow of several domestic and international professional associations, was selected from three candidates for the position by a panel of foundation executives recently.

In his speech, the new Atma Jaya rector planned to develop more postgraduate programs at the university during his four-year tenure.

"I have several programs to develop the university during my term as rector. Setting Atma Jaya as a postgraduate university is one of them," he said.

The need to open more postgraduate programs, he said, was due to the fact that many students had bought postgraduates degrees from untrustworthy institutions.

"There is a tendency that the prices are getting lower to obtain a master's or a PhD degree," he said.

"Such degrees should have been obtained after years of hard work and thorough studies, not just by paying like that," Harimurti said.

He also planned to establish a faculty of biotechnology at the university which he said would be the first of its kind in Indonesia.

His predecessor, Thomas Suyatno, a prominent banking analyst, wanted Harimurti to continue his programs, including the tradition of the university helping protect protesters in its compound and maintaining cooperation with other universities.

"Our campus had always been the target of military operations, particularly during student demonstrations. I hope the tradition to protect people chased by the military can be carried on by the new rector," he stated. (05)