Incorrect usage of 'professor'

Incorrect usage of 'professor'

From Media Indonesia

An article on incorrect usage of the title of professor in Media Indonesia Aug. 1, quoting the director general of higher education Dr. Ir. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, warrants the following explanation:

1. A professorship is the highest academic functional job as professor of a certain discipline of science.

2. The title of professor should not be confused with the highest academic title of doctor (strata 3). Professor is not a title, so it is inconceivable that someone in the government bureaucracy or in a political party still uses the title of professor.

It does not make sense that without a function at a university someone would still want to be addressed as professor. A person who no longer teaches at university must be considered nonactive. However, as a scholar, that person is still entitled to use the doctorate title.

3. To be clear on the matter of the title of professor being correct, a reference must be made to the university and the professor's specific field of expertise.

4. In the U.S., the above matter is clear and orderly. Outside university circles, the title of professor is usually not used. In Germany, the title of professor is often used to replace given names.

But at a discussion or forum, reference is only made of one's doctorate title to show one's capacity as an expert or scholar of a certain discipline of science.

5. The matter of awarding professorships apparently needs clearing up. A doctor honoris causa is usually given to respect and to acknowledge a person's expertise because of that person's scientific work and practice. A professorship is not awarded to someone who has no chair as a professor.

6. The efforts to bring order to the title of professor are praiseworthy in order to avoid misquotations. It is correct to say that the third Indonesian president is Dr. Ing. B.J. Habibie, without professor, because he is no longer active as a professor.

BAGOES P. WIRYOMARTONO

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