Indonesians hit the books again at Open University

Indonesians hit the books again at Open University

By Dewi Anggraeni

MELBOURNE, Australia (JP): "It's never too late to learn"
smacks of a cliche, but it is reality for Johannis Mailuhu at the
age of 61. For him, hitting the books again is not as
straightforward an exercise as enrolling at a local college and
attending lectures and tutorials.

When Indonesia's Open University began its program in
Melbourne, Victoria, in 1998, Johannis met one of the lecturers
who had come for a visit. The woman, Johanna, was a long-time
friend and knew that Johannis studied in the Open University
while still in Jakarta in the mid-1990s. She encouraged him to
resume his studies.

Johannis was tempted, but he had misgivings.

"I hadn't done any formal studies for 11 years then, so I
wasn't sure how well I could do it. Apart from that, to be able
to pick up from where I'd left off, I'd need the documents
proving that I had completed a number of units in Jakarta, where
I had studied for nearly three years. But it was so long ago, I
didn't have them with me."

Johanna promised that she would find his records so he would
be able to resume his studies.

"She kept her promise. So the following year, 1999, I
enrolled, and I haven't looked back since," said Johannis.

While more people are becoming concerned about their careers,
studying does not necessarily have to be career-oriented. It can
also help personal growth. Johannis' studies in state
administration are not directly linked to his current job in a
shoe factory.

He finds a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that he has
not been disadvantaged by more than 10 years of absence from
formal learning. He also enjoys the formal and informal
discussion groups at the school; in fact, younger students look
to him for encouragement.

Johannis was on hand to tell about the benefits of the program
when the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne hosted an open
day on Jan. 13. The program is a service particularly for
Indonesians who, although now permanent residents of Australia,
still want to take part in an Indonesian state university study
program.

The open day was intended to get the word out about the
program in Melbourne and surrounding communities.

"We realized that we needed to promote the program better.
Many people had expressed surprise when told about it. Somehow it
hasn't reached the whole community yet," explained a consulate
official.

The inspiration for the Melbourne Open University came from
the success of the same program in Sydney and Canberra which had
begun several years earlier. Hosted by the consulate general, it
was officially opened in January 1998 by the then consul general,
E G Rumayar, witnessed by the attache for education and culture
from the embassy in Canberra, Dr. Aria Djalil.

The program was managed with enthusiasm by Wahid Supriyadi,
Melbourne's vice consul for information, social affairs and
culture. Sources confirm that Wahid's successor, Wahyu
Hersetiati, has taken over the role seriously and with gusto.
Like her predecessor, Wahyu is also assisted by a working group,
with chairman Iwa Lukmana, a doctoral candidate at Monash
University, and secretary Junaidi Mistar, also a Ph. D. candidate
at the same university.

Exams

Examinations are conducted periodically each semester,
overseen personally by the vice consul.

"The exam papers come from the Open University in Jakarta.
They are sent to the attache for education and culture at the
embassy in Canberra, who then sends them to the vice consul in
Melbourne," Iwa explained.

Among the students are members of the diplomatic corps, such
as Abdul Razak Abdullah. Like Johannis, Razak is also studying
state administration.

"When I was posted in Brazil, I completed a bachelor's degree
in business administration," Razak told The Jakarta Post.

"However in Melbourne, my workload is such that I can never
resume my studies without the facility of a distance learning
program."

Asked if he was studying for the purpose of furthering or
enhancing his career, he answered: "I have always enjoyed
learning. And I am more or less preparing for a future beyond the
diplomatic world."

He has a wider net to cast. Razak hopes to take part in
politics, although he still has not decided which party he wants
to join.

As can be expected, holding an important job, having a young
family and studying are not child's play. "The advantages of
distance learning is that you can do it in your own time.
However, you need self-discipline. I tend to study at night, when
the family has gone to bed, or early in the morning, before
everybody gets up. Holidays are also taken up by studying."

The Open University offers various programs in its School of
Mathematics and Physical Sciences, School of Economics, School of
Social and Political Sciences and School of Education. As it has
the status of a state university, its graduates can resume their
studies in any university in Indonesia whenever circumstances
allow.

With a tuition fee of A$350 (US$200) per semester, which
includes books and lecture notes, the Open University makes
studying for an Indonesian degree accessible and affordable for
those in Australia.

Asked if they ever encountered logistical problems, Razak
recalled: "During the first months there was a delay in sending
the books. Finally they arrived two weeks before the exams. And
boy, they were thick books, too! To make things worse, we were
required to take at least seven subjects at a time. Believe me,
those were tough times!'

Now most of them take six subjects at a time, although one of
them admitted to only doing two.

No doubt the management of the program would have to work
harder without the dedication of the working group who give their
time voluntarily. "They are the people we turn to when we have
questions about our studies. We often consult with them," Razak
said.

"Ah, we are merely the rah-rah group," said Iwa, in a
typically Indonesian self-deprecatory way.