NUFFIC -- road to academic excellence

NUFFIC -- road to academic excellence

After half a century of independence, Indonesia's urge to
develop is stronger than ever. Education of the new generation is
seen as the basis for the future as indeed it is.

To build this basis as broad as possible -- and in view of the
era of globalization -- education should be internationalized,
certainly at the postgraduate level. This was realized by the
scientific community in Europe. Many universities and
polytechnics of the European continent are now presenting their
postgraduate studies partly in English in order to have a joint
language and to share their knowledge with foreigners.

The Netherlands -- never one to pass up an opportunity -- has
designed a whole international education system within their
regular system. In this international education system, English
is the sole conducting language. Special institutions have been
set up in the Netherlands where foreign students are invited to
follow short intensive courses, to study for their Master's
degree or even to obtain a PhD.

The success of these international education institutes has
been enormous. In the space of a short time, Dutch universities
have added numerous studies in English to their regular programs.
Polytechnic schools have followed suit. Polytechnic schools or
high vocational schools in the Netherlands are academically
almost the same level as universities, but they are focused on
the practical side instead of on the research side of science.
Both universities and high vocational institutions are now
collaborating with counterpart institutions in other countries as
part of their regular activities -- in both teaching and
research.

In all, the Netherlands now offers almost 300 study programs
in English, most of them at the postgraduate level. The fields of
study include science and technology, agriculture, economics,
business and management, law, health care, aerospace-survey and
earth science, European studies, tourism and many more.

An interesting point is that these courses are designed to
connect with the educational system of other countries, including
Indonesia. A student who wants to follow the regular courses in
English-speaking countries often has to lengthen his or her study
period in order to catch up with the educational level over
there. Not so in the Netherlands. The international education in
the Netherlands is designed to make that connection right away. A
student with an S1 degree here may enroll directly into a
Master's program in the Netherlands and will return to Indonesia
after approximately 18 months of study with a Master in his field
of study.

Those who enroll, will be guaranteed with a Master's degree of
a very solid quality. The educational level in the Netherlands is
well known for its academic excellence.

There are several Dutch universities which are famous
worldwide. Take for example the university of Delft with its
specialty in technology, or the university of Leiden with its law
programs and the university of Wageningen with Agriculture and
Forestry.

These three universities have already strong relationships
with Indonesian universities. Moreover there is a distinct
interest from other Dutch educational institutions as well which
would like to set up international linkages with Indonesia.

The Netherlands organization for international cooperation in
higher education (NUFFIC) was founded in 1952 by a group of Dutch
universities. NUFFIC aims to stimulate, support and improve the
international exchange of people and ideas.

NUFFIC's branch office in Jakarta is already providing
services such as planning and placing students, student
monitoring, administration and payment, technical assistance and
visiting Dutch scholars to develop research plans, to the
Indonesian government through projects for the Ministry of
Education and Culture and BPPT.

With its more than 40 years of experience, NUFFIC is in a
position to build a bridge between the academic worlds in the
Netherlands and Indonesia.

For further information please contact NUFFIC education
counselors: Rosini Nimpoeno and Ade Ganie at Wisma Lippo 7th
floor #703, Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto kav. 35-36, Jakarta 12950
Tel. (021) 5200702, 5200806, 5200202 ext. 2701/2704 Fax (021)
5200969.