Pursuing quality education to access a good job

Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Many parents expect their children to have a bright future by having access to a good job after graduating from university.

However, completing a course of study at a university is not necessarily a guarantee of getting a good job.

In today's global economy, more companies are now inclined to seek prospective employees with international-standard proficiency in a foreign language. Thus, having access to quality education has become a prerequisite for job opportunity.

Even though not all universities in Indonesia are bad, graduates of universities that use an international-standard curriculum feel more confident over their job prospects. It is no secret that many graduates of national universities are perceived to be less marketable and have weaker bargaining power in the job market compared with those who have graduated from overseas universities.

This might partly explain why many affluent parents send their children to study abroad, especially in developed countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, the Netherlands, Australia or Zealand. Neighboring countries, Singapore and Malaysia, have emerged as important alternatives.

Studying abroad can give students a chance, not only to pursue quality education, broaden their horizons and learn a foreign language, but also to boost their self-esteem.

The number of students from Indonesia studying at particular countries has increased thanks to an international education system and curriculum. A university degree from these countries is recognized and accepted internationally.

New Zealand, for instance, offers world-class institutions that produce graduates that have high-level practical as well as theoretical competency and a strong international focus.

Most universities in New Zealand, such as the University of Auckland, University of Waikato and University of Canterbury, use a British-based education system that encourages students to produce new, independent thinking, exploration and research.

"The number of international students, including from Indonesia, choosing New Zealand as a destination for secondary and tertiary education has increased every year," said Djuned Harun, acting post manager of New Zealand trade and enterprise at the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta.

Currently, around 1,200 students from Indonesia are studying in different universities in New Zealand.

At least 250 students from Indonesia enroll at universities in New Zealand each year, with Information Technology (IT) and management being popular subjects, said Djuned Harun.

America remains the most preferred destination for Indonesian students studying overseas. The number of Indonesian students in the United States is currently between 10,000 and 11,000. The country has 3,360 accredited universities.

But with regard to the pursuit of quality education, overseas study is no longer the only choice, especially with the appearance of national-plus universities.

The national-plus colleges are considered better than most national universities, thanks to their international education system and curriculum. Graduates of these universities are expected to have high academic qualifications, enabling them successfully to enter the job market.

They offer degree and nondegree programs under tight supervision from well-known foreign universities. The universities also use English as a medium of instruction.

These universities include Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), the Swiss German University, Monash College at Jakarta (MCJ) and the Gandhi Institute of Business and Technology (GIBT). They adopt an international-standard system by collaborating with prestigious overseas universities.

GIBT, for instance, collaborates with Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia, to ensure that its graduates have a high level of theoretical and practical competency.

The institute offers a variety of programs, including bachelor degree programs in business, IT and marketing communication.

Students at GIBT are expected to be better-prepared for their working lives because the college cooperates directly with industry and commerce, to better understand the needs of the workplace. "We follows a system used by the CSU," said GIBT Principal Michael J. Goodwin.

Meanwhile, Universitas Pelita Harapan offers academy, undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

The university emphasizes practical knowledge to give its graduates the ability to innovate and to develop their knowledge and skills before plunging into careers.

Its curriculum is modified by particular aspects of the curriculum from overseas universities, thanks to its collaboration with prestigious universities from several countries, including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK and France.

The Swiss German University offers bachelor's and master's degrees, with students having the opportunity to continue their studies in Germany after two years of study in Indonesia.

SGU's curriculum is based on the German model, which allows students not only to receive theory but also balanced practical experience.

Subjects offered at SGU are mostly applied sciences, including mechatronics, information technology, business administration and hotel and tourism studies.

Graduates of SGU are expected to be skilled professionals to fill the need for qualified graduates in the country, and, therefore, students are required to attend internship programs.

Many wealthy parents also want their children to have access to quality education at an early age by sending them either to international schools or national-plus schools.

In addition to exposure to a wider variety of experiences, students can gain the kind of high-quality education important for their future thanks to a supportive educational system, academic programs and curriculum.

Initially, international schools were established mainly to provide education for expatriate children. However, starting around three years ago, several schools were opened to local children as long as they met admission criteria. Students who do not speak English but wish to study at international schools that use English as the language of instruction are required to attend classes in English as a second language.

At several international schools, the use of an international- standard curriculum starts from nursery level.

Gandhi Memorial International School (GMIS), for instance, follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum from Switzerland. The school educates children from nursery school (at three years of age) to IB diploma level (18).

Curricula based on the IB diploma are considered more practical, research-oriented and more related to lifelong learning.

Several other schools that have adopted the IB system include Jakarta International School (JIS) and the British International School (BIS).

Others base their curriculum on their respective national school curriculum, such as the Australian International School (AIS) with its Australian National Curriculum Profiles.

The IB curriculum is also implemented in the primary and secondary year program at several national-plus schools, such as Sekolah Global Jaya and Sekolah Pelita Harapan.

Even though national-plus schools were established only recently, they are increasingly popular with both local and expatriate parents.