Rector: Distinctiveness of knowledge becomes strategy for private universities to remain competitive
Semarang (ANTARA) - The Rector of Universitas BPD Semarang, Prof Dr Sri Tutie Rahayu, stated that the distinctiveness of academic expertise is one of the key strategies for private universities (PTS) to continue competing in vying for new student quotas.
“That is the most important thing. So, if we have a specialisation or distinctiveness. Where is the distinctiveness? For example, what is Universitas BPD’s distinctiveness? We excel in banking,” she said on the sidelines of the Universitas BPD graduation ceremony in Semarang on Thursday.
According to her, PTS must dare to highlight and demonstrate their academic distinctiveness so that more people become aware of it.
She said that competition is also faced among PTS themselves. For public universities (PTN), they have a sufficiently large new student intake quota, but PTS also compete with each other.
“PTN have a certain quota (of prospective students), that’s it. So, it can be mapped out. Well, competition with PTS also exists, wherever there is (competition),” she said.
She stated that Universitas BPD is optimistic in facing this competition by continuously improving the quality of its distinctive academic expertise.
“So, we’ve already taken it, we’re experts in banking. It can be noted. Later, if (looking for studies in) banking, it will definitely be sought after. So, there is specialisation and expertise,” she said.
Moreover, she said, the majority of Universitas BPD graduates are absorbed into the banking workforce, both at Bank Jateng, which oversees the university, and other banks.
Tutie said that cooperation with various parties also needs to be continuously enhanced in this era of increasingly tight competition in the education world.
Meanwhile, the Director of Digital and Consumer Business at Bank Jateng, Eko Tri Prasetyo, said that Universitas BPD graduates have made a significant contribution to the workforce, especially in banking.
“So, there are approximately 383 (Universitas BPD graduates) at Bank Jateng, and they have reached top leadership positions. From division heads, deputy division heads, to branch heads,” he said.
Because, he said, Universitas BPD graduates are equipped with solid banking knowledge, from banking science, accounting, finance, to risk management.
So far, he said, on average around 10-20 percent are absorbed into employment at Bank Jateng, especially from the best graduates.
“We hope this synergy continues to be carried out to develop our young talents so they are ready to work. Not only in the banking industry, but also in other industries,” he said.
At the graduation ceremony, Universitas BPD graduated 222 graduands, consisting of 56 from the accounting study programme, 88 from management, and 78 from the master’s in management programme.