RI students seek broader experience in Britain

RI students seek broader experience in Britain

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Tinna, a 23-year-old graduate of Pelita Harapan University, is
convinced that studying abroad will expand her horizons and
enrich her with experiences she could not possibly get in
Indonesia.

"I cannot make a comparison about the quality of art education
(in Indonesia and the UK), but I guess wider experience is not
something I can possibly get here," she said, explaining her
interest in taking a post-graduate art degree in the UK.

She was speaking on the sidelines of an education fair over
the weekend held by the British Council at the Hilton Hotel.
Some 21 UK universities participated in the event.

Her mother, Retiana, who supported Tinna's plan, said,
"Actually, wherever a child studies, it depends on how serious
she is. But studying in the UK will hopefully increase her
independence, especially as it is a country with a different
culture to ours. The many restrictions in Indonesia would prevent
her from developing her personal skills."

Assistant director of English Language and Education at the
British Council here, Simon Colledge, said that strongly held
traditions along with a cosmopolitan, modern society and cultural
diversity were some of the main attractions for students to come
to the UK.

The long traditions of the UK's universities had ensured high
national standards, with universities being regularly assessed by
the UK Department of Education to vet their teaching, resources
and research capabilities.

"Professors are expected to be up-to-date in their particular
fields of study. They must do independent research in their areas
of expertise, with the results being published nationally or
printed in textbooks."

"Courses and lectures are consumer focused. They give
individual attention based on academic interest. For example, a
post-graduate student is assigned a personal tutor."

According to Ria Widjaja, marketing communications officer for
the British Council, over the past five years between 600 and 750
Indonesian students went to the UK each year to continue their
studies. The figures were expected to grow by 20 percent this
year, she said.

The cost of undergraduate study in the UK is between 6,000 and
10,000 pounds sterling per year (about US$5,235), while minimum
living costs, including accommodation, food and transportation,
come to about 700 pounds sterling per month.

The British Council's public relations manager, Mona Monika,
said that the quality of UK graduates was recognized by the
Indonesian Ministry of National Education.

"It might be due to the fact that all universities apply the
same national standards in terms of quality and pricing. The fact
that test papers are checked by lecturers from other universities
ensures that a student's hard work and achievements are the key
to the success of his studies."

She added that one of the UK's strengths was its national
students union, which had a network of local student unions.

"The power that the national students union has in the UK
enables it to provide input for education legislation in the UK,
ensuring that the students' interests are heeded," she said.

She added that the presence of careers guidance departments
that collaborated with top international companies such as
Macintosh and IBM, in UK universities made it easier for students
to find jobs after they graduated.

"Students can ask for advice on where to focus in their
studies should they be interested in working for a particular
company. The advisor will send them in the right direction."

Mona said that this benefited both the students and companies
looking for employees. "A strong interest in the students' future
after graduating is something that is lacking in Indonesia," she
added. (005)