SGU has first 20 graduates

The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Swiss German University (SGU), the first international university in Indonesia, will not be quick to expand its departments to ensure graduates are of a higher quality, the rector said on Saturday.

"One of the targets we have is that each graduate should get a job after studying here," Peter Pscheid, the university's rector, said after the university's first graduation ceremony.

"If the graduates cannot find jobs, something must be wrong."

Starting operations here in 2000 at its campus in Bumi Serpong Damai in Tangerang, Banten, the university has had 20 students graduate from its master programs.

The graduates consisted of three mechatronics students, eight business and administration students and nine students from information technology, after they spent an average of two years studying.

SGU also offers three bachelor degree programs. There are also bachelor degree programs offered in hotel and management and applied business and languages.

About 350 students are studying at the university as a result of a collaboration between German, Swiss, Austrian and Indonesian governments.

Pscheid said apart from gaining the full support of the governments, SGU had also received support from industries and many universities in the three European countries.

"SGU applies a dual education system, offering courses which combine both theoretical subjects and practical training," he said.

He said that students' tuition fees, at US$2,200 per semester, were not enough to cover the university's expenses.

"We plan to be financially independent after four years of operation.

"At the moment, we have three financial sources to support our activities. Besides the tuition fees, we also have commercial loans and grants from Germany," said Pscheid.