SGU has first 20 graduates

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.