UI rectorial candidates don't fit the bill

UI rectorial candidates don't fit the bill

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The University of Indonesia's aim to have a new rector with a
combination of academic and entrepreneurial skills is unlikely to
happen because none of the candidates fit the bill.

By the time Saturday's deadline for the applicants to register
had passed, only 14 candidates had submitted their forms. Twelve
of them are from the university, while only two are from other
institutions: from the Institute for Koranic Studies and from the
National Police.

"It's very difficult to find candidates (with academic
qualifications as well as entrepreneurial skills)," admitted
Indrajid Soebardjo, deputy chairman of the university's Rectorial
Election Committee (PPR).

Among the candidates from the University of Indonesia (UI) are
Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, head of the criminal department of the
School of Law, UI, and Jimly Assidiqie, a professor of
administrative law of the same school. While most of the others
are the deans of various schools at the university.

"It was only those applicants who submitted the forms,"
Indrajid said.

He added that some applicants had picked up the application
forms but had not returned them. Among them was an official of
state oil firm Pertamina.

Even though none of the candidates meet the demands, Indradjid
said that UI would go ahead with the election anyway. "At least
the candidates feel that they have an entrepreneurial spirit," he
said.

He attributed the short list of candidates to the specific and
strict conditions required by the university.

Among the requirements are that the candidates should have a
doctoral degree from a university recognized by UI and not be
older than 60 years old.

The candidates should not have served in any political party
for the last two years. They must also be ready to work full-
time.

In addition to these general conditions, Indrajid added,
candidates should possess good qualities both as a scholar and as
an entrepreneur.

UI needs a scholar with an entrepreneurial spirit because the
new rector is expected not only to promote learning and knowledge
but also to usher in the university's new mission: being more
independent in regards to financing and research. This is in
accordance with the new status of UI, as well as other state
universities, as a State-owned Incorporated Entity (BHMN) in
2000. The status requires them to be more independent in
financial and management affairs.

The new rector will take up the post in August and serve a
five-year term. The new rector will replace the acting rector,
Usman Chatib Warsa.

After a fit-and-proper test, the names will be announced to
the public before the final selection.

UI Rector Candidates: Harkristuti Harkrisnowo (Head of the
criminal dept., School of Law), Jimly Assidiqie (Professor of
State Administrative Law), Budi Soesilo Supanji (Dean, School of
Engineering), Djoko Hartanto (Lecturer, School of Engineering),
Usman Chatib Warsa (UI acting rector, Professor of Medicine),
Amal Chalik Sjaaf (Lecturer, School of Medicine), Salamun
(Lecturer, School of Medicine, a retired police officer),
Noekman Moeloek (Lecturer, School of Medicine), Martani Huseini
(Dean, School of Social and Political Science), Toemin A Masoem
(Dean, School of Communication Science), Suhardjo Poertadji (Dean,
School of Math and Natural Sciences), Prijono Tjiptoherijanto
(Professor of School of Economy, also Secretary of Vice President),
Ahmad Munif (Lecturer, Institute for Koranic Studies), Teguh
Soedarsono (Official at the National Police).