UI screens rectorial candidates
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For the first time in history, the University of Indonesia screened candidates for the position of rector on Tuesday.
"The process is as transparent as possible to prevent collusion and backdoor negotiations in the rectorial election," said Indrajid Soebardjo, deputy head of the university's Rectorial Election Committee (PPR).
Seven out of 14 candidates were screened on the first day of the two-day screening, which the public can only view through a partition.
Among the 14 candidates are Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, head of the School of Law's Criminal Department; Jimly Assiddiqie, a professor at department of state administrative law; and acting rector Usman Chatib Warsa, who is a professor at the School of Medicine.
Four of the candidates are from the School of Medicine.
The new rector will take up the post in August and serve for five years.
Indrajid revealed that the 14 candidates would be short-listed by the university's academic senate to seven candidates.
The academic senate consists of representatives from all schools in the university.
The short-listed seven candidates will be sent before the university's Majelis Wali Amanah (MWA), a council whose members include the university's lecturers, the Ministry of Education and students.
"The MWA will shortlist them further down to two candidates according to public demand and pubic debate in front of the university community, including students," Indrajid said.
The final two candidates then stand for election. The Minister of Education is one of the voters, whose vote counts for 30 percent of the total, Indrajid said.
In their presentation on Tuesday, the candidates highlighted the importance of the university seeking additional funding to help finance its operational and research costs.
"UI must be more aggressive in seeking additional sources of funding, including international grants and other sources to secure more revenue for the university," said Budi Soesilo Soepandji, who is also the dean of the School of Engineering.
The government passed a ruling in 2000 making the university a state-owned incorporated entity (BHMN) in 2000 along with two other leading state universities, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung, West Java, and Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. This requires the universities to be more independent in financing and management.
ITB and Gadjah Mada University held open elections for new rectors earlier.
According to Budi, should the university manage to obtain more revenue from grants and other financial sources, there would be no need to raise tuition fees.
The university recorded Rp 270 billion in revenue last year from tuition fees, grants and other sources.
Meanwhile, another candidate, Assiddiqie, contended that the university was in dire need of improvement, especially in academic development affairs.
"The new rector should keep in mind that upgrading the quality of lecturers and improving the university's library and research facilities are top priorities," he said.
Jimly said significant improvement in academic affairs could make the university a center of excellence at which many students, including from Southeast Asia, would come to study.
The other seven candidates, including Harkristuti and Usman, will present their visions and missions on Wednesday.