'Universities must offer more technological science'

'Universities must offer more technological science'

BEKASI, West Java (JP): Minister of Education and Culture
Wardiman Djojonegoro said Indonesian universities offer too much
social studies and not enough programs on technology and natural
sciences.

During the induction ceremony of Prof. M. Dawam Rahardjo as
the new rector of the "45" Islamic University (Unisma) on
Saturday, Wardiman said that 67 percent of state universities and
76 percent of private universities offered social studies.

The remaining 33 percent of state universities and 24 percent
private universities provided programs on natural sciences and
technology. There are 51 state universities and 1,122 private
universities in Indonesia.

Wardiman said the government is considering reducing the
number of social studies programs and adding more natural
sciences and technology courses.

He called on administrators of both private and state-run
universities to design their curriculum in accordance with their
own needs. He said that the universities also needed to improve
their programs on economic sciences so that they could produce
graduates with better skills, who would be able to help the
country face increasingly stiff global competition.

"It's a fact that the quality of Indonesian workers is poorer
than that of neighboring countries," he said.

Wardiman explained that because natural resources were being
rapidly depleted while human needs were continuing to grow,
global competition would sharpen discrepancies between
underdeveloped countries and those nations that had mastered
science and technology.

"Only by developing human resources and mastering science and
technology can economic superiority be achieved," said Wardiman.

Saturday's ceremony was also attended by Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare Azwar Anas and former minister of religious
affairs who now chairs of National Commission on Human Rights
Munawir Sjadzali. (kod)