wiss German University

wiss German University

SGU, a government and privately sponsored university for the
ASEAN region, is located not in Singapore or Malaysia, but in the
German Centre in Bumi Serpong Damai, West Java, about half an
hour's drive from Jakarta.

The foundation (Yayasan Swiss German University-Asia), which was
established in the year 2000, is a joint effort between Germany,
Austria, Switzerland and Indonesia. The university, which began
operating in 2000, was set up with a long-term commitment in
Indonesia to develop skilled professionals to fulfil the need for
qualified graduates to strengthen links between Asia and Europe.

Last weekend (Sept.27) SGU inaugurated 26 students who had
successfully completed their Master's Degree program after
studying for two years.

SGU offers programs in mechatronics, information technology,
business administration and hotel and tourism management. In
addition, it also has the Studienkolleg program (preparation for
German University Entrance Tests). The programs and degrees are
internationally recognized and students are awarded double
degrees.

Modern facilities, such as high-tech laboratories and access to
videoconferencing, are available. By the end of the year, SGU is
scheduled to start building its laser-welding facility, which
will be the first of its kind in the country.

All classes for the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs,
except Indonesian law, are taught in English. German and Mandarin
are offered as extracurricular activities, while business Arabic
will also be taught in the near future.

About 500 students, including a few international students, are
currently studying at SGU, which also offers a PhD program in
cooperation with Technical University Ilmenau in Germany.

The tuition fee is US$2,200 per semester, but those with the best
semester (academic) results in each faculty are eligible for a
scholarship for one semester, thanks to the Swiss government,
German industry and SGU.

What makes SGU different from other universities is its
internship program, as it offers courses that combine both
theoretical and practical training. Third semester bachelor's
students have to take an internship here in Jakarta or West Java,
and those in the sixth semester do their training in Germany,
where -- in a way -- they become "ambassadors" for Indonesia.

The internship program has brought benefits, not only for
students, but also for employers. "In one case, a company in
Germany was so impressed with a student that it plans to open an
office in Indonesia and has asked the student to manage it after
finishing his studies at SGU", said the rector.

"After eight semesters of studying here, students should have a
job," Pscheid said. "We motivate them to start their own
business, to become small- or medium-sized entrepreneurs."

The internship program also aims to introduce students to the
real world of work and to learn about social behaviour. This is
important, particularly as most students are from middle-income
families, and might have been pampered.

Respect is an important factor in the Swiss German University.
"All of the lecturers and the students should respect each other.
This is one of the goals that we seek, to enable the lecturers to
teach the students well and give them enough attention,"
university rector Peter Pscheid said.

The university emphasizes that students should be self-
disciplined and reprimands those who come late or are lazy.
Consequently, students learn not only academic skills, but also
ethics and, more importantly, to develop their intellect and to
speak their mind. And of course, they also learn about critical
thinking, essential for any decision maker.