Yogyakarta's private colleges offer quality education

Yogyakarta's private colleges offer quality education

By R. Fadjri

YOGYAKARTA (JP): About 50,000 high school graduates from
throughout the country apply for a place at a university in
Yogyakarta every academic year. Their first choice is usually the
prestigious state-run Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

Not all of them decide to pit themselves against others in the
scramble for a coveted place at UGM, where only 13,000 of 30,000
candidates who take the entrance examination are accepted. Many
prospective students opt instead for one of the excellent private
universities in the city.

Three favored private universities in the area are Atma Jaya
University of Yogyakarta (UAJY), Islamic University of Indonesia
(UII), and Sanatha Dharma University (USD). Some of the schools
at the universities are stronger than others in drawing students.

The School of Economics at UAJY, offering programs in
accounting and management, is strongly favored. Enrollment
increases markedly each year. Both disciplines are recognized by
the government and the school has a complete infrastructure,
including a library, laboratory, audiovisual facilities,
computer center, a campus publication, language center, and even
a research center. Its library is replete with CD-ROMS containing
technical information on business and management.

Atma Jaya Yogyakarta is managed by Yayasan Slamet Riyadi
(Slamet Riyadi Foundation) which was established in 1965. This
school was initially a branch of the Catholic Atma Jaya
University in Jakarta, but became independent on Dec. 31, 1973.

The UAJY campus is one of the most comprehensive campuses in
Yogyakarta. Today, there are three separate campuses for six
schools in economics, biology, law, social sciences, political
science, engineering and industrial technology.

UAJY's faculty includes 225 bachelor degree (S1) holders, 200
master's degree holders, 50 staff with doctorates and 150 full
professors. UAJY is known for its aggressive efforts to recruit
professors retired from UGM.

Sanata Dharma

Many incoming university students also consider Sanata Dharma
University (USD), particularly for its English language program.

Dr. Sastrapratedja SJ, the university's rector, said the
program aims to teach active comprehension of English to
students. Graduates are recruited by foreign companies, the mass
media, publications, translating services, tourism, hotel
business and language centers, he said.

"We are not able to meet all the requests of various
institutions," he added.

To accommodate the overflow of high school graduates who want
to study English in the university, USD runs an English Extension
Course. Although the program looks like other English language
courses, it is a rigorous course with a strict selection process
for new students.

USD receives about 8,500 applicants for its bachelor's program
annually but accepts only 1,500 students. Its extension program
accepts just 207 students.

USD was formerly a Teacher's Training Institute (IKIP)
established in 1955. In 1993, it became a university. It has
eight schools, including one of theology, and was originally set
up for Catholic priests.

Islamic University

The Indonesian Islamic University is another renowned private
university. It was established on July 8, 1945 by well-known
politicians, including former vice president Muhammad Hatta and
Muhammad Natsir, Kahar Mauzakar, Wahid Hasyim and Soekiman
Wirjosanjoyo of the Masyumi party. It is the oldest private
university in Indonesia and is known for its schools of economics
and law.

The School of Economics boasts several laboratories and other
faciltiies, including accounting and statistics labs, a computer
center, a library, Internet facilities accessible to the public,
and an on-line booth of the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

In the 1995/1996 academic year, UII's School of Economics
started an international program. In this class, all
communication is in English. "We hope UII graduates will be able
to communicate at a global level," said Muhammad Mahfud,
assistant rector at the university.

Not surprisingly, the ratio of applicants for admission and
those accepted to the economics school is 9:1. Up to now it has
had the greatest number of students compared to the other seven
schools in technology, industrial technology, Syariah (Islamic
law), Tarbiyah (Islamic education), mathematics and natural
sciences, and psychology.

UII's School of Law is recognized for graduating qualified
lawyers and most lawyers in Yogyakarta are graduates of the
school.

Like Atma Jaya University, UII has higher tuition fees than
many universities. A UII student pays tuition of Rp 1.3 million a
year. Additional fees vary in amount among the students.

Most of the students are from the upper-middle class. Few of
them apply for the 250 different scholarships provided by the
university.

As a center of the arts, Yogyakarta also has the Indonesian
Arts Institute (ISI). The institute was founded from the merging
of the Indonesian Music Academy, the Indonesian Dance Academy and
the Indonesian Arts Academy.

The Indonesian Arts Institute has trained many artists in the
fields of dance, music and arts. Among them are Abas Alibasyah,
Widayat and Fadjar Sidik, and younger ones like Eddie Hara, Heri
Dono, Dadang Christanto, Nindityo Adipurnomo and Anusapati, who
have gained international reputations.

Candidates for ISI's School of Arts and Design were
traditionally from vocational art high schools, but there is now
an increasing enrollment from graduates of general high schools.
Most graduates of ISI pursue careers in artistic fields.