Do Indonesia Colleges Prepare Students For Successful Career?
By : Muhammad Rafi
Al-Hariri Nasution, Indonesia, ITB
Indonesia is the biggest Archipelago
country with more than 13.700 island across equator. Having 5 its biggest
islands such as Sumatera, Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. Indonesia has population
more than 252 millions people within six differences religious, thousands culture
and linguistik. One of the first steps taken in terms of education following
the foundation of the Republic of Indonesia in December 1949 was the
introduction of Bahasa Indonesia (literally: language of Indonesia) as
the language of education. A 6-year period of compulsory education was
introduced in 1950, and the Pancasila state philosophy was introduced as
the foundation of education. (EP-Nuffic, 2011).
Colleges or university, at least on
Indonesia, is one of stepladder education after Senior High School that
nowadyas been being made as term before taking a professional Job. As a student
of Meteorology Department on Bandung Institute of Technology, one of top three
university on Indonesia, I will take ITB as a scope. Because, we need to
specify our discuss, and we can not generalize the education system all over
the world. And I believe, ITB could describe the education system in Indonesia
itself. On this essay, there are several question need to be answered. First, How
is education system in Indonesia? Second, Do Indonesia colleges prepare
students for successful Career? This essay will consider a number of
explanations about the Activity of ITB students year by year. My argument would
be that Indonesia has not had a good system education that could impact the
readiness of their student on the professional Career.
Indonesia, with its own system on
Higher Education, can be described as follows:
1. Time
Limitation on Higher Education studies
Almost
every colleges in Indonesia has term to their students about study time. For
example, every ITB students on batch 1985 has to graduate before 1993 (Within
maximal study time about 7.5 years). Different with the students on Batch 2006
till now, we have limitation about 6 years study. Moreover, there are several colleges
and university that has 5 years study for their own students.
Formerly,
Indonesia’s colleges have no rules about this. There were students with 10
years time study or even more. But it is okay. His attendance just increased
the statistic of students in university, not more. But then, by the time our
society awareness increased, they know that it is important to take the higher
education, The demands of it increased. And then government and the
institutions created this time limitation system. If the students don’t
graduate in time, that means they have to be dropped out. Do we need this time limitation? Well, I do
not think it is a good idea. Because it has several impact such as :
First,
this time limitation, made students think that “the faster you graduated, the
smarter you are.” Or vice versa. Where as, colleges is the best place for you
to explore yourself, to start new things and the important thing, this is the
best place for you to Fail. Fail for organizing a club, fail for Exam, fail for
concepting, fail for helping each others, and etc. Because it is okay for you
to fail right here, with expectation that you will not fail in the future.
Because in the ‘Real world’ you can not fail ! When you fail, it is over !. So,
this system is not really good to develop the students personality itself.
Second,
when this system is running, students would not have much free time to be an
active student. They will face two kind of condition. First, they should think
about the assignments, practical reports, class projects, and suddently the
exam time is come. Second, they should think that they should graduate as fast
as they can. And FYI, these kind of reason have changed Indonesian students for
not taking a part-time job. Because, they do not really have time. Beside of that, Indonesian students not really
interested on oganizational experiences. They put the academic as their first priority.
Although it looks like Their own choice, but that is not the point. Because, as a student you should be able to
manage your time, right? Once again, this system is not really good.
Third,
the same time when this system is running, it makes the ‘inflation’ of
Scholars. Sometimes it looks good, but by the ‘title’, sometimes people would
think that they should be someone which is equivalent with their ‘title’. Where
as, High education not prepared a ‘specialized’ person, but it just form your
mindset to solve the problem (I Made Junnaedi, 2013).
2. Too
much tasks to do, Students can not be developed ?
I
could describe the activities of ITB Students based on my experiences. On the
first year, you will learn about the fundamental of Physics, Chemistry, Calculus,
and several fundamental subject. As a first grade student, you could register
as Student Affairs Unit that has its own specialized such as Cultural, art,
modern, and so on. It is kind of extra-cullicular activites. As a new member,
you have no idea what you are gonna do. You are being educated with their own
ways, and appointed as their new members. Nothing special.
The
second grade, you will be busy by Profession and Leadership Orientation by
Student Board (based on your major). It takes about 3-4 month (almost 1 full
semester). And then you will be appointed as a member of your Association. The
third grade, you will be busy by giving your juniors about the profession and
Leadership orientation (which is taking 1 full semester of your activities). Beside
that, you will be one of management board to rule your association. The fourth
grade, you will be busy by doing your Thesis.
None
of these are wrong. But, the question is, when would you taking project or
attending competition? Why are these important? Because, by attending
competition (group or individual competition), you could build your competitive
and coorperative culture. Taking lecturers project would give you great
expriences and step by step would build your professional culture itself. Of
course company would see these kind of person, both having good grades, organizational
experiences, and achievements.
Indonesia
does has potential, especially Human resources potential. We know that
Indonesia always bring the medals for International Olymiads such as iGeo,
iPhO, IMO, and etc. These achievements show that Indonesia student, by proper
teaching, could be developed to be not only a good Employees, but also a good
professionals in many sectors. After knowing about the higher education system,
I believe, we only have two options, first, we just stay here and follow the
system which means we just make the same guys over and over again. Or we can
change the system and become not only a part, but also a role model to change
it. It just a matter of choice.
Reference
Available:http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/general/essay/1.xml (Accessed 17/05/15)
Available:https://rahard.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/pembatasan-waktu-kuliah-di-perguruan-tinggi/
(Accessed 17/05/15)
EP-Nuffic.2011.Education System Indonesia :
2nd edition, version 3. 17/05/15.
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