Forging A Stronger AIT Presence In a Large Market-Indonesia
Indonesia has over 200 million people. In 1998 alone, almost 3 million Indonesian students were registered in programs of higher education. Of this, an estimated 1.4% studied overseas. It was also estimated that a total of US$2.2 billion was spent by students and their families on tertiary education, of which US$766 million or 34.8% went to foreign institutions. In recent years, Australia has surpassed the U.S. to become the number one educational destination for Indonesian students. Although the U.S. is still most favored, Australia attracts more students because of its lower tuition cost and proximity. Other competitors include Japan, U.K., Canada, Netherlands, Singapore and Germany. (Source - Indonesian Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture)
AIT has so far produced 555 Indonesian graduates. Given that 3 million Indonesians on a yearly average enter graduate degrees, AIT's share in such a big pie fails any form of comparison. Although the Institute has links with big universities in the country and serves as their partner in several joint programs, the market for prospective AIT students in Indonesia remains largely untapped.
From 1 - 5 March 2005, a mission team from AIT visited the country to strengthen AIT's presence in two islands, Sumatra and Java. Led by Prof. Chongrak Polprasert, SERD/SCE Dean, Dr. Babette Resurreccion from Gender & Development Studies, Dr. Chotchai Charoenggam from Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure Engineering, and Ms. Ann Lopez-Fontanilla, Outreach Officer at SCE, the team had two motives - to reaffirm AIT's partnership with Andalas University in Padang, Sumatra and to extend its endeavors with Petra Christian University in Surabaya, Java.
AIT's relationship with Andalas University started in 2003 when the two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding encompassing joint research activities in natural resource management. Funded by Ford Foundation, the focus of the collaboration includes Andalas faculty attending Ph.D. training at AIT and AIT faculty teaching masters level courses on natural resources management and poverty alleviation at Andalas. The tie-up is led by Dr. Ganesh P. Shivakoti, AIT Associate Professor and Dr. Helmi, Director of Center for Irrigation, Land and Water Resources, and Development Studies, Andalas University.
The two-day workshop delivered by Dr. Babette Resurreccion during the visit forms part of this tie-up. The activity was attended by over 50 participants composed of students and NGO workers. Her focal objective - to raise gender awareness and sensitivity in natural resource management and sustainable development. This was strengthened by Prof. Chongrak's message on the 'Need for Post Graduate Education Program in Integrated Environmental and Natural Resources Management in Asian Universities'. The opportunity was also taken by SCE to share its academic offerings as well as to explore the possibility of including water-related components in the on-going project under Ford Foundation.
From left to right: Dr. Ujjwal Pradhan, Program Officer (Ford Foundation Indonesia), Dr. Babette Resurreccion (SERD/AIT), Prof. Chongrak Polprasert (SERD/SCE Dean), Prof. Dr. Editon Munaf, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs (Andalas University), Prof. Dr. Hazli Nurdin, Director (Graduate Program at Andalas University), Dr. Helmi, Director of Center for Irrigation, Land and Water Resources, and Development Studies (Andalas University), and other faculty members.
From a 2-day visit to Padang, the team proceeded to Surabaya. In November 2000, the School of Civil Engineering started implementing the PETRA-AIT Dual Master's Degree Program in Civil Engineering (PETRAIT). With SCE's partnership with the Postgraduate Program of Petra Christian University (PCU), qualified Indonesian civil engineers get the opportunity to obtain two master's degrees - one from AIT and another from Petra. Carried on in two phases, PETRAIT students take one semester of coursework at PCU and three semesters at AIT.
The highlight of the visit in Surabaya was the renewal of SCE's Contract Agreement with PCU, which was signed by SCE Acting Dean, Prof. Chongrak Polprasert and Ir. Jones Syaranamual, Petra's Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. On 3 March 2005, AIT's MoU with Petra was signed by Acting President Mario Tabucanon and Petra Rector, Ir. Paulus Nugraha. With the renewal of this collaboration, AIT's relationship with PCU continues until 2010.
PETRA Rector Ir. Paulus Nugraha (left) signing the extension of AIT-Petra Christian University MoU in the presence of Prof. Chongrak Polprasert in Surabaya, Indonesia.
The contract signing on 4 March 2005 at Surabaya kicked off a seminar which featured Prof. Chongrak's presentation entitled 'Moving Beyond the Traditional Engineering Education', Dr. Chotchai's lecture on 'Innovative Financing of Mega-Infrastructure Projects' and Ms. Fontanilla's overview of AIT's and SCE's academic portfolio. It was attended by 75 participants consisting of industry practitioners, graduating undergraduate students, Petra faculty and AIT alumni.
Photo shows Acting SCE Dean, Prof. Chongrak Polprasert (left) exchanging the signed Contract Agreement with Petra Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Ir. Jones Syaranamual at Petra Christian University.