Tiga PTN Turun Peringkat di Asia

Media Indonesia, halaman 14

Sebanyak tiga perguruan tinggi negeri (PTN) ternama di Indonesia turun peringkat berdasarkan penilaian Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings untuk jajaran 300 universitas terbaik di Asia tahun ini. Hanya dua PTN ternama di Indonesia yang mampu naik peringkat tahun lalu.

QS merupakan lembaga pemeringkat perguruan tinggi di dunia yang system penilaiannya berdasarkan enam parameter; berupa academic reputation (40%), employer reputation (10%), student/faculty ratio (20%), citations per faculty (20%), international faculty (5%), dan international students (5%).

Menurut keterangan yang dikutip melalui www.topuniversities.com, ketiga PTN yang turun peringkat ialah Universitas Indonesia (UI), yakni dari urutan ke-64 menjadi ke-71, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), dari posisi ke-133 menjadi ke-145, dan Universitas Brawijaya, dari peringkat 201-250 menjadi posisi 251-300.

Dua universitas yang sukses menembnus posisi di atas mereka ialah Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), dari ke-129 menjadi ke-125, dan Universitas Airlangga (Unair), dari ke-145 menjadi ke-127. Sisanya, yakni Institut Pertanian Bogor, Universitas Padjajaran, dan Universitas Udayana, masih berada pada kisaran peringkat 251-300.

Menurut Kepala Riset QS Ben Stower, beberapa universitas di Indonesia berhasil menorehkan reputasi solid, antara lain para akademisi dan lulusan mereka yang telah bekerja di dalam dan luar negeri.

Berdasarkan survei yang melibatkan 43.000 akademisi itu, lanjut Ben, tantangan di masa depan bagi PTN ternama Indonesia ialah meningkatkan performa penelitian dan internasionalisasi. Menurut Ben pihaknya melihat Indonesia masih kurang dalam produktivitas penelitian dan proporsi siswa internasional. Ben mencontohkan kemunculan universitas-universitas dari Singapura dan Korea sebagai pemain baru yang mengimbangi dominasi Hong Kong dan Jepang, bukti bahwa pemerintah Singapura dan Korea amat menekankan produktivitas riset dan penerapan bahasa Inggris di kampus mereka.

Sementara itu, Rektor UI M. Anis menyatakan meski posisinya turun pada tahun ini, UI mensyukuri masih jadi bagian PTN di Indonesia yang masuk jajaran top 100.   Menurut Anis data tersebut bakal menjadi driving force untuk melakukan evaluasi diri, terutama untuk peningkatan penelitian pada siswa serta makalah-makalah internasional.

Wakil Rektor UI Bambang Wibawarta menambahkan, UI tidak berkonsentrasi pada peringkat, tetapi fokus pada kontribusi UI untuk membangun bangsa. Menurutnya rangking hanya sebagai dorongan, yang lebih penting bagaimana menghasilkan lulusan bermutu di kancah nasional dan international.

Rektor ITB Akhmaloka, menegaskan pihaknya tidak peduli atas rangking itu. Menurutnya yang utama adalah ITB terus bekerja sebaik-baiknya untuk pembangunan bangsa, agar banyak lulusan yang bisa berkiprah di dalam dan luar negeri.

Three PTN Downgraded in Asia

Media Indonesia, page 14

Three renowned state universities (PTN) in Indonesia were downgraded based on assessment by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings for 300 best universities in Asia this year.  Only two famous PTN in Indonesia were able to improve their ranking last year.

QS is a world higher education institution ranking agency whose assessment system is based on six parameters; comprised of academic reputation (40%), employer reputation (10%), student/faculty ratio (20%), citations per faculty (20%), international faculty (5%), and international students (5%).

According to information quoted from www.topuniversities.com, the three PTN downgraded were the University of Indonesia (UI), namely from 64^th to 71^st, the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), from 133^rd to 145^th, and the University of Brawijaya, from 201^st-250^th to 251^st-300^th place.

The two universities that successfully improved their positions were the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), from 129^th to 125^th, and the University of Airlangga (Unair), from 145^th to 127^th. The remaining, namely the Bogor Agriculture Institute, the University of Padjajaran, and the University of Udayana, are still in the 251-300^th range.

According to QS Head of Research Ben Stower, several universities in Indonesia managed to carve a solid reputation, among others, their academia and graduates who have worked in the country and abroad.

Based on the survey involving 43,000 academics, continued Ben, the challenge in future for Indonesia’s renowned PTN is to improve research performance and internationalization. According to Ben his party sees Indonesia as still lacking in research productivity and the proportion of international students. Ben gave the example of the appearance of universities in Singapore and Korea as new players that offset the dominance of Hong Kong and Japan, proof that the governments of Singapore and Korea greatly stress research productivity and implementation of the English language in their campuses.

Meanwhile, UI Rector M. Anis declared that although their position declines this year, UI is grateful to still be a part of PTNs in Indonesia which are in the top 100 (ranking).   According to Anis such data will be a driving force to conduct self evaluation, especially for improving student research as well as international journals.

UI Deputy Rector Bambang Wibawarta added, UI does not concentrate on ranking, but focuses on UI’s contribution in building the nation. According to him ranking is only part of the driving force, what is more important is how to generate quality graduates in the national and international arena.

ITB Rector Akhmaloka affirmed his party is not concerned about that ranking. According to him, what is important is ITB continues to work the best it can to develop the nation, so that many graduates can work within the country and abroad.

Three PTN Downgraded in Asia

Indonesia di Posisi terakhir

Kompas, halaman 11

Hasil pendidikan di Indonesia tetap buruk menurut penilaian internasional. Berdasarkan penilaian Pearson pada 2014, Indonesia menduduki posisi terakhir dari 40 negara.

Berdasarkan The Learning Curve terbaru Pearson yang menggambarkan indeks global kemampuan kognitif dan hasil pendidikan, posisi Indonesia tidak bergeser dari penilaian pada 2012. Buruknya pencapaian pendidikan Indonesia sejalan dengan sejumlah penilaian internasional lainnya.

Indonesia masih kalah dari Meksiko (39), Brasil (38), serta Thailand (35). Sementara posisi lima besar diduduki Korea Selatan, Jepang, Singapura, Hongkong, dan Finlandia. Keberhasilan Negara-negara Asia itu dinikai karena “budaya akuntabilitas” yang kuat.

Dosen pascasarjana Universitas Muhammadiyah, Hamka Elin Driana, mengatakan, berbagai penilaian Internasional yang mengindikasikan buruknya system pendidikan Indonesia merupakan peringatan keras bagi pemerintah. Menurut Elin, yang juga coordinator Education Forum, senin (12/5), hasil ujian nasional sebagai indikator keberhasilan pendidikan Indonesia sangat dipertanyakan. Setiap tahun, hasil UN meningkat dengan kelulusan hampir 100 persen, tetapi penilaian internasional menunjukkan Indonesia di posisi buntut.

Guru Besar Institut Teknologi Bandung Iwan Pranoto menambahkan, pemerintah tidak peduli dengan keterpurukan pendidikan. Iwan mendesak pemerintah baru nanti meyusun ulang indikator keberhasilan pendidikan dengan mengacu pada “penilaian” internasional.

Indonesia in Last Place

Kompas, page 11

Education results in Indonesia are still poor according to international assessment. According to Pearson assessment in 2014, Indonesia ranks last of 40 countries.

Based on Pearson’s latest Learning Curve which depicts the global indexes for cognitive ability and education results, Indonesia’s position has not changed since assessment in 2012. What is worse is Indonesia’s education achievement is consistent in a number of other international assessments.

Indonesia is still behind Mexico (39), Brazil (38), as well as Thailand (35). While the five top positions are held by South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Finland. The success of the Asian countries is believed to be due to the strong “accountability culture.”

University of Muhammadiyah graduate lecturer, Hamka Elin Driana, said the various international assessments that indicate Indonesia’s poor education system is a stern warning to the government. According to Elin, who is also Education Forum coordinator, Monday (12/5), national exam results as indicator of the success of education in Indonesia is highly questionable.   Every year, the national examination UN results improve with almost 100 percent graduating, but international assessments show Indonesia is in last place.

Professor of Bandung Technology Institute Iwan Pranoto added the government does not care about the deterioration of education. Iwan urged the new government to reformulate the educational success indicator with reference to international “assessment.”

Indonesia in Last Place

Pendaftaran SBMPTN Dibuka

Republika, halaman 7

Pendaftaran Seleksi Bersama Perguruan Tinggi Negeri (SBMPTN) 2014 mulai dibuka Senin (12/5). Pendaftaran ini akan berakhir pada 6 Juni pukul 22.00 WIB. Calon peserta yang akan melakukan pendaftaran SBMPTN 2014 hanya bisa melakukan pendaftaran secara online melalui laman http://www.pendaftaran.sbmptn.or.id dan panduan untuk melakukan pendaftaran online bisa diunduh melalui laman http://sbmptn.or.id.

Pelaksanaan ujian tertulis SBMPTN berlangsung sehari saja yaitu pada 17 Juni 2014 dan dapat diikuti oelh semua siswa SMA sederajat lulusan 2012, 2013 dan 2014. Hasil seleksi akan diumumkan pada 16 Juli 2014 melalui http://sbmptn.or.id.

Sementara itu,di Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Jawa Timur, menggelar Seleksi Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru (SPMB) Senin ini yang akan dilangsungkan di Gedung Kuliah Bersama I dan II. Dan pendaftar untuk gelombang I sudah mencapai 5.027 calon mahasiswa.

Menurut Kepala Unit Pelaksana Teknis (UPT) UMM, Ermanu Azisulhakim, pihaknya menjamin seleksi kali ini lebih tertib dan lebih aman dari kasus perjokian dan sudah diantisipasi dengan pengamanan standar UMM. Tahun lalu, UMM menemukan indikasi perjokian dan berhasil mengungkapnya.

Rektor UMM Muhajir Effendy menambahkan bahwa praktik curang akan berakibat pada proses pembentukan karakter mahasiswa ke depan, karena itu pelakasanaan seleksi ini harus dilakukan dengan jujur.

SBMPTN Registration Opened

Republika, page 7

Registration for the Joint National Entrance Test for State Universities (SBMPTN) 2014 was opened on Monday (12/5). The registration (period) will end on 6 June at 22.00 WIB. Applicants registering for SBMPTN 2014 will only be able to do so online through the page http://www.pendaftaran.sbmptn.or.id and the guide to registering online can be downloaded from the page http://sbmptn.or.id.

The SBMPTN written test will only be held one day, on 17 June 2014 and all 2012, 2013, 2014 graduates of high school and equivalents are eligible. Results will be announced on 16 July 2014 through http://sbmptn.or.id.

Meanwhile, the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) East Java held New Student Entrance Test Examination (SPMB) this Mondayto be held in the Joint Lecture Building I and II. Applicants in group I have reached 5,027 prospective students.

According to Head of Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of UMM, Ermanu Azisulhakim, his party guarantees the selection this time to be more orderly and safer from jockey cases and is anticipated by UMM’s standard security.   Last year UMM found indications of the use of jockeys and managed to uncover it.

UMM Rector Muhajir Effendy added that fraudulent practices would affect students’ character building process, therefore, the implementation of this selection must be conducted with honesty.

SBMPTN Registration Opened

 

 

Baca, Tulis, dan Hitung, Masalah Papua

Kompas, halaman 11

Kemampuan dasar, seperti membaca, menulis, dan menghitung, para murid di Papua dan Papua Barat masih rendah. Itu menjdai tantangan terberat dalam upaya peningkatan kualitas pendidikan. Untuk itu, dibutuhkan lebih banyak guru yang berkompetensi di bidang bahasa, terutama bahasa Indonesia dan sains dasar.

Menurut Suriel Mofu, Rektor Universitas Negeri Papua (Unipa), kendala siswa di Papua ialah pemahaman bahasa. Padahal, untuk memahami ilmu pengetahuan harus bisa membaca dan menyimak dengan baik. Sains dasar, seperti Matematika, juga amat kurang. Persoalan mendasar itu tidak kunjung selesai karena minimnya jumlah guru di Papua dan Papua Barat.

Untuk memenuhi kebutuhan guru, khususnya di daerah-daerah terpencil, Unipa membuka fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Untuk sementara kebutuhan guru akan dipenuhi dari lulusan jurusan pendidikan di Unipa mulai tahun depan.

Gubernur Papua Barat Abraham Oktavianus Atururi mengatakan, akses pendidikan yang belum merata menjadi masalah terbesar di Papua Barat. Padahal pendidikan merupakan satu-satunya cara meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia di Papua dan Papua Barat. Menurut Abraham, daerahnya membutuhkan banyak guru di daerah tersulit dan paling dalam. Sebagian sudah dipenuhi dengan Sarjana Mengajar di Daerah Terpencil, Terdepan dan Terluar (SM3T), tetapi mereka hanya sementara. Daerah butuh guru permanen.

Sementara itu, Menteri Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Mohammad Nuh mengatakan bahwa daerah-daerah khusus, sesulit apapun, harus tetap mendapat layanan pendidikan dengan pendekatan khusus. Bagi daerah-daerah sulit, yang terpenting ialah munculnya kesadaran bersekolah. Menurut Nuh, yang terpenting siswa harus mau bersekolah dahulu. Kalau sudah sekolah, siswa akan tahu nikmatnya baca, tulis, dan hitung.

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are the issues of Papua

Kompas page 11

The basic abilities, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, of students in Papua and West Papua are still low. It is the toughest challenge in efforts at improving the quality of education. Hence, more teachers are needed who are competent in the field of language, especially Bahasa Indonesia and in basic science.

According to Suriel Mofu, Rector of the State University of Papua (Unipa), student constraint in Papua is in language comprehension. When in fact, to understand knowledge/science good command in reading and comprehension is necessary. Basic science and mathematics are similarly lacking. This basic issue is never ending due to the minimum number of teachers in Papua and West Papua.

To meet the need for teachers, particularly in the remote regions, Unipa opened the Faculty of Teacher Education. Momentarily, the need for teachers will be met from graduates of the education majors in Unipa starting next year.

West Papua Governor Abraham Oktavianus Atururi said inequitable access to education is the major issue in West Papua. When in fact education is the sole means to improving the quality of human resources in Papua and West Papua. According to Abraham, his region is in need of many teachers in the most difficult and the most remote areas.   Some have been met by the Undergraduates Teaching in Frontier, Outermost, and Disadvantaged Regions (SM3T), but they are merely temporary (in placement). The regions need permanent teachers.

Meanwhile Minister of Education and Culture Mohammad Nuh said that special regions, no matter how difficult, must still obtain educational services by special approach. For difficult regions, most importantly is the awareness of schooling. According to Nuh, most importantly is students must be willing to go to school first.   When already in school, the students will know the enjoyment of reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic are the issues of Papua