Globalization is unavoidable in every country. Globalization gives big influence in the life of global community. So is in Indonesia, globalization has affected higher learning system. One of the globalization forms in higher learning is internationalization. It plays a significant role in higher learning development.
This was revealed in the Workshop entitled Education in a Global World: Continuity and Change in Senate Hall UGM on Tuesday (7/12). In the workshop which is part of the series of WISDOM 2010 events, some speakers were presented, including Prof. Emeritus Syamsuni Arman, Ph.D. (Universitas Tanjungpura, Pontianak), Prof. H.A.R. Tilaar (Universitas Negeri Jakarta), Prof. Amir Awaluddin, M.Sc. (Universitas Riau), Prof. Uichol Kim, Ph.D. (Korea), Prof. Dr. A. Chaedar Alwasilah (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia), and Prof. Dr. Soenarto Sastrowijoto (Universitas Gadjah Mada).
Prof. H.A.R. Tilaar, Universitas Negeri Jakarta, said that internationalization in Indonesian education was a positive thing as it indicates the hope to improve educational quality to face global competition. He said that educational internationalization needs to be reviewed in terms of concept and implication. In concept it is planned to be able to generate graduates who can compete globally. We are unaware of the fact that this program has turned into a business commodity.
In Tilaar’s opinion, Indonesian national education development should be returned to the spirit of the State Constitution 1945, which is free from poverty, compartementalization, and totalitarianism.
Meanwhile, in dealing with global competition, Tilaar said, the identity of the Indonesian nation should be maintained and developed through national educational system that depends on national cultural richness. Therefore, Indonesia through national education can give positive contribution in global change. “So, this is what international class education is all about,” he explained.
Prof. (Em). Syamsuni Arman, Ph.D., Universitas Tanjungpura Pontianak, said that education, particularly in nation building process is the moderator in dealing with global competition shockwave. Syamsuni said that education is the tool and method to spread knowledge and technology to the wider public.
Other speakers, Prof. Amir Awaluddin, M.Sc., Universitas Riau, in that opportunity said that in facing globalization challenge, higher learning has major role. Higher learning has role not only in producing qualified graduates in academic matters but also graduates who have multi-languages command and between culture understanding. “This should be the right time to produce graduates with international qualification who can compete with graduates abroad. Not only that, Indonesian graduates are expected to contribute actively in improving nation’s productivity and competitiveness,” he explained.