YOGYAKARTA- “Without clear political science, the government’s policy in encouraging Indonesian universities to go international is very risky, moreover that social sciences in Indonesia may still be hampered in terms of development. “There should be scientific politics in order to survive internationally. This, however, missed the attention of social scientists themselves as they are obedient to the teaching: social sciences should remain neutral,” Purwo said.
Scientific politics is required because knowledge is a tool of power. Its development globally runs in the global power and authority, too. Of this simple opinion, it is adequate to say that common efforts in scientific development cannot be possibly neutral. He gave an example of the South America and East Asia that have clear scientific politics to deal with the scientific supremacy of Western countries.
This was stated by Prof. Drs. Purwo Santoso, MA, Ph.D., in his inaugural speech as professor of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the Senate Hall of UGM, Tuesday (19/04). The title was Transformative Social Sciences.
Purwo Santoso said the determination of UGM and other universities to become World Class Research University neccesitates the excellence and determination of a university as an institution that develops science.
This requirement is more neglected by the strong education industrialisation. The crisis in social sciences should be immediately resolved in order that scientists would not be charmed by the world class labeling.
“Their theories are not assumed as neutral. The explanations of a reality they have are not as such, because there is something behind it,” said the man born in Jepara in 1963.
Purwo also explained that to go international, UGM should be able to have the role as knowledge producer. Ideally, to get international standard, one should not only become an ‘importer’ but also ‘exporter’. It is not adequate just to study overseas, but we should also try to make foreigners interested in studying in our country.
Not having the purpose to ban it, Purwo reminded people that the implementation of imported theories, especially those that have not been adjusted to Indonesia’s condition, often this creates new problems. Ironically, when the new theories are not in line with Indonesia’s condition, scientists felt it necessary to socialize the theories to society.
Scientific development politics, Purwo added, have actually been stated in the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi motto. It is just that the three of them should be understood as a unity. The transformative term used by Purwo is actually an affirmation about such a thing.
The Doctor from London School of Economics and Political Science proposed that the basis for education and research motto are community service. In short, community service should be treated as additional load.
Apart from proposing re-interpretation of the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi, Purwo saw collective problems embracing social scientist. There are indications that to develop social sciences, they have the collective learning difficulty.
“University may well be producing graduates, masters, professionals, and doctors, but not necessarily that they also have sophistication in learning for the sake of producing new findings,” the father of Yulida Nur Aini, Riza Maslahati, and Nabila Fikria said.
Transformative social sciences asked for hard work from scientists in two extremes. One side should enhance the istilment about scientific philosophical essence. The other side should take part in realizing that philosphocial instilment in social crafting. This is the academic culture that is required.