Dean of Faculty of Animal Science of UGM revelead that current government policy pays less attention to agriculture and animal husbandry. For high learning institutions, the lack of attention contributed to the decrease in interest in agriculture and animal husbandry.
”Unlike during the New Order, the government cared about agriculture and animal husbandry, so these two became a favourite object of study,” he said delivering Dean’s Report 2012 at the Faculty.
Ali Agus said at the UGM Faculty, there is the tendency of a decrease at the undergraduate level. In 2009, 235 students were admitted while 186 re-registered themselves. In 2010, as many as 200 students were admitted while 181 re-registered. In 2011, up to 240 students were admitted while 228 re-registered and in 2012 saw another 243 students getting admitted and 213 re-registering. “From year to year, interest keeps decreasing. So, we would do more promotional work and cooperate with local governments and companies to admit more new students,” he explained.
Ali Agus said the decrease was also triggered by the perception that working in animal husbandry sector is not promising, even a second class. Moreover, presently there are types of industry that operate on service area, involving mass employment, which is seen as a very prospective sector. “So, many highschool students prefer universities that will bring them to working in service industry,” he said.
The decrease of interest also caused the lack of manpower in industrial sector that runs in animal husbandry area, especially at the middle level or D3 graduates.”Presently, many companies in animal husbandry sector find it difficult to recruit staff from the middle level, Our Faculty, therefore, is trying to open Diploma program (D3) in Animal Husbandry.
Ali Agus said the decrease also occurred at the graduate level. In 2012 there were 25 applicants in S2 programme and 17 were admitted. In S3 programme there were 6 applicants while 2 were admitted.
“The decrease was due to the difficult requirement to enroll at UGM. To increase interest, we would do promotional work at domestic and foreign universities and increase cooperation with related institutions,” he explained.