Isabella Agustiani, 19, says she could not live without the Internet. "I spend a lot of time online. It keeps me up to date with current events," Isabella told The Jakarta Post recently.
Isabella, a first-year student at the school of communications at Multimedia Nusantara University in Serpong, Banten, said the Internet kept her connected with friends around the world. It also helped her with research for college, she said.
Another student, Olivia Rosary, 19, said multimedia technology had help create a borderless world.
"I communicate with my friends via my cellular phone, Yahoo Messanger, Facebook and Twitter," said Olivia, who is in her first year at the school of communications at the same campus.
"This university has taught me a lot. It also teaches students to protect the environment by saving paper through extensive use of multimedia technology," she said.
Multimedia Nusantara University is a college focusing on the development of creative technology. Kompas Gramedia, a leader in the mass-media industry, supports the university's infrastructure, lecturers and internship opportunities for students.
The university first went public on Nov. 26, 2006, and opened on Sept. 3, 2007. It now has at least 1,250 students.
The university's programs aim to motivate students to get in touch with the latest technology through its various schools comprising visual communication design, multimedia communication, computer engineering, mobile information systems and mobile software engineering.
The school of multimedia communications provides students with a choice of two majors, either multimedia journalism or multimedia public relations.
Students can also choose from three optional majors under the school of visual communications design, namely graphic design, animation or digital cinematography.
The campus, covering around 8 hectares, provides students with a green environment, a large hall for events, a vast library, a sports arena, extensive multimedia laboratories and several colorful canteens.
The university also has a large library with 18 computers, 3,000 printed books and 6,000 digital books.
The university's head of animated art and design technology, Michael Gumelar, said the library planned to increase its computers and digital books. He also said no more printed books would be added to their collection.
"Multimedia means less paper, or even paperless. We need no more printed books. Students can log on to computers and find any books they need," he said.
Michael added that digital books helped students find research materials faster, as search engines allowed them to type in key words, book titles or names of authors.
Olivia said the growth of technology had changed the way people consumed news.
"We can learn a lot from people with experience in the media industry. This university has motivated me to keep up with changes, and lead a modern life."
Olivia said that the university had noted lecturers with extensive practical and academic experience.
University's rector Yohanes Surya said the university expects to become a recognized university specializing in information and communication technology (ICT) both locally and abroad.
Yohanes is the country's leading figure in physics. He provides training for Indonesia's representatives to the World Physics Olympiad, through the Indonesian Physics Olympiad Foundation (Tofi)
His students have won numerous international awards in physics. Between 1993 and 2007, 54 Indonesian representatives have attained gold medals in many international physics competitions. Indonesia has also won 54 gold medals, 33 silver medals and 42 bronze medals in international physics competitions since 2007.
The university provides a 20 percent discount to students whose parents are academicians, who have worked for a minimum of five years as teachers and headmasters. This is the university's way of showing its appreciation for their dedication to education. (nia)
For more information and registration, log on to http://www.umn.ac.id/ or visit the nearest Gramedia Book Store
Multimedia Nusantara University
Scientia Garden, Jl. Boulevard Gading Serpong, Tangerang.
Tel: (+62 21) 5422 0808 /(+62 21) 3703 9777
Contacts: Ms. Endang (0818 312 824) Mr. Marco (0817 690 9900) Mr. Barry (0817 866 750)
