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Overseas programs attracting Indonesian graduates
Degrees of happiness: Several smiling international students leave Rotterdam Hall in the Netherlands following their graduation ceremony
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Degrees of happiness:: Several smiling international students leave Rotterdam Hall in the Netherlands following their graduation ceremony. Graduation is a much-awaited and treasured moment, during which students receive their academic degree. (JP) (JP)
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span class="caption">Degrees of happiness: Several smiling international students leave Rotterdam Hall in the Netherlands following their graduation ceremony. Graduation is a much-awaited and treasured moment, during which students receive their academic degree. (JP)
Earning a Master's degree from a reputable university abroad builds a stronger bridge that connects to a brighter future.
More and more Indonesians enter the job market immediately after completing their four years at college. For some young professionals, however, enrolling in and graduating from a Master's program at an overseas university is deemed a choice that could make a lifetime difference in their career.
Alfa Tampubolon received her Bachelor's degree from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta in 2012. She then moved to Jakarta and scored a promising job with a Korean electronics giant. Earlier this year, she quit her job to pursue a master's degree in Marketing Management at Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
'Looking at how people value the degree, I see that enrolling in a Master's program itself has already become an added value. On the other hand, companies need to make sure whether people earning Master's degrees are able to turn their knowledge into reality,' she said.
Alfa planned to further her studies even before she graduated with a Bachelor's degree. She believes that a Master's degree promises a more practical experience of the theories she studied during her undergraduate years. Erasmus University is known for its research-oriented programs; for that reason, she hopes her enrollment at this institution will add value to her resume.
According to statistics released by UNESCO, the Netherlands is one of the top destinations for Indonesian students studying abroad and the number of students has doubled since 2012. This year, Erasmus University welcomed over 900 students from 93 countries, with Indonesia in the top three countries of origin.
The Marketing Management program at RSM had 163 students last year, 34 percent of whom were international students. Aside from Marketing Management, RSM also offers Masters in Supply Chain Management, Global Business & Stakeholder Management and Strategic Entrepreneurship for students coming from non-business related undergraduate degree programs, while students aiming for an academic career can look into an MPhil in Business Research.
But when it comes to choosing a university, location is less a factor than how the school scored in world rankings. 'I chose a major that interested me. Then I checked the major and school rank of that particular university,' Alfa said. RSM has topped several international surveys including one conducted by The Financial Times.
Jonathan Jordan, a Master's graduate from the University of Bath, the United Kingdom, agreed.
'Firstly, the college must be of a good reputation so you can be certain that you are receiving a high quality education. Except for the top three or five, the rest of the top 10 to 20 usually do not have any significant difference. A reputable college will have all the supporting facilities and network in place to support your course,' he explained.
Of course, in the back of his mind, Jonathan knew he would apply for a Master's degree ' it was just a matter of finding what he wanted to study specifically. A Master's degree is important for jobseekers, in his opinion. 'My Master's degree program was a project-based course, so it gave me an opportunity to explore more on related subjects without the constraints of conventional lecture and tutorial structures.'
Currently working in Singapore, Jonathan considers having studied away from his home country (Indonesia) an advantage when it comes to life. 'To live somewhere with a different environment and culture will give you a precious experience. It is an education in itself.'
Unlike Rotterdam, Bath is a small city two hours from London with a small number of Indonesian students. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath, the campus is home to over 15,000 students, one third of them enrolled in graduate programs.
The university was recently named the best in student satisfaction in a survey conducted by UK National Student Survey (NSS), placing Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Psychology on top with perfect scores.
Many argue that studying abroad means more majors to choose from, particularly for Master's programs which are more specific than undergraduate studies. Jonathan decided on a combination of design and physics, a major called Innovation and Engineering Design. 'I can't stress enough how important it is to find the right course based on what you like. Once you find the right major, you will enjoy the course. My Masters was very fun.'
Indonesians don't have to travel all the way to Europe to find a reputable overseas university though. Singapore has for a long time been a popular destination for Indonesians seeking a high quality overseas education. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is one of the leading institutions in the city-state island, offering a sophisticated range of world-class studies.
The National Institute of Education (NIE), which is autonomous of NTU, offers programs delivered through the Office of Teacher Education and the Office of Graduate Studies & Professional Learning.
In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014, published this month, NTU has risen 15 positions from 76th to 61st position in the world and was ranked 10th in Asia.
As quoted by The Independent Singapore, NTU president Professor Bertil Andersson said, 'By continuing to attract the best and brightest professors and students from Singapore and around the world, I expect that NTU will break into Times Higher's top 50 universities in a few years' time.'
(Ruth Ninajanty)
