Moh. Mahfud MD: Higher Education Should Produce Scholars
Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Moh. Mahfud MD, SH stated that a university should produce the statesman and scholars or intellectuals. "This country has a lot of universities that only produce people who holds university degrees but in fact they can not utilize the knowledge they earned significantly for their country," said Mahfud in Public Lecture for incoming cohort of the School of Graduate Studies of Bogor Agricultural University, for Odd Academic Year 2010 / 2011, with theme ‘Higher Education and Globalization in Constitutional Perspective’, Saturday, 21 August 2010, at Grha Widya Wisuda, Darmaga.
We regret to know that many scholars as universities products thus far have involved in various crimes, such as corruption after they occupy public positions. Further, according to Mahfud, bachelor is the degree they got after they have completed their universities. Wherease public intellectual or scholar is someone who is smart, intelligent, punctuaty and have scientific thinking. Public interlectual are not only scholars who have completed theeir tertiary education, but those who are dedicated for the community development, capturing their aspirations, and translate those aspirations in the understandably language, and find an alternative strategy of solving the problems.
"This is what an intelligent person should be as stated in the opening of our Constitution. Smart is not just his brain, but his life. Smart is more directed to know and be able to sort out what is good and right, whichever is worse, "said Mahfud. It demands the life of an intelligent awareness of self-esteem, responsibility, honesty, independence, endurance, creative, productive and emancipative.
Furthermore, Mahfud stated on nation’s constitution of the conception on the intellectual life of the nation, the common knowledge and technology developed in our education, should be returned to its three basic principles of science. Those 3 (three) principles are: 1st, Science is integral, not dichotomous; 2nd. The knowledge in its application should be impartial or not neutral; and 3rd. Scientific truth is not only based on brains and sheer logic, because it could be from unlogical sources. Science does not integral dichotomy, its development is derived integrally from religious knowledge and general science.
All the knowledge derived from religion, therefore, there should be no separation between religion and non-religion. Science and technology must be directed for the safety and prosperity of mankind. "Scientific truth is not only based on brain or logic. Many facts are beyond our logic or ghoib. Not all things can be mathematically calculated and exact, because the human mind is limited," said Mahfud.
On that occasion Mahfud has reaffirmed reason to cancel the Laws on State-owned Legal Entity (BHP). In the said laws the university will be allowed for commoditization of its educational potentialilities to become commodity or goods for a profit. "If this happens in higher learning institutions, it tends to cut access of the lower and middle-class citizens for education opportunity. In fact, providing education is the state obligations and it is the rights for all citizens, "he asserted. Commoditization of education is the impact of globalization and global competition of universities.
Dean of the Graduate of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof.Dr.Ir. Khairil Anwar Notodiputro reported the total number of incoming cohort of 2010 has reached 1037 (one thousand thirty seven) students out of the 1086 (one thousand eighty six) applicants. "The incoming cohort of 2010 is from various institutions and different parts of the country. He aknowledged their trusts to select the School of Graduate Studies of Bogor Agricultural University as the venue for to pursue their studies," says Prof. Khairil.
Meanwhile Rector of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof. Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, in his remarks requested that the graduate students should keep on studying and will finalize their studies on time. "They should not become student who loves to receive love letters from the dean, as this will cause problems to all parties, either to their families or their home institutions, and hopefully they accompalish their study successfully. Develop a good culture and communication, as they will assist them to accomplish their studies, "stated Rector. Present in that general audience were the Deputy Dean of the Graduate School of Bogor Agricultural University, Dr.Dedi Jusadi, Secretary of the Graduate School for Doctoral Program of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof.Dr. Marimin, Secretary of the Graduate School for Masteral Degree Program of Bogor Agricultural University, Dr.Ir. Naresworo Nugroho, Vice Rector of Bogor Agricultural University for Resources and Development, Prof.Hermanto Siregar, Vice Rector of Bogor Agricultural University for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Prof.Yonny Koesmaryono and the Deans of the Faculties of Bogor Agricultural University. (Wied)
