?Today, we need to link this with internationalism, in the sense that the nation needs a kind of nat
KARAWACI, May 21, 2008 — Rector of Universitas Pelita Harapan Jonathan Parapak has called on the nation to proportionally place the idea of nationalism in the context of Indonesia ?s position in the globalized world.
In the past, when people talked about nationalism, it was always about the struggle against colonial rulers, Parapak said in an interview with CampusAsia magazine on May 21.
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?Today, we need to link this with internationalism, in the sense that the nation needs a kind of nationalism that needs internationalism,? Parapak theorized a day after thousands of people had poured into Senayan Stadium in Jakarta to commemorate the centennial celebration of National Awakening Day.
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Nationalism should not be taken as a narrow concept of identifying one?s self or interest as being different from people of other nationalities. ?Nationalism must be placed in the context of globalization,? Parapak said, adding that the key issue the nation should think about was how to master science and technology in order to confidently compete in the global arena.
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?Because of that our concept of education and all the endeavors therein must be geared toward transforming human beings holistically so that they may be able to compete in the globalized world,? the rector said.
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?Our system of education must also be able to encourage the growth of creativity because people with little or no creative capability cannot compete in the globalized world.,? he noted.
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Parapak made the remark a day after Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had called on the nation to increase self-reliance and reduce dependence on other nations.
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Education observers say that reducing the nation?s reliance on other countries? technology and expertise is an idea that would only remain in dream unless Indonesia conducted an overhaul of its education system to the extent that students receive holistic education and their talents are developed optimally through cooperation with the world?s top centers of excellence.
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UPH is in fact on the right track to promoting such kind of education as evidenced by its frequent exchanges with foreign universities.
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By: Alin Damanik,? CampusAsia
Published by :
Public Relations of Universitas Pelita Harapan
publicrelations@uph.edu
