We should develop knowledge globally, but at the same time we should also consider local ideas and conditions, said Prof. Dr. Komaruddin Hidayat, Rector of UIN Jakarta, in the opening ceremony of the International Conference on Education held by Graduate School Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta on Monday 15/12/2008.

Upholding the issue of globalization and privatization of education in Indonesia, the conference presented three pivotal elements in education including experts, practitioners and stakeholders. In addition to Prof. Dr. Komarudin Hidayat, among the experts were Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra and Dr. Muhammad Zuhdi from UIN Jakarta, Prof. Dr. Sudijarto from UNJ and Prof. Phil Buckley from McGill University. Meanwhile, Prof. Nizham from the Ministry of Education stood for policy maker in education, and Antarina F Amir, Managing Director of Sekolah High/ Scope Indonesia and Ibu Guru Kembar from Sekolah Darurat Kartini stood for practitioners.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Azyumardi Azra, Director of Graduate School UIN Jakarta, stated that there is an increasing tendency of higher education in Indonesia to turn from public into private good. This phenomenon has been resulted by the Indonesian government’s policy in decreasing subsidy for higher education. In the mean time, Prof. Dr. Sudijarto also noted that the Indonesian government has failed to create Higher Education in Indonesia as a strategic instrument of development. Through the implementation of Badan Hukum Pendidikan (BHP) policy the government has opened opportunities for universities to increase student fee dramatically. As a result, higher education in Indonesia has become less affordable.

To cast the balance between the ideal and the actual situation of education marketing in Indonesia, Antarina F Amir and Ibu Guru Kembar were given an opportunity to share their experiences in managing two different educational institutions. While Sekolah High/Scope Indonesia is well-known as a professionally marketed school, Sekolah Kartini is a noncommercial-based school.

Despite the different concepts of educational management held by the two schools, the speakers were in agreement in terms of their eagerness to improve education in Indonesia. Taking place in Syahida Inn UIN Jakarta, the conference was successfully attracted approximately 248 attendees. (wh)