[Unpad.ac.id, 13/09/2013] Minister of Trade Republic of Indonesia, Gita Wirjawan presented his piece titled “Work on Education, Strengthen Nation’s Competitiveness” in the event of Fikom Unpad’s 53th Dies Natalis.
Minister of Trade Republic of Indonesia, Gita Wirjawan is giving general lecture on the celebration of Fikom Unpad’s 53th Dies Natalis in Bandung, Friday (13/9) (Photo by: Tedi Yusup)
In his speech, Wirjawan emphasized on the importance of improving the quality of education for the nation to be acknowledged in the international scale. As a country placing at third in the biggest democracy system and fifteenth for the economic system, Indonesia has many chances to become a developed country. However, the potential has not been maximized yet, and working on education is an initial step to improve it.
“The point is we have to make sure that our education must shine; one of the efforts is by developing the quality of the graduates,” he said. Wirjawan also argued that the number of Indonesian students studying in prominent universities such as Cambridge University, Columbia University, and Harvard University is still low, compared to than those who are from South Korea and China.
He then explained that education is the major capital to strengthen the nation because the knowledge earned from education can lead to many products of technology that can be used everywhere. The Minister also wished that Unpad’s academic members can contribute to the project. “Do not be afraid. We are actually bigger than we think we are. If you want it, you will get it,” said he.
Unpad Rector, Prof. Ganjar Kurnia, Vice Rector III, Dr. med. Setiawan, and Dean of Fikom Unpad, Prof. Deddy Mulyana were also present at the lecture. Rector expressed his appreciation saying that it invites us to see the brighter future of the nation and it is in the hand of students as part of the next generation.
