Despite having to wait for 4 years, Widya Kartika University’s (Uwika) effort was finally successful. Uwika’s strong determination in establishing undergraduate program of Chinese Education (S1) could finally happen later this year.
Internally, the launching of S1 Mandarin ??Language Education has been done during the graduation day, November, 24, 2012. During that occasion, there were a number of figures who had contributed to the birth of the study program. As Mr. Widyanto Tedja, SH, founder Uwika, who even in unhealthy conditions, still came to the event. In addition, Eka Budi Santosa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation of Education Teaching Indonesia (YPPI), Drs. Kresnayana Yahya, M.Sc., Chief of YPPI, wife of the late Ir. O.F. Patty (the first Rector Uwika), representatives of Adi Jasa Foundation, Institute of Chinese Education Coordinating East Java, as well as leaders Uwika were there.
The birth of S1 Chinese Education Department was started by four sides. They were Uwika, Chong Qing Normal University, Adi Jasa Foundation, and the Institute of Chinese Education Coordinating East Java. It was based on the Chinese growth conditions that were dimmer day by day since the existence of Mandarin language educators was very minimal. The situation was also worsened by teachers’ degeneration due to the policy in the new order. “If there is a competent teacher, he was definitely old. Over 50 years. Well, it’s hard to find teachers in the age between 35-50 years old, “said Budi Hermawan, SE, MTCSOL., the head of Uwika’s Chinese Department.
On the other hand, the existence of university which produced new teachers in Indonesia was still small in contrast with the need of teachers itself. Thus, from the existing conditions, the idea to establish S1 ??Chinese Education Program was finally done.
Starting in 2008, Uwika began to discuss the draft related to S1 ??Chinese Education program intensively. The process of getting the legality from the Directorate General of Higher Education (Dirjen Dikti) was taken. At that time, a team of Uwika must be willing to commute from Jakarta to Surabaya because, at that time, the process to obtain permits was done conventionally.
Despite having to fight with a conservative method, the journey taken was also not as smooth as expected. When the process was a half-eaten, th e government introduced a new policy. In 2010, each department had to be done through online. Practically, the team had to start again from the beginning, both in terms of preparing the petition and in accordance with the new files. “Including the six S2 lecturers as one of requirements as required,” he added.
Although it found many obstacles, the spirit to make it happened will not be gone. Finally, the hard work is now successful. “At first it was very pessimistic whether permission would be granted, it’s a relief, “he said.
According to him, there were only small numbers of university which provided S1 Chinese Education program especially the one which can fulfill S2 graduates lecturers as the standard of S1 program. Generally, the lecturers who taught were only S1. This also occurred at the level of secondary education. The lack of teachers was still a major problem of educational institutions in Indonesia. “I got some of the facts such as there are schools that cancel mandarin class because they have no one to teach. In fact, mandarin lesson has become a necessity, “he said. “Now, with Chinese Language Education Program (S1) in Uwika now, it is expected to be an alternative to solve the problem,” he continued.