David Jardine
Leading universities in the world’s fourth most populous nation are making serious efforts to deal with high unemployment among their graduates. The situation facing Indonesia is typical of other developing countries.
The data and analysis centre of Tempo, the country’s leading current affairs weekly magazine, broke fresh ground last year with its Guide to Universities and Job-matching Programs of Study. Reflecting the widespread unease at the high annual rate of graduates either failing to find work or having to settle for apparently unsuitable positions, the Tempo centre set out to assess the ‘marketability’ of graduates from the nation’s top 10 universities.
The study covered state and private institutions and found that in Indonesia, “the higher one’s education the smaller the chance one will get a job”. Research by Jobs DB, an Indonesian employment information service, reported that 50% of graduates were trained in disciplines that did not match job openings.
This leads directly to the perception that universities are not paying attention to the needs of the market and changes in it. Some institutions, however, were found by the centre to be conducting market research and carrying out internal reforms.
These included the number one-placed University of Indonesia (UI), which has a mandatory English-language element to its placement test, and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, which networks with agricultural bodies.
Some institutions now have links with companies through apprenticeship schemes for undergraduates. The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) has developed these through its engineering faculty.
A number of leading institutions, among them UI and ITB, Gajah Madah University in Jogjakarta and the November 10 University in the East Java capital Surabaya, have joined an Asia-wide university consortium to improve practice. This has resulted in a number of them being placed in the Times Higher Education Supplement-QS World Top 500 rankings, with UI at 250, ITB at 258, Gajah Madah at 270 and Diponegoro University at 495.
One relevant item of assessment in the Times Higher table was the market absorption of graduates.Leading education reform campaigner, Professor Mochtar Buchorim, is one of those who believe the nation’s heavily bureaucratised education system is in need of a comprehensive overhaul. This would necessarily require replacement of the standardised multiple-choice national university entrance examination.
Source: http://www.universityworldnews.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
ILO Gender Equality campaign highlights need for rights, jobs and social security for older women and men
GENEVA (ILO News) ─ Despite increasing international attention to ageing societies and older persons, in many societies, older persons and especially older women, still face age discrimination in the workplace and lack access to rights, jobs and social security, the International Labour Office (ILO) said today on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.
“We need new age solutions to old age problems, especially for older women”, says Jane Hodges, Director of the ILO Bureau for Gender Equality. “Women in old age are particularly vulnerable because they are often stuck in unpaid, low-paid or part-time and precarious work. As a result women often lack any form of pensions, rights or other social benefits enjoyed by men. What is more, their lower pay engenders an endless cycle of gender-based poverty.”
The rights of older workers have long been on the agenda of the ILO. The Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162) specifically applies to all workers, women and men, who are liable to encounter difficulties in employment and occupation because of advancement in age.
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging (2002) has made it clear that in order to build a society fit for people of all ages the international community needs to rethink the conventional course of working life.
Older persons should be able to choose to work, be it full- or part-time, and benefit from social security, old-age benefits, retirement benefits or long-service benefits. However, in many countries, the absence or low coverage of social protection systems compel older women and men to continue working, often in the informal economy and in precarious conditions, in order to afford a decent living.
Access to retirement through adequate pensions and health care is part of the ILO’s core mandate and an integral component of its Decent Work Agenda. The ILO’s Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) sets minimum standards for a comprehensive social security system. The ILO Social Security Department promotes this and other relevant conventions through its Global Campaign to extend social security to all women and men.
In June 2009, changing demographics and gender equality in the world of work are both to be discussed at the ILO’s annual International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Source: http://www.ilo.org
“We need new age solutions to old age problems, especially for older women”, says Jane Hodges, Director of the ILO Bureau for Gender Equality. “Women in old age are particularly vulnerable because they are often stuck in unpaid, low-paid or part-time and precarious work. As a result women often lack any form of pensions, rights or other social benefits enjoyed by men. What is more, their lower pay engenders an endless cycle of gender-based poverty.”
The rights of older workers have long been on the agenda of the ILO. The Older Workers Recommendation, 1980 (No. 162) specifically applies to all workers, women and men, who are liable to encounter difficulties in employment and occupation because of advancement in age.
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging (2002) has made it clear that in order to build a society fit for people of all ages the international community needs to rethink the conventional course of working life.
Older persons should be able to choose to work, be it full- or part-time, and benefit from social security, old-age benefits, retirement benefits or long-service benefits. However, in many countries, the absence or low coverage of social protection systems compel older women and men to continue working, often in the informal economy and in precarious conditions, in order to afford a decent living.
Access to retirement through adequate pensions and health care is part of the ILO’s core mandate and an integral component of its Decent Work Agenda. The ILO’s Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) sets minimum standards for a comprehensive social security system. The ILO Social Security Department promotes this and other relevant conventions through its Global Campaign to extend social security to all women and men.
In June 2009, changing demographics and gender equality in the world of work are both to be discussed at the ILO’s annual International Labour Conference in Geneva.
Source: http://www.ilo.org
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Asia-Pacific Regional MDG Road Map 2008-2015
Abstract
The main objective of the regional MDG road map is to provide a framework for ‘delivering as one’ – in the form of a regional partnership – in adding value to national development strategies and processes in the ‘off-track’ countries and in those below the Asian average in achieving the MDGs. In identifying these countries, both the trends and the absolute levels of their performance have been considered. Attention is also given to ‘on-track’ countries so that they do not fall behind, and lessons learnt from their successful experiences can be studied and disseminated. It should be emphasized that this is not a road map for the countries to reach its MDG targets. Each country, given its own circumstances, is expected to have in place a variety of development strategies, plans and programmes. The regional MDG road map takes these policies, strategies and processes as ‘given’ and aims to add value to national-level efforts by regional-level action.
Source (PDF Full Text): http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/MDGRoadmap/MDGRoadMap2008.pdf
The main objective of the regional MDG road map is to provide a framework for ‘delivering as one’ – in the form of a regional partnership – in adding value to national development strategies and processes in the ‘off-track’ countries and in those below the Asian average in achieving the MDGs. In identifying these countries, both the trends and the absolute levels of their performance have been considered. Attention is also given to ‘on-track’ countries so that they do not fall behind, and lessons learnt from their successful experiences can be studied and disseminated. It should be emphasized that this is not a road map for the countries to reach its MDG targets. Each country, given its own circumstances, is expected to have in place a variety of development strategies, plans and programmes. The regional MDG road map takes these policies, strategies and processes as ‘given’ and aims to add value to national-level efforts by regional-level action.
Source (PDF Full Text): http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/MDGRoadmap/MDGRoadMap2008.pdf
The Power of Peasant Community: A Sociological Prespective of Social Fact Paradigm
Nugraha Setiawan
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, March 2008, 10(1): 58-67
Abstract.
The study is aimed at understanding of peasant community power phenomena in rural of Indonesia. The anlyzing used sosiological approach with “social facts” paradigm, what argued that its were external to, and coercive over, individuals, and then analyzed by the force relations phenomena of power theory of Foucault. The result of the study showed, peasant still has been powerless, because the dominating of urban community and institution of rural outsider. The conditions made peasant powerless more and more..
Keywords: power, peasant, rural, social fact.
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, March 2008, 10(1): 58-67
Abstract.
The study is aimed at understanding of peasant community power phenomena in rural of Indonesia. The anlyzing used sosiological approach with “social facts” paradigm, what argued that its were external to, and coercive over, individuals, and then analyzed by the force relations phenomena of power theory of Foucault. The result of the study showed, peasant still has been powerless, because the dominating of urban community and institution of rural outsider. The conditions made peasant powerless more and more..
Keywords: power, peasant, rural, social fact.
Population Dynamics and Globalization: the Unresolved Dilemma of Population Momentum
In spite of the level of economic development, governments of the region are increasingly challenged to provide the basic needs for a growing population - adequate housing, sanitation, health care, education, and job opportunities - and to combat poverty, narrow the gap between rich and poor, and to generally improve the standard of living. In addition, the region''s scarce water resources need to be managed in the face of growing demand. Unemployment is highest among young people and women. Women face the highest rate of unemployment in the world. According to the ILO, the largest gender gaps in unemployment are found in the region. Furthermore, despite government''s efforts in the area of education, the number of illiterate adults continues to increase in some countries. Additionally, due to high population momentum, savings and investment are low and in some countries 85% of the national income was spent on consumptions during the 1990''s.
The vital question is how would these countries be able to apply an export led growth strategy, stimulated by technical progress, while its young population constitutes unparalleled momentum to population growth. One-third of the region ‘s population is under age 15. Over the next 15 years, these children will enter the labour force. Furthermore, to prepare its growing working-age population for the labour market, these countries require a much greater investment in human resources, including greater support for skills training for young people, increasing female literacy, and increasing the economic options for women. In addition to higher investment in human resources, further savings and investments are needed to meet the requirements of integration into the world economy. These countries should increase their economic growth rate while maximizing productivity level through technical progress .To be incorporated in the world economy and to be a globalizer, the formula is to overcome the trade-off problem between productivity levels and the number of workers i.e. achieving sustained economic growth through technical progress. This involves a sharp increase in savings and investment rates, together with reductions in the workforce growth rates.
Given such unfavourable and demanding situation, it is not surprising that some 300 million people in the Middle East - are being left behind. As the World Bank put it "These economies have contracted, poverty has risen, and education levels have risen less rapidly than in the more globalizes countries". Due to high population momentum and low rate of technical progress, these countries have been unable to increase their integration in the world economy; their ratio of trade to GDP either remained flat or declined.
Source: http://www.escwa.un.org/popin/index.asp
The vital question is how would these countries be able to apply an export led growth strategy, stimulated by technical progress, while its young population constitutes unparalleled momentum to population growth. One-third of the region ‘s population is under age 15. Over the next 15 years, these children will enter the labour force. Furthermore, to prepare its growing working-age population for the labour market, these countries require a much greater investment in human resources, including greater support for skills training for young people, increasing female literacy, and increasing the economic options for women. In addition to higher investment in human resources, further savings and investments are needed to meet the requirements of integration into the world economy. These countries should increase their economic growth rate while maximizing productivity level through technical progress .To be incorporated in the world economy and to be a globalizer, the formula is to overcome the trade-off problem between productivity levels and the number of workers i.e. achieving sustained economic growth through technical progress. This involves a sharp increase in savings and investment rates, together with reductions in the workforce growth rates.
Given such unfavourable and demanding situation, it is not surprising that some 300 million people in the Middle East - are being left behind. As the World Bank put it "These economies have contracted, poverty has risen, and education levels have risen less rapidly than in the more globalizes countries". Due to high population momentum and low rate of technical progress, these countries have been unable to increase their integration in the world economy; their ratio of trade to GDP either remained flat or declined.
Source: http://www.escwa.un.org/popin/index.asp
Labor Structure and Labor Force Participation Rate in Rural of Indonesia: Analyse of 2006 National Labor Force Survey
Nugraha Setiawan
Journal of Socio Economics, June 2007, 13(1): 31-39
Abstract
The study is aimed at analyzing labor structure in rural area, by carrying out study on working age population, labor force, and labor force participation rate. Secondary data analysis approach was used in this study. The data form Sakernas (National Labor Force Survey) 2006 was analyzed by a descriptive statistical analysis. The result of the study showed that proportion of working age population and labor force in rural area it was more younger and lower education than urban area. However, if we take look at rural labor force participation rate was more higher than urban area, in the all of age and education attainment groups.
Keywords: age, education, labor force, labor force participation rate, rural.
Journal of Socio Economics, June 2007, 13(1): 31-39
Abstract
The study is aimed at analyzing labor structure in rural area, by carrying out study on working age population, labor force, and labor force participation rate. Secondary data analysis approach was used in this study. The data form Sakernas (National Labor Force Survey) 2006 was analyzed by a descriptive statistical analysis. The result of the study showed that proportion of working age population and labor force in rural area it was more younger and lower education than urban area. However, if we take look at rural labor force participation rate was more higher than urban area, in the all of age and education attainment groups.
Keywords: age, education, labor force, labor force participation rate, rural.
Friday, September 26, 2008
The Change of Urban Concept in Indonesia: An Implication on Analyzed of Urbanization
Nugraha Setiawan
Journal of Population Studies, January 2006, 8(1): 1-10
Abstract
The difference and change of urban concept usually make the analyzed of urbanization more difficult. In spatial analyze, the difficult will find if has used a different urban concept with the other region in the same year, and also in a different time. Since population census 1961 until 2000, urban concept in Indonesia has changed four times, the same concept just used on 1980 and 1990. That changed had no implication to spatial analyzed, because the applied of that concept had to take place on the nation. But, it is very implicated to time series analyzed, because reclassification of region witch caused by a changed of urban concept.
Key words: urban concept, analyze of urbanization, Indonesia.
Journal of Population Studies, January 2006, 8(1): 1-10
Abstract
The difference and change of urban concept usually make the analyzed of urbanization more difficult. In spatial analyze, the difficult will find if has used a different urban concept with the other region in the same year, and also in a different time. Since population census 1961 until 2000, urban concept in Indonesia has changed four times, the same concept just used on 1980 and 1990. That changed had no implication to spatial analyzed, because the applied of that concept had to take place on the nation. But, it is very implicated to time series analyzed, because reclassification of region witch caused by a changed of urban concept.
Key words: urban concept, analyze of urbanization, Indonesia.
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