SPEECH BY THE CHAIR OF THE WIDYATAMA FOUNDATION MANAGEMENT BOARD AT THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY AND 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WIDYATAMA FOUNDATION BANDUNG, JANUARY 3, 2010
Bismillahirahmanirrahim Dear Advisors, Management of the Widyatama Foundation; My respected Widyatama Advisory Board and invited guests; My respected Rector of Widyatama University and all of his staff; My beloved lecturers, employees, and student representatives; Assalamu ‘alaikum warahmatullahi wabarokatuh. Peace be upon us all. Let us give praise and thanks to God Almighty, Allah Subhanahu wata’alla, because today we are able to gather together to attend the culmination of the Widyatama University Anniversary and the 37th Anniversary of the Widyatama Foundation, held in the multipurpose room of Widyatama University. May we all still have the opportunity to gather like this in the coming year, with the permission and blessing of Allah Subhanahu wata’alla.
Furthermore, it is not too late for me to take this opportunity to wish a Happy Eid al-Adha 1430 H and a Happy New Hijri Year to our Muslim friends, a Merry Christmas to our Christian friends who celebrate it, and a Happy New Year 2010 to all of us. May in 2010 we all receive more blessings and progress in the spirit of togetherness as we welcome a better future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The theme of this anniversary celebration is “Thank You, Widyatama,” which embodies my respect, gratitude, and appreciation as the founder of this educational institution to all individuals and organizations who have contributed their energy, finances, materials, and ideas to advance education at our beloved and proud Widyatama University. I would also like to express my special thanks and appreciation to the Rector and his staff, whose innovation and hard work have succeeded in improving the quality of education at Widyatama. In addition, I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to the lecturers, employees, and students who have worked tirelessly to advance education at our beloved Widyatama.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Before I continue with this speech, I would like to give a brief introduction. This morning at around 8:00 a.m., we all participated in and witnessed the “Widyatama Book Fence” activity, the result of the work of the academic community of Widyatama University, which is a source of great pride. This activity was carried out as an effort to enhance togetherness and benchmark Widyatama. May the work of our brothers and sisters be remembered forever and become a milestone in the journey of Widyatama’s academic community toward a better future. Through these activities, I invite the academic community, especially lecturers and university and faculty leaders, to increase their awareness, I repeat, to increase their awareness of the importance of higher quality educational institutions, while also improving the professionalism of lecturers in carrying out this noble mission. Let us make this activity part of our process of caring and working together to improve the quality of education at our beloved Widyatama University.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This century is known as the knowledge age. In this century, the challenges of educational development have not become any easier. The paradigm of educational development has entered an increasingly complex and diverse realm. The educational paradigm in the knowledge age era prioritizes lifelong education. The learning process, which is more focused on a holistic framework, requires a change in the lecturer-student relationship from a formal hierarchical one to a partnership-based one.
Therefore, education management in this century is required to be able to provide education that is increasingly modern, professional, and transparent. In the interest of transparency, Widyatama Management has published its financial position report and external audit report by the public accounting firm Sanusi, Supardi & Soegiarto, with an unqualified opinion, in the Pikiran Rakyat daily newspaper on Thursday, December 31, 2009.
Ladies and gentlemen
Educational management must be able to make educational institutions as organizers of teaching and learning processes that are of higher quality. Consequently, the education that we provide must be able to make fundamental changes in the development of the quality of the lecturers’ profession. The lecturers we greatly hope for in this age of knowledge are those who have strong faith and piety, a high spirit of nationalism, mastery of science and technology, and a vision for the future. Lecturers should be able to become educators who are increasingly professional, creative, and dynamic. Educators who are capable of creating an innovative learning environment. Educators who are capable of fulfilling multiple roles as facilitators, motivators, communicators, transformers, and even agents of change. In line with this, ladies and gentlemen, lecturers must be able to reform learning methodologies that are oriented towards students rather than lecturers. With these multifunctional roles, lecturers are expected to be able to impart knowledge and technology, while also shaping the attitudes, spirit, and character of their students so that they can survive in an era of increasingly fierce competition.
My dear guests,
To make Widyatama University “one of the modern and excellent universities” is indeed a long journey, requiring high commitment and consistency from all of us. However, we must admit that in recent years, as an educational institution, Widyatama has continued to grow and develop, and has achieved and received numerous recognitions, as well as an increase in the number of student enrollments. However, on the other hand, there are still many things that we must improve, perfect, and continue to enhance, including the teaching and learning process, the ratio of lecturers to students, teaching and learning support facilities, the quality of human resources, the quality of leadership, and alumni.
Distinguished guests
In conjunction with the commemoration of the University’s 8th Anniversary and the 37th Anniversary of the Widyatama Foundation, various events have been held since mid-September 2009, culminating in today’s event, Widyatama Bersama Dalam Cita. All of these events have been organized with a spirit of dedication, care, and gratitude as a reflection or expression of the happiness of the Widyatama Family for the blessings and achievements that we have been able to accomplish. We have also made an important and proud mark in history, as for the second time, several Widyatama University lecturers have been certified by the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, entitling them to receive a Teacher Certificate as formal recognition of their status as professionals in higher education. This lecturer certification is one of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s efforts to improve the quality of national education and improve the welfare of lecturers by encouraging them to continuously improve their professionalism.
To the lecturers who have received the Educator Certificate, I sincerely hope that you can set an example in terms of quality as educators with noble character. To the lecturers who have not yet received the Educator Certificate, I hope that you will continue to work hard and increase your participation in improving the quality of education, especially at Widyatama University. I believe in your hard work will paid off.
Distinguished guests
On this auspicious occasion, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the organizing committee and other participants who have supported and made a success of the series of events commemorating the 8th anniversary of the University and the 37th anniversary of the Widyatama Foundation. Let us make this commemoration a historic milestone so that we can be more enthusiastic and strive harder to achieve even greater success in the future.
Not to forget, I would also like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Supervisory Board and Management Board of the Widyatama Foundation, who have devoted all their energy and thoughts to advancing this foundation. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Rector, Deans, Academic Community, and Alumni of Widyatama University, who have shown their dedication and loyalty in bringing pride to Widyatama University. Finally, in conjunction with this commemoration, I invite all parties to commit to increasing our enthusiasm and dedication in order to achieve greater success in the future for both the Widyatama Foundation and Widyatama University.
May Allah Subhannahu Wata’alla always bless and protect every step of our struggle going forward. Amen. That is all, and thank you.
Wabillahi taufik Walhidayah, Wasasalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarolatuh.
“RAISE THE FLAG OF DUTY”, “FACE THE CHALLENGE”, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY WIDYATAMA”
Bandung, January 3, 2010
Widyatama Foundation Management Board
Prof. Dr.Hj. Koesbandijah A.K., S.E., M.S., Ak.
