Alumni Gathering Has Becomes a Solution for Fresh Graduate of the Department of ITSL of IPB

Since 1963, just when the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) was established, the Department of Soil Science under the Faculty of Agriculture devoted itself to Indonesian agriculture. Then, in 2000, when IPB was declared as the  State-Owned Legal Entity (PT BHMN), the name of the Department of Soil Science changed to the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources (ITSL) in 2005.

There is a unique thing in the historical background of the ITSL Department, namely the alumni gathering. During the alumni meeting the tracking study has been carried out to evaluate the performance of graduates with the users, conducted by distributing questionnaires to graduate users, followed by communication using fax, email and telephone.

Chairman of ITSL Department, Dr. Baba Barus, said the last alumni gathering was on June 2010. Some of the alumni have occupied positions in several government and private agencies. One items of the alumni gathering program was the direct discussion to get the alumni's performance, the emphasis will be given to the newly employed alumni. Further information is obtained related to the weaknesses of the graduates to carry out their jobs, especially at the beginning of work. The inability or "ineptness" of recent graduates to work and master the field conditions, although individual and scientific abilities are adequate.

"Based on the questionnaire, we will be able to collect data to track and  to improve the learning process, funds raising, and job availability," he said.

In the learning process, to improve the English proficiencies, students are assigned  to read English text book, which is then to be discussed together. Fundraising from alumni has been conducted to provide scholarships for underprivileged students. The fund is managed by an agency in the Department of ITSL named "Crisis Center".

In addition, we also provide job information, either through formal channels such as circular or informal in the form of telephone and SMSs. Typically, selection interviews for recruitment by some private companies are entrusted to the ITSL Department for, "said Dr. Baba Barus. (Wied)