Australian Members of Parliement of Australia Visited Bogor Agricultural University
Seven members of parliament of Australia visited Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), on Monday, 3 September 2012, in Darmaga Campus. IPB Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, M.Sc., warmly welcomed those VIP guests of Australia. Senator Hon Richard enqueried tips of IPB to increase the interest of the Indonesian youth on agriculture. "How the interest of young Australians on agriculture have decreased. Agricultural schools become less attractive. Is similar situation also occured at IPB? "
Rector responded, that such situation is also occured in the provincial universities. But specifically IPB, the animo of high school students to pursue their higher degree program at IPB is still very high. "We socialized our university to provincial areas as well as to provide insight that agriculture is not just planting only. The socialization has enabled to change their perceptions on agriculture. As a result the number of prospective students for IPB have increased significantly this year, "said Rector.
With regard to the questions of one senator’s wife on ratio of gender of IPB students, Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Ir. Yonny Koesmaryono, MS responded that 60 percent of students of IPB are women. "Every year we have difficulty problem concerning the availability of room for them at the dormitory. The limited rooms for female students have been our contraints every year, as the majority of best students of the Indonesian high schools who passed the selection system for IPB are female students, "said Prof. Yonny
The senators also asked many questions such as the historical background of IPB, the international relationships with Australia, Indonesia government policy on agriculture and so on. Present on the special occasion, Director of Cooperation and International Programs, Dr.Rinekso Soekmadi and Sub Director of International Programs, Dr Muhammad Agil.
