The Visit of “SMAN 1 Sawahlunto” Sumatera Barat to IPB
To provide opportunities for students to plan their future by attending the higher degree of education, SMA Negeri 1 Sawahlunto,Padang, West Sumatra, made an official visit to Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)on Tuesday, 14 May 2014. The delegationwas consisted of 49 male and female students of 10th and 11thyear, and 13 teachers. The delegation was officially received by the Head of Promotion of IPB, Dr. DVM. M. Fahrudinat the IPB Green TVbuilding. The SMA Negeri 1 Sawahluntodelegation wereled by their Principal, Dra. Sri Sumarni. In her remarks Dra. Sri Sumarni stated "It is expected that this visit will be followed by signing the MoUbetween IPB and SMAN 1 Sawahlunto, to increase the number SMAN 1 Sawahluntostudents who will be admitted to IPB,".
The objectives of the visit as stated by the Principal of SMAN 1 Sawahlunto, Dra. Sri Sumarni in her remarks, "The visit is provide overview and motivate students of SMAN 1 Sawahluntoto pursue their higher degree. As they have high interest to pursue higher degree of education, therefore we bring them to IPB. We expect that IPB as a one of leading universities in Indonesia will provide first handinformation on how to get into the university and will motivate our students to select the right place according to their talents and interests, "she said.
Further she stated, "We are very grateful and proud that total number of students who were admitted into IPB by SMPTN system this year were 13 students, though those number are less than the predicted number students who were qualified to be admitted by IPB. Data in the last two years, there are as many as 20 of SMAN 1 Sawahluntostudents who are now students of various Faculties of IPB ". Item of the reception program planned for this visit was started by general presentation by the Head of the Promotion Program, Dr .DVM . M. Fahrudin, who talked on the strategy to get into IPB, then IPB in brief, and life in the campus. All of those were presented clearly and convincing, then it was followed by a question and answer session. One of the delegates, Ms. Erniwati, a teachers enquired on how to get the Regional Representative Scholarship (BeasiswaUtusan Daerah – BUD), further she asked whether selectionto be granted for the scholarship will be based on their score records? Another teacher, Ms. Sasmi, she asked how toget the superiorseeds of papaya, why IPB’ superior papaya is not so popular in the community in large, but in fact the imported papaya which is known in the communities? The third question was raised by FaniNurlela, the female student who enquired on how to be admitted into the favorite Department in the respective Faculty such as Food Technology, Agribusiness, or other Departments under the Faculty of Human Ecology and the School of Veterinary Medicine?
All questions were clearly answered by Dr. Fahrudin, with regard to the BUD, the fellowships is administered by the local government. The local government will select the best male and female students from their areas who are interested in continuing their studies to IPB, the qualifiedstudents then will be sent to IPB. For papaya, most people misunderstood on the Calinapapayawhich is produced by IPB, in their perception that Calinapapaya is the imported fruit. As for how to get into the favorite Departmentsunder the Faculties ofIPB, it needs careful strategy as the demand is so high, thus, it requires tough competition. Actually, all the Faculties and Departments of IPB are good quality, evidence shows the number of graduates who were recruited by national and international institutions and companies.
Effect of the visit, hopefully in the future SMAN 1 Sawahluntowill produce generation who will integrateintellectual, intelligence, and emotional with the spiritualintelligence, to enable Indonesia to be strong independent nation to welcome the advanced technology and to be competitive with other nations, especially the Southeast Asian region. (Wied)
