“I encourage all graduates to be ready to contribute to Indonesia through their respective fields of service,” she said during a graduation ceremony at Jember University (Unej), which was held in the university’s auditorium building here on Saturday.
According to the deputy minister, graduates can use the competencies and knowledge they acquired during their time at the university to contribute to national development.
These skills and knowledge, which form a part of their intelligence quotient (IQ), must be complemented by their emotional quotient (EQ), she explained.
She said this can be manifested by nurturing a sense of concern and empathy for their surroundings, actively contributing to solving problems in their environment, and adapting to the changing times.
“You are a part of the intellectual community, expected to possess both reason and morality as well as knowledge and technology, and conscience through emotional intelligence. If both are combined, you will be able to adapt to the changing times,” she explained.
She then cited current challenges, including the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which has led to addiction to gadgets and social media.
“I hope students and graduates will become agents of change, starting within their own communities, as the challenges we face today are very different from those in the past,” she said.
Tan also expressed happiness upon learning that the majority of Unej students are female, which indicates that more families are supporting and giving opportunities to their daughters to pursue higher education.
“This shows that both boys and girls are equal. The ratio of access to education between males and females can serve as a model where families provide equal learning opportunities,” she said.
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Translator: Zumrotun, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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