IMPROVING THESES QUALITY THROUGH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURES AND SERVICES

IMPROVING THESES QUALITY

THROUGH PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURES AND SERVICES

Abstract. As far as I know, database about theses, research grants and contracts that have been conducted are not available in most universities in Indonesia. This condition raises some problems, i.e. (1) the difficulties in detecting whether certain research has already been conducted or not at any institution, (2) the tendency of plagiarism, and (3) the difficulties in advancing science and technology due to the failure to consult the documented. Glancing at the lack of thesis quality and the tendency of plagiarism, this article aims at offering “Improving Theses Quality Through Public Infrastructure on scientific information system, and designing strategic plans that cover mapping and planning thesis, projecting net-working between universities and increasing access to valuable information on research by designing interactive CD.
Key Words: Theses Quality, Public Infrastructures and Services
The vision of any Study Program in ex-LPTK (Institute of Teacher Training and Education) in global era, should be similar to the vision of the Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE) at State University of Malang, i.e. to make itself a center of excellence and a reference institution in the fields of education, research, and application of science and technology related to the program with the view to meet the demands of the society for professional teachers. Accordingly, the mission of The Study Program is to carry out education with the major purpose of producing high-quality graduates who are professional in teaching, research, and community service. Moreover, these graduates are ready to compete in the labor marker which demands high proficiency in their field of specialization (SPAE 2002).
As far as research quality is concerned, university af Glasgow is among those committed to the research ethics and this is reflected not only in the achievements of individual researches, departments and centers but by university’s commitment in term of planning and budgeting (University of Glasgow 1995).
Glancing at the lack of thesis quality and the tendency of plagiarism, this article aims at offering “Improving Theses Quality Through Public Infrastuctures and Services” which focuses on projecting infrastructure on scientific information system, and designing strategic plans that cover mapping and planning thesis, projecting net-working between universities and increasing access to valuable information on research by designing interactive CD. These need university’s commitment in terms of planning and budgeting.

1. Projecting Infrastructure on Scientific Information System

Scientific Information System is a must for academic atmosphere for being centers of excellence and reference institutions in the field of education, research, and application of science and technology, as shown in some universities in Australia, Singapore, and China visited by Bonaventura (Jawa Pos August 2,2005). Therefore there are two kinds of Information System as samples will be presented below, i.e. library network in University of California at Berkeley, Computing Facilities in University of Glasgow and University Microfilms International (UMI) Dissertation International Services.

1. Library Network at University of California at Berkeley

The UC University’s on-line information service of its central library connects most buildings on campus, one undergraduate library and 23 schools libraries, and is connected to supra system in California that is on-line with libraries of 9 UC’s campuses and 22 campuses of California State University. Besides, the network has been connected with other universities libraries like Harvard, Stanford, Oxford and so forth. This allows you to reach library catalogues and bibliographic services over the network and had been running since the 80s when Indonesia had not been aware of internet (PPS UI 1999).

1. Computing Facilities at University of Glasgow

The computing services is responsible for running the central computers systems, the Campus network, and a number of microcomputer clusters. It also provides supporting services to help you use computers effectively, including training courses, documentation, on-line information services, an advisory service, and shop where you can buy software and computer supplies. Most departments have their own computer systems which you will also be able to use, but the Computing service facilities and supporting services are available to all. The larger central computer is a Sun Sparc Center 1000 which runs the Unix operating system (University of Glasgow 1995).

1. University Microfilms International (UMI) Dissertation Information Services

Below is a short description about UMI’s Dissertation Information Services, its database and how it works. UMI’s Dissertation Information Services is a program publishing, bibliographic, and copy services which enables the researcher to locate doctoral dissertations, and to acquire copies of those manuscripts published by UMI. The foundation upon which these services is structured is UMI’s comprehensive dissertation database, one of the largest and most widely used bibliographic information files in the world.
The Dissertation Database. UMI’s dissertation database is a computerized index containing bibliographic citations of more than 850.000 North American Doctoral dissertation dating back to 1986. In addition, citations to 25.000 masters’ these are included in this valuable information file. More than 30.000 dissertation citations and 25.000 masters’ thesis citations are added to UMI’s dissertation database each year. New citations are entered into the database each month.
UMI’s Search services. Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI) published monthly includes abstracts of doctoral dissertations submitted to UMI by nearly 400 participating institutions in North America and throughout the world. Each author-prepared abstract, up to 350 words in length, describes in detail the original research project on which the dissertation is based. Most of the approximately 30.000 dissertations published by UMI each year are abstracted in DAI and may be purchased in microform or as paper copies.
Monthly issues of DAI include approximately 2.500 abstracts printed in three separate sections (a) The Humanities and Social Sciences: communication and the arts; education; language, literature and linguistic; philosophy, religion and theology; social sciences; (b) The Sciences and Engineering: Biological Sciences; Earth Sciences; Health and Environmental Sciences; Physical Sciences; and Psychology, (c) European Abstracts, published quarterly and including abstracts of dissertations in all disciplines accepted for doctoral and post-doctoral degrees at European institutions.
Database and Online Search Services. One of UMI’s most valuable search services is DATRIX Direct, a computerized search and retrieval system. Updated monthly, DATRIX Direct gives researchers direct access to the dissertation database. Because the researcher controls the search by selecting subject categories and key-words, DATRIX Direct is one of the most useful research tools available for state-of-the-art information in specialized fields.
Attaching importance to infrastructure on the above information systems, a university should project computing facilities especially library network that includes one with other universities. Secondly, projecting Dissertation Information Services should be done by a group of universities, foundation or planned by Directorat General of Higher Education. Another alternative is each university serves all research reports conducted by students and academic staff that can be accessed from the internet.

2. Designing Strategic Plans

Designing strategic plans that enhance these quality includes mapping and planning theses, projecting net-working between universities and increasing access to valuable information on research by designing interactive CD.

1. Mapping and Planning Theses

In line with the above vision and mission, each Study Program should set up two major objective: (1) to improve its academic performance and make its field of specialization more relevant to the community needs, and (2) to improve students’ specific proficiency to meet the market demands (SPAE 2002). To achieve these objectives concerning with research, mapping and planning these must be carried out.
As far as I know, database about theses, research grants and contracts that have been conducted are not available in most universities in Indonesia. This condition raises some problems, i.e. (1) the difficulties in detecting whether certain research has already been conducted or not at any institution, (2) the tendency of plagiarism, and (3) the difficulties in advancing science and technology due to the failure to consult the previous studies which have been poorly documented (Murtadho 2001).
Therefore, planning a thesis should be conducted on the basis of (1) the mapping of theses, research grants and contracts, (2) the database on the community needs in education for all levels, and (3) the database on journals and other academic writings. The plan should be divided into annual plan for short terms and each five years for long terms, so that theses as well as research grants are more relevant to the community needs.

1. Projecting Net-Working Between Universities

Net-working between universities can be implemented in two versions, one that includes all study programs in universities and another one that concnerns a certain study program. The former can be implemented as projecting Dissertation Information Services shared by a group of universities that contain (1) humanities and social sciences: communications and the arts; education; languange; literature and linguistics; philosophy, religion and theology; social sciences; and (2) the sciences and engineering: biological sciences; earth sciences; health and environmental sciences; physical sciences; and psychological.
The latter, net-working between certain program, let say The Study Program of Mechanical Engineering (SPME) – either educational or noneducational – including University of Indonesia, Institute Technology of Surabaya, State University of Malang, and other universities which have the same study program.

1. Designing Interactive CD

Being aware of the effectiveness on using interactive CD for improving theses quality, especially for young researchers, designing interactive CD is a valuable project. Therefore, I would like to show you an example of The Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE)’s interactive CD. It contains (a) the objectives of using CD, (b) a guide in writing both of quantitative and qualitative proposal, (c) planning proposal in tight time, (d) database on theses, research grants, articles, and journals, (e) sites related to Arabic education and other languages education.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bonaventura. 2005. Pelajaran dari Austalia, Singapura dan China: Universitas (Bertaraf) Internasional, Seperti Apa?. Jawa Pos August 2,2005.
European Leage. 1985. University Microfilms International (UMI) Dissertation Information Service. New York: NY Press.
Murtadho, Nurul. 2001. “Peningkatan Kualitas Penelitian dalam Bidang Sastra, Sastra dan Budaya Arab” dalam AL-HADHARAH: Bahasa, Sastra dan Budaya Arab, Jurnal Ikatan Pengajar Bahasa Arab di Indonesia Th. 1, No. 2, Agustus 2001.
Program Pascasarjana Universitas Indonesia, 1999. Buletin Program Pascasarjana Universitas Indonesia. Jakarta: UI Press.
The Study Program of Arabic Education (SPAE). 2002. Development for Undergraduate Education (DUE)-like. Malang: University of Malang.
University of Glasgow, 1995. Profile of a University. Scotland UK: Linneys ESL.