BINUS UNIVERSITY Character Building Development Center (CBDC) was established in 2001. The purpose of this center is to facilitate character education for all BINUS UNIVERSITY students. Character education is integrated with all BINUS UNIVERSITY educational programs, and includes a comprehensive program of lectures aimed at shaping a GREAT alumnus – one who is not only smart and skillful, but who also has a strong character and a good personality. This is what we mean by a Smart and Good person.
CBDC responsibility include:
- Preparing material for character education, called Character Building (CB), for all BINUS UNIVERSITY students and for all grades / years;
- Planning and developing lecturing methods;
- Training and developing the lecturer skills.
The CBDC is managed by three full-time employees, a CBDC manager, a subject coordinator (KMK), and an administration officer. This team is responsible for managing about 60 lecturers for all faculties and grades. CB I, Relationship with Self, is taken during the first and second semesters; CB II, Relationship with Others, is taken during the third and fourth semesters; CB III, Relationship with God, is taken during the fifth and sixth semesters; CB IV, Relationship with Nature, Science and Technology, and the Workplace, is taken during the seventh and eighth semesters.
Lecturer material for Character Building is divided into four series:
- Character Building I, Relationship with Self: This book discusses building a good and positive attitude for oneself. There are three main topics: Understanding Our Own Potential, Building Self-Confidence, and Improving and Developing Self.
Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to adopt a productive outlook, attitude, and behavior for themselves.
- Character Building II, Relationship with Others: This book discusses building a positive and constructive attitude with other. There are three topics: social environment, social interactions, and social behavior.
Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to describe the connection between a positive attitude and constructive behavior in a social context by respecting the social values which prevail, in order to create and maintain a peaceful co-existence.
- Character Building III, Relationship with God: This book discusses developing a positive attitude (inclusive, plural, openness, and critical) towards the various religions. The topics of this book are: believing in God, religions ceremonies, faith in real life, and tolerance between various religions.
Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to better describe the meaning of God; enjoy a closer relationship with God through active involvement in the celebration of religious days; exercise their faith in real life and live according to God’s rules; and respect and cooperate with believers of other religions to create a more civilized world.
- Character Building IV, Relationship with Nature, Science and Technology, and the Workplace: This book discuss how to develop a positive attitude towards nature and the environment, develop and use science and technology, and become a professional in the work place. The topics of this book are environmental conservation, science and technology, and professionalism in the work place.
Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to display a responsible attitude (specifically in moral sense) towards environmental conservation and the application and development of science and technology, and have a good grasp of ethical principles in their profession.
Lecturing methods have been developed to be more interesting, presenting not only theory but also numerous real case studies, showing movies that have a correlation with the topic under discussion, role playing, and field trips. In summary, it can be said that Character Building is a special subject that is obligatory for all students. Focusing on formation of character, it gives priority to humanistic values.