DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CHRISTIAN GUIDANCE OPENS SCIENTIFIC WRITING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEAD/PEMBIMAS, PRINCIPALS, PAK SUPERVISORS, PAK TEACHERS, AND RELIGIOUS COUNSELING THROUGHOUT INDONESIA

Jakarta (DBK)—the Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance (Ditjen Bimas Kristen) held a soft launch of scientific writing training for the heads of the Christian Regional Office (Kabid/Pemimas) of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia, principals, supervisors of Christian Religious Education, Christian teachers, and Christian extension workers. This training was officially opened by the Director General of Christian Community Guidance, Jeane Marie Tulung, and was attended by around 500 participants online on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. In a speech read by the director of Religious Affairs, Proverbs Yowei, the Director General of Christian Guidance explained that the Scientific Writing training aims to assist the head/Pemimas, principals, supervisors of Christian Religious Education, Christian teachers, and Christian extension workers in increasing their resources as professional public servants. Yowei emphasized the importance of continuously improving human resource competence. "In addition to qualifications, HR competencies must be improved on an ongoing basis," said Yowei. Furthermore, Yowei said that the decision to hold this training was based on data and input from various parties who wanted the training to be carried out as soon as possible. This aims to strengthen the ranks of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance and provide more open opportunities for participants to hone their ability to write scientific papers through training. "Then the results of writing in the form of manuscripts or articles can be published in reputable journals at the State Christian Religious College (PTKKN), which is under the guidance of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance," explained Yowei. Yowei also revealed that scientific papers published in reputable journals at PTKKN can be used as one of the conditions for promotion on the next career path. "Of course, your scientific work will also complement articles published in reputable journals at PTKKN, in addition to articles by PTKKN lecturers and partners of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance Abroad," he added. In order to support the participants, the Directorate General of Christian Guidance has appointed journal volunteers who will facilitate the process of publishing articles in reputable journals at PTKKN. "The technical implementation of this training will begin in 2024. We invite all parties to immediately register and convey this good news to their colleagues so that they also get the same opportunity," concluded Yowei. Also present at this soft launch event are the Secretary of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance, Johni Tilaar, Director of Christian Education, Sudirman Simanihuruk, Chairman of the Implementing Program Unit of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance, Achmad Shahid, Journal Volunteers, and Journal Editor-in-Chief. This training is expected to provide great benefits for Christian ministers throughout Indonesia.