Bantul- UGM and Bantul Regency government collaborate in the development of sciences, technology and community empowerment. The cooperation was marked by the signing of MoU on the improvement and development of resource potential of Bantul Regency in education, research, and community service. The event took place in the Parasamya Hall Bantul Regency Office, Friday (27/5) night. The signing of the MoU by Vice Rector of Alumni and Business Development, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., and Regent of Bantul, Hj. Sri Suryawidati, was continued by reflection event of Bantul earthquake and the inauguration of the committee of the 180th Anniversary of Bantul regency.
In his remarks, Prof. Atyanto Dharoko said that the handling of the Bantul earthquake five years ago was considered as quite successful. It was based on an assessment of university visitors and foreign governments, such as Japan, which visited UGM. According to Toni, Prof. Atyanto Dharoko’s nickname, one successful action in handling the earthquake in Bantul is because its people were not evacuated out of the region so that sense of togetherness and mutual cooperation remained there. "They appreciate that the handling of earthquake in Bantul is quite successful. One of the reasons is the decision not to move people out of the region, unlike the case of earthquake in Japan. As a result, the handling of earthquake victims in Japan is longer than Bantul," Toni said.
According to Toni, the success will be more meaningful if it is expressed in a book. This book will become a reference and a lesson for regions / cities and even other countries to learn. One thing that should not be forgotten is the role of science and technology. "This experience can be transmitted to other nations to be learned and shared as mutual experience," he said.
On that occasion, Toni also briefly mentioned UGM’s role in the development of science and technology that continues to receive appreciation and recognition from foreign countries. On the national level, this year UGM managed to get a Competitive Institutional based Grant Program (PHKI) from Directorate General of Higher Education. It is expected that this program will be also successful with the encouragement and participation of Bantul community. "Bantul achievement in education and sport has been great recently. I hope the success can inspire UGM’s upcoming programs," Toni hoped.
Meanwhile, Regent Hj. Sri Suryawidati welcomed the cooperation, especially up to now UGM has plenty experiences in the development of science, technology and community empowerment. Through the next program it is expected that human resources quality in Bantul will improve. The Regent also mentioned the achievements made by Bantul, namely the student (Atik Fajaryati) who gained the highest grade of National Exam and Persiba football club which succeeded to become champion of Indonesian Main League 2010-2011; these will boost other achievements. "We certainly do not want to stop here. Going forward, we will continue to make achievements," Sri Suryawidati said.
Signing of a MoU on accelerating local wisdom and potential-based regional development through research findings was also conducted. This was done in order to empower community in Bantul for sustainable welfare as a model of national development. The signing was done by Director of UGM Planning and Development, Ir. Adam Pamudji Rahardjo, M.Sc., Ph.D., with Secretary of Regional Development Planning Board of Bantul, Ir. Pulung Hariyadi, M.Sc., witnessed by Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., and the Regent.