“Stay in touch, be well connected” is a slogan of alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This time UGM greets its alumni in Malaysia on Saturday (30/03). UGM Greets Alumni event in Malaysia is an agenda of UGM for the alumni to get connected to the university.
The event was done in the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by 40 prominent alumni, Malaysian or Indonesian working or studying in Malaysia.
Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng, said UGM was aware that no university in the world can progress without the support of the alumni. Hence, UGM greets its alumni in the country and abroad.
“The event like this aims to gather suggestions from the alumni for UGM through their expertise and what UGM can help with to support the work of the alumni,” he said.
Panut said UGM is a university that puts forward inclusivity and a place to learn for people from various backgrounds. UGM pays attention to those from outermost region as well as remote and underdeveloped regions. UGM works with partners to support the development of these categories.
“One of the programmes to be launched is student community service to help Indonesian immigrant children who work in oil palm plantation in Sabah and Sarawak. UGM is proud and will continue to increase the relations between university and alumni,” he said.
Agung Cahaya Sumirat, Counsellor for Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs of the Indonesian Embassy, welcomed the UGM ideas regarding the student programme in Sabah and Sarawak.
In a dialogue between the Rector and alumni led by Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, the alumni gave suggestion on developing UGM and student soft skills.
An alumnus of UGM, Prof. Noriah Mohammed, expressed his pride. “I can be where I am now thanks to Universitas Gadjah Mada, and I’m proud to be UGM alumnus,” he said.
Awaluddin Berwanto, S.T., M.M., Kagama Malaysia chairperson, suggested the attending alumni in Malaysia.
“Hopefully, the new board of executives would be more solid and active in supporting programme launched by UGM for its alumni,” he said.