Director General for Crop in Agriculture Ministry, Sumarjo Gatot Irianto, said institutions in agriculture education in Indonesia need to play their role and make change to deal with technology disruption. Therefore, new actors or players are required among the millenial generation that have innovative works and dare to face uncertainties in the future.
“History has proven that pioneers always come from the young generation who is not satisfied in their comfort zone, unlike the older generation,” said Gatot delivering scientific remarks during the 72nd anniversary of Faculty of Agriculture UGM on Thursday (27/9).
He asked agricultural graduates to grab the opportunity and make the disruptive era an opportunity and be a player in it instead of consumer.
“The millenial generation that is resilient is the key,” he said.
Besides, Gatot said there was the need to make change in agriculture teaching concept remembering that there is a plenty of free education in the digital world. Along with the growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity, agricultural decision is now sourced on data, not managers who may be subjective. “During these times, we did not want to change but still rely on old textbooks,” he said.
Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Jamhari, in Dean’s annual report said that Faculty of Agriculture UGM had made use of information technology for the production of science website to disseminate knowledge for the general public.
“All members of society can access this which is the result of research and community service of UGM academic community,” said the Dean. The website is kanalpengetahuan.faperta.ugm.ac.id.
While on learning quality enhancement, Faculty of Agriculture has encouraged student’s active role in accessing latest information sources through access to national and international journals, as well as availability of learning modules.
UGM Vice-Rector for Research and Community Service, dr. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.d., congratulated the Faculty on the anniversary. “In its 72nd anniversary, I hope Faculty of Agriculture will be more advanced and contribute to science development and people’s welfare,” she said.
Ika mentioned that Rector of UGM appreciated the Faculty’s rank which is the first in the country in food research and plantation based on a survey done by Research, Technology, and Higher Education Ministry in 2018.