Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Vocational School Mechanical Engineering Diploma Program starting from the 2012/2013 academic year will open a new interest concentration, Hexindo-Gadjah Mada Heavy Equipment Diploma Program. The new interest concentration complements the two programs that have been existing over the years, Manufacturing Engineering Program and Automotive Engineering Program, Suzuki-Gadjah Mada. "The inauguration of this new program intends to meet the industry needs of graduates to control heavy equipment," said Chairman of Mechanical Engineering Diploma Study Program, Dr. Wikan Sakarinto, Tuesday (14/2), on the sidelines of the UGM Mechanical Fair 2012.
In relation to the opening of this new concentration, Wikan explained that his office works together with the industry, in this case PT. Hexindo-Hitachi, in support of college infrastructure. It is expected that Diploma of Mechanical Engineering, UGM Vocational School will become a pilot project for other universities that have the same study program. "With the new interest, Human Resources and the Laboratory, many universities will learn here," says Wikan.
The main reason for the establishment of the Hexindo-Gadjah Mada Heavy Equipment Diploma Program is because the market still lacks human resources that are able to control heavy equipment. For example, PT Hexindo has about 72 thousand heavy equipment being operated only by three thousand employees. "Thus, there are still many job opportunities for heavy equipment graduates," he said, adding that there are about 12 similar companies that have thousands of heavy equipment.
For this year, the study program is still limited to D3 (diploma three) with two classes, each has 30 students. Meanwhile, manager of Mechanical Engineering Vocational School gradually initiated the D4level. "Academic Senate has already approved and gava formal recommendations for us to submit a proposal to open D4 program. However if the situation is not permissible for that, we will still open D3 this year," he added.
Instructor in Mechanical Engineering of the Vocational School, Triyana Novika Dewi, ST., MT., added that prospective students of the new department will be learning about the heavy machinery, application and maintenance. So far, the use of heavy equipment has been operated by graduates of vocational school and maintenance personnel trained by the company in a long time. With the new interest it is expected they are better prepared. "Therefore, we equip graduates who are ready to work on the field," she said.
The use of heavy equipment, said Dewi, is actually quite easy depending on frequency of the use. In addition, it takes instinct and adequate equipment to complete the maintenance and controlling skill of heavy equipment. In total, there are 23 courses that have been opened by the Vocational School with emphasis on the skills to fit the needs of the market. "This department is proof that the skills become the focus in its education," Triyana Novika said.
The fourth Mechanical Fair lasted for three days from 14 to February 16, 2012, enlivened with industry exhibition. In the activity that takes place at the turf of Vocational School Laboratory, various competitions are held, including automotive, computer numerical control programming (CNC), metrology and pneumatics-based machine automation control.