YOGYAKARTA – Manager of UGM student dormitory, again, holds soft skill training for new students who will stay for one year in the dormitory. They will get a variety of personal development materials presented by speakers from inside and outside UGM. Some of the materials presented are about UGM’s values, how to have great dreams, self-confidence, the key to success, and how to sell yourself. There are also materials on effective communication, creative and positive thinking and to be productive leaders. Furthermore, there are more on being effectively organized, action oriented, becoming student entrepreneurs, and also action plans.
Boyke R. Purnomo, chairman of UGM Student Dormitory Manager, said the personality development training is done to add supporting skills for UGM students. Therefore, after graduating college, they are expected to have noble character and personality and ability as potential leaders. "To be a successful leader, technical knowledge alone is not enough, it needs supporting skills," Boyke said at the opening of training activities in the Dharmaputra Dormitory, Saturday afternoon (17/9).
Boyke mentioned within a month, the training can be done 2-4 times. This activity is a must for all students in UGM dormitories. "It sounds rather pushy, but if done continuously, students will get used to it," Boyke added.
Drs. Heri Santoso, M. Hum., a researcher at Center for Pancasila Studies (PSP) UGM, while providing material about the philosophy and the noble values of UGM told them the history of UGM founding, which was once as a means of struggle through knowledge to fight against ignorance and underdevelopment. In its journey, UGM is known as a populist university because it is oriented to people’s interest. "People often refer to it as “rural” university because, previously, most of UGM students come from villages and UGM shows great concern to rural communities," he said. According to Heri, as a form of commitment to democracy and the rural areas, UGM becomes the pioneer of student field practice in rural areas.