Center for Pancasila Studies passed the selection of Cluster Excellent Research year 2011. The UGM team consisting of Arif Akhayat, M.A., Hastangka, Diasma Sandi Swandaru, and Cahyo Gumilang passed the selection for their research with the theme "Grand Design Konten Museum UGM: Media Transformatif Pembelajaran Nilai ke-UGM-an dan Ke-Indonesia-an" (Grand Design of Content of UGM Museum: Transformative Learning Media of UGM and Indonesian Values).
Talking about the research, Arif Akhyat representing the Team said that Universitas Gadjah Mada is the oldest and the largest university in Indonesia. In its history, UGM is not separated from the heroes and founding fathers who were struggling for and securing Indonesia’s independence. “Many heroes during the Independence War were even produced by Universitas Gadjah Mada,” he said on UGM campus, Friday (12/8).
Therefore, no wonder if UGM is considered as a university of struggle and people’s university. UGM became the transformative media in science, social and nationalism. “With its roles, UGM gets closer to the community, because the roles have become inseparable parts from UGM,” Arif Akhyat added.
Many references and documents noted UGM as a university which has big contribution to the nation and state. Unfortunately, only certain people have this understanding. Meanwhile, there are plenteous documents about UGM’s contributions in community service, education or academic. Therefore, these should be introduced, managed and cultivated for the community to know UGM better.
Arif Akhyat said that the archives and information about UGM do not “live” if they are only stored in a shelf and filing cabinet. However, UGM’s limited room to display the history of UGM’s establishment, thoughts and achievements has also limited people to be able to know about UGM values. “Great reputation is not only in story but it should be implemented in real form,” Arif said.
Therefore, the research conducted by UGM is the right thing to do. It is because in many other universities in Indonesia, value disorientation and the loss of philosophical standing occured. Many universities even do not know about the essence of the establishment of a university.
Therefore, this research attempts to categorize, find strategic values and contents which are important and useful for learning media for every person who visits and wants to know UGM closer and deeper. “The Grand Design of Content of UGM’s Values Museum certainly becomes the standing point for the UGM values museum. It is expected that in the future, visualization of historical struggle values and roles of UGM would become the transformative learning media for academic community and the public,” Arif concluded.