Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is expanding access to equal opportunities for new student selection in Indonesia’s outermost regions through the Talent Search for Outstanding Students Selection (PBU) for Affirmative Action and Frontier, Outermost, Underdeveloped (3T) Areas.
This expansion of access through disseminating information on UGM’s Affirmative Action Program is now targeting North Kalimantan.
Equal access efforts were carried out by introducing the PBU admissions for potential new students on Thursday (May 16) in collaboration with the Agriculture and Food Security Office of North Kalimantan Province.
The event occurred at the University of North Kalimantan. It featured a speaker, Dr. Endang Sulastri, Head of the Sub-directorate of Education and Teaching Development at the UGM Directorate of Education and Teaching.
On this occasion, Dr. Sulastri presented PBU for Affirmative Action and 3T Areas as a manifestation of UGM’s tri-dharma activities, which include education, research, and community service.
“Here, I hope that many outstanding students from these regions will pursue undergraduate education at UGM, graduate, and then return to their regions to rebuild with the knowledge they have gained,” Dr. Sulastri expressed.
In her presentation, Dr. Sulastri introduced the participants to UGM. To enhance the participants’ insights and interests, she included information on the advantages and career prospects of each study program at UGM and the procedures and requirements for the PBU pathway.
She also explained that for this pathway, UGM opens selection through three schemes: PBU for Students from Low-Income Families (PBUTM), PBU for Outstanding Students (PBUB), and PBU for Affirmative Action and 3T Areas organizing UGM’s tri-dharma activities.
For the affirmative and 3T pathway, applicants must obtain recommendations from the UGM Alumni Family (Kagama), the local government (provincial or regency government), and the regional Head of the Education Office.
It was mentioned that regions categorized as affirmative and 3T areas are predetermined according to the Rector’s Decree.
“So, there are specific regulations for affirmative and 3T regions. The list of these regions can be found on um.ugm.ac.id,” she explained.
Dr. Sulastri emphasized that the local government must also state its willingness to cover students’ living and education expenses during their education at UGM, including, if necessary, matriculation.
Additionally, the study programs chosen by applicants for the affirmative and 3T area pathway must align with the Regional Excellence Development Plan.
For schools, she highlighted that students must be in the top 25 percent of their class to qualify for the affirmative and 3T areas pathway. Therefore, academic achievement requirements are mandatory, and applicants who have achievements outside of academics must include supporting documents.
“These documents must be included for evaluation, especially proof such as championship certificates in recognized National Achievement Center (Puspresnas) events. All detailed information regarding this achievement pathway can be found on um.ugm.ac.id,” she elaborated.
During the opening remarks, the head of the Agriculture and Food Security Office of North Kalimantan Province, Heri Rudiyono, mentioned that North Kalimantan currently has the potential to have more than 20 factories and around 53 oil palm plantations. With this potential, skilled personnel from the local youth are needed.
“I urge the local youth not to feel inferior. An entry pathway is available through the affirmative and 3T area program. Don’t miss this opportunity due to lack of information,” he stated.
Considering this need, he mentioned that the North Kalimantan Provincial Government invited and brought in speakers from UGM directly. Potential candidates from the province can use this opportunity to gather as much detailed information as possible about the selection pathway.
Author: UGM Directorate of Education and Teaching/B. Diah Listianingsih