Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) academics celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia by carrying an online ceremony on Monday (17/8).
As implementing health protocols, the flag ceremony was held on a limited occasion at the Balairung yard by officers. Meanwhile, the ceremony participants attended remote via UGM Youtube channel from their respective homes.
UGM Chancellor, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU., ASEAN, Eng., in delivering his speech online encouraged UGM members to take lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic has strengthened the Indonesians’ fundamental characteristics for unity in diversity in the form of enhancing solidarity and cooperation regardless of ethnicity, religion, and class.
“The Canthelan movement by KAGAMA colleagues, cooperation in building and maintaining health protocols in villages, raising funds, distributing necessities, and others has become commonplace we have seen lately,” Panut said.
Not only that, but the Covid-19 pandemic also spurs creativity. Various innovations were born from both intellectuals and ordinary people to fight together to end the pandemic. For example, at UGM, there are multiple innovations born to overcome this pandemic. The innovations are in the form of ventilators for ICUs, artificial sensor systems (GeNose), Covid-19 rapid detection tools (RI-GHA 19), thermal gate scanners, smart swab booths, mask sterilizers (Viona), face shields with 3D printing technology, and production of bio-disinfectant from turpentine. Next, the development of herbal products increases body immunity, as well as the development of big data management and analysis to help mitigation and knowledge management.
Panut said that Indonesia had made various progress and successes until the age of 75 this year. Even so, there are still unattainable state goals. Indonesia’s natural wealth has not been able to provide equitable prosperity, and the economic system still leaves gaps, especially during this pandemic.
The Central Statistics Agency released data as of March 2020; the data is shown the percentage of poor people was 9.78 percent or 26.4 million people, while the near-poor people who were prone to falling into poverty reached 7.45 percent or 19.9 million people.
“This condition is a challenge that we must react positively to as a booster of our enthusiasm and courage to maintain advancing the Indonesian nation,” Panut said.
According to him, the Indonesian people should not waste time in an era of intense global competition. Working hard together without boundaries is the key to achieving just progress in Indonesia.
“As stated by President Joko Widodo, this is the time for us to change fundamentally, improve to major transformations, carry out big strategies. We plow the momentum of this crisis to take big leaps,” he explained.
On that occasion, the winners of the UGM choir competition also launched virtually to commemorate the 75th Indonesian Independence Day. The first rank won by the UGM Directorate of Human Resources choir team. Next, in order of two to five positions, namely UGM Academic Hospital, UGM Institutional Relations, FIB UGM, and RSGM UGM.
Author: Ika
Photo: Firsto
Translator: Natasa A