The UGM’s 2023 orientation program, PPSMB Pionir, was officially opened on Monday (31/7), carrying the theme “Gadjah Mada Initiative, Accelerating the Nation’s Civilization.”
“This year’s orientation aims to ignite the young Gadjah Mada students’ spirit as they embark on their learning journey at the university with a sense of responsibility in shaping their characters as progressive, creative, and innovative individuals who uphold the Universitas Gadjah Mada values,” said the Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, MD.
This year, UGM has welcomed 10,106 new students, consisting of 8,317 undergraduate students and 1,789 applied undergraduate students. They are distributed across 93 study programs in 18 faculties and one school.
The new students come from all provinces in Indonesia, and there are also students from Malaysia, England, and Germany participating in double degree or undergraduate programs.
In her speech, the UGM Rector emphasized that education is one of the critical elements in optimizing the quality of human resources and providing opportunities for the future.
UGM, she explained, has made various efforts to fulfill its commitment to education and knowledge development, such as through innovative and inclusive regional empowerment programs in Indonesia.
Additionally, with the Targeted Kampus Merdeka, UGM provides opportunities for students to strategically enrich their competencies and skills. The program also facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration among students and various stakeholders.
“The university is not just a place of learning. The university has now become a form of ecosystem synergy for developing knowledge, technology, and innovation across disciplines that can accelerate civilization,” said the rector.
In addition to accepting new students from all provinces in Indonesia, UGM reserves 13.4% of new student slots for recipients of the Kartu Indonesia Pintar (KIP) Kuliah tuition assistance, formerly known as Bidikmisi.
This aligns with UGM’s commitment to developing an inclusive campus, opening educational access to all Indonesian citizens, including those economically, socially, and geographically disadvantaged.
During the occasion, Rector Ova Emilia stressed that as learners, UGM students should be aware of their roles and responsibilities throughout their education.
Students are encouraged to continuously cultivate competency, collaborative spirit, adaptability, creativity, and innovation as part of the intellectual learning culture.
“I hope you participate in the series of activities of the 2023 PPSMB Pionir Gadjah Mada with discipline and responsibility. Make this campus a space for developing your character and intellectual life, to become outstanding individuals who impact the acceleration of our nation’s civilization,” she stated.
The PPSMB consists of the university-level orientation for two days on July 31 and August 1, the faculty/school-level orientation on August 2-3, soft skills training on August 4-5, and an action plan on August 7-12.
Author: Gloria
Photographer: Firsto