A total of 10,678 new students are participating in PIONIR Gadjah Mada. PIONIR Gadjah Mada is an activity focused on learning, introduction, potential exploration, and orientation for new students.
PIONIR 2024 represents a transformation from the previous orientation called PPSMB. This year’s PIONIR Gadjah Mada carries the theme “Gadjah Mada Collaboration, Indonesia’s Excellent Generation.”
The PIONIR Gadjah Mada ceremony was led by UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, at the Grha Sabha Pramana field, Bulaksumur, on Monday (Jul. 29).
In addition to university and faculty leaders, the President Director of PT Jasa Raharja attended the ceremony. Dr. Rivan Achmad Purwantono, an alumnus of the UGM Faculty of Philosophy (Philosophy UGM), gave a speech to the new students.
During the PIONIR ceremony, the rector had the opportunity to present the university blazers to several new UGM students.
Among them were Ariani Nisma Putri (Putri Ariani) from the Faculty of Law (FH UGM), Alfian Adicandra from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), Yanditia Shafa Nadhiya from the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM), Malya Cetta Parahita Danisworo from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UGM), Haifanuha Luna Lilatata Kusuma from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), and Mohammad Attar Fiqis from the Vocational College (SV UGM).
“This is the first day new students enter our beloved campus to participate in PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024. Welcome, young Gadjah Mada. We are very proud to welcome you all. You are the ones who have successfully fought to become part of the Great Family of Universitas Gadjah Mada,” said Rector Ova Emilia in her opening remarks.
She stated that the new UGM students are chosen individuals. They have been selected from many others who aspired to enter Universitas Gadjah Mada, overcoming tough competition.
The rector believes that the new students have poured their physical, mental, and spiritual efforts into securing their place at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
During PIONIR, new UGM students are encouraged to enjoy the event, make new friends, and acclimate to the new environment they will engage with for the next four years.
“Young Gadjah Mada are great pioneers with a strong commitment to becoming an excellent generation with capabilities and competitiveness to become Indonesia’s leaders in the next 10–20 years,” she said.
Many new experiences await, and UGM wants to ensure new students enjoy, cherish, and are happy during this week-long PIONIR activity.
Through the theme “Gadjah Mada Collaboration, Indonesia’s Excellent Generation,” UGM hopes that students not only explore the necessary knowledge but also engage in interdisciplinary cooperation and embrace the campus’s intelligent, inclusive, cultural, and dignified learning environment, upholding Pancasila values.
“You will interact with various fields of study from different faculties, regions, cultures, and even mother tongues. From this, she explained, you will gain an education that integrates intellectual and emotional intelligence as a primary parameter in facing global ecosystem challenges and changes,” the rector added.
Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito, added that PIONIR Gadjah Mada is committed to making this campus orientation an initial step in supporting a sustainable lifestyle and raising environmental awareness, especially through the principle of zero waste.
He said the transition to zero waste is the responsibility of the committee, the university, and each individual. UGM encourages new students to become agents of change.
He explained, “Start with daily habits such as bringing your own water bottle and lunch box, avoiding plastic bags, and supporting recycling programs on campus.”
New students were also educated through direct implementation by sorting waste. This initiative aims to build awareness and skills in new students to apply zero waste principles from their first day on campus.
Of the 10,678 new students, 8,815 are in the undergraduate program, and 1,863 are in the applied undergraduate program.
Of these, 1,003 students, or 9.34%, receive financial aid through the KIP-K and PBU for Students from Low-Income Families (PBUTM) programs. By gender, there are 4,332 male and 6,346 female students.
For the undergraduate program, 166,162 high school graduates chose UGM as their first, second, or third choice among 71 study programs. This year, 46,770 students chose among 22 study programs for the applied undergraduate program.
As a manifestation of UGM as a national university, in 2024, as in previous years, new UGM students come from all provinces in Indonesia. Additionally, there are five international students from France, Norway, Australia, and Laos.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto