Bachelor and Diploma graduates are expected to be the agent of change in the community by doing innovative programs to develop products that benefit society. Even so, the movement needs the support of government, universities, and the private sector so that later on the young people could create innovative high quality and competitive products. This was conveyed by the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D., in front of 1,735 graduates, Thursday (25/8), at UGM Grha Sabha Pramana.
According to the Rector, Indonesia should imitate Korea. Although the independence day of Indonesia and Korea was only two days apart, in fact the development of Korea is now even more advanced than Indonesia. It can be proved by the value of GDP per capita. "Today's GDP of Korea has reached 30 thousand dollars while our GDP has just reached 5000 dollars, or 1/6. It's very ironic," said Dwikorita.
Dwikorita explained in the era of 1970s, Indonesia and Korea were emerging countries. But 30 years later, Korea was able to progress rapidly. "This is homework for us to create competitive technology," she said.
To the graduates, Dwikorita advised them to be able to drive the changes in society, to be a lifelong learner, "Be a lifelong learner, be a tough alumni," she explained.
In the same occasion, the Rector reported that UGM passed 1,735 graduates consisting of 488 bachelors and 1,247 Bachelor Associate Experts. In this graduation, the youngest graduate of the bachelor program was Kemala Hudaya of International Relations Department who graduated at the age of 19 years 9 months and 1 day. While from the Diploma program, Ahmad Fauzi became the youngest graduate of Forest Management, Vocational School, who graduated at the age of 19 years 4 months and 30 days.
Grade point average (GPA) for the graduates of bachelor program is 3.36. While the average GPA of vocational school graduates is 3.36. The highest GPA for Diploma level is achieved by Herman Herfiantoko of Geomatics Engineering Department, Vocational School, who managed to graduate with a GPA of 4.00.