Mahasiswa UGM Menyampaikan Aspirasi Bagi Delapan Bakal Calon Rektor
Mahasiswa UGM Menyampaikan Aspirasi Bagi Delapan Bakal Calon Rektor
Students of Universitas Gadjah Mada had the chance to express their aspiration to the candidates for UGM new rector in the Aspiration Forum on Thursday (30/3) in Grha Sabha Pramana UGM.
As many as eight candidates for new rector presented their work vision for the next five years to the students. Afterwards, students gave their response, suggestion and criticism to issues emerging at UGM. The issues include the financial management after UGM became a State Owned Legal Entity University. Some students consider the university financing has burdened the students because the tuition is seen as not in line with their abilities.
“We want to know how the candidates would implement the tuition reformulation when they take office. This is an ongoing issue, we hope in the next five years this will already be resolved,” said Davin, Law student.
Other issues are student organisation management and forum for students to present their aspiration to university leadership. One student raised the question on facilities provided for the disabled people at UGM.
Finally, Chairman of Student Executive Body, Alfath Bagus Panuntun, gave their recommendation to the new rector who will be elected, which include involvement of student organisation for determining the tuition, prerequisites for student element in the Board of Trustees, improvement for security facilities and infrastructures as well as assurance of academic freedom.
The eight rector candidates responded to the student aspiration. On the status of UGM State Owned Legal Entity University, Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., Ph.D., dr. Rr. Titi Savitri Prihatiningsih, M.Med.Ed., and Prof. Dr. Ir. Ali Agus, DAA., DEA. shared the views that this status was not to perpetuate liberalisation and commercialisation of higher learning, but autonomy has to be optimised so that the resources can be more efficient and effective for the wider public.
“Since its establishment, UGM had been granted autonomy by the state because the mandate is to prepare a generation better than the previous one,” said Ali.
To add to this, Dr. Drs. Paripurna, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M. and Prof. Dr. Mudrajad Kuncoro, M.Soc.Sc. as State Owned Legal Entity University, UGM may have possibilities for creative funding so that the university financing would not be burdened to the students.
“The funding that is improved is not on possible affairs only, this is the consequence of the State Owned Legal Entity University. This obviously has to be done without burdening the students,” said Paripurna.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., Dr. Erwan Agus Purwanto, M.Si., and Prof. Ir. Dwikorita Karnawati, M.Sc., Ph.D. responded to the student aspiration issue, agreeing that communication is the best way to resolve issues and differences.