Universitas Gadjah Mada continues to collaborate with regional governments. This time, UGM builds cooperation with South Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province. The mutual desire between those two parties in the implementation of national development led to an agreement. The assignment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was done by Agus Feisal Hidayat, S.Sos., M.Si. as the Regent of South Buton and Prof. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng. as UGM Rector on Wednesday (27/9) at UGM main office.
UGM and South Buton Regency agree to conduct a cooperation on education, research, and community service sectors. The two parties also agree to build cooperation in enhancing the governmental functions and community service in South Buton Regency. In addition, the cooperation will also be conducted in various sectors corresponding to each party’s function and authority.
In the occasion, the Regent of South Buton presented various potential of South Buton Regency in front of UGM Rector and the leaders of the university. One of those potentials is agriculture with cashew as its featured product. According to Agus, one of the issues in cashew plantation in South Buton is the low productivity.
“Therefore, we need support from UGM to help us increase the productivity of cashew as the featured product of South Buton,” said Agus.
On the other hand, UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono hopes through this cooperation, there will be many activities done by the two parties, including the implementation of Students Community Service Program in South Buton, giving training for the regional government, and performing research regarding population as well as tourism. UGM has human resources that can encourage the development of the regency.
“Principally, UGM through its faculties and study centers will be gladly arranging relevant events required by South Buton Regency,” said Panut.