Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., said there was no university in the world that flourished without the engagement of its alumni. According to Panut, alumni had major role in terms of ideas or financial contributions.
“The role of alumni to their university can make the university flourish because they can give input such as curriculum ideas that meet the requirement of the industry and society, also in scholarship provision, thoughts, etc,” he said in Aryadutta Hotel in Medan, North Sumatera, on Sunday (19/11) during the UGM Greets Alumni event.
In the event with the North Sumatera Branch UGM Alumni Association, the rector said that UGM would continue to greet its alumni. This is expected to strengthen the association, hence strong networking.
Rector told the alumni about the ranking of UGM in the QS World Rangking which was 402 in the world and number 1 in Indonesia. While in the Times Higher Education ranking, along with UI and ITB, UGM ranked among 801 – 1000.
“These rankings are not apart from the role of alumni to the university, that’s why we continue to communicate with and listen to suggestions from alumni related to the university’s education, research and community service mission,” he said.
Furthermore, he asked the alumni to sustain the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, thus UGM always re-enhancing Pancasila and UUD 1945.
“The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia has to sustain. As the university of struggle, UGM wants to guide the nation’s civilisation whilst generating graduates who have good and noble characters.” UGM builds the character by instilling the noble values since new student induction event. “UGM respects differences while upholding unity,” he said.
Chairman of North Sumatera Alumni Association, dr. Tuahman Purba, M. Kes., Sp. An, said that with 800 members, many things had been done by the Association to build North Sumatera.
“We gather together, for instance through the Pojok Kagama group to discuss problems in North Sumatra, social project, sports, or humanitarian work, for example during the Mt. Sinabung eruption. We that are multiethnicities are united to build North Sumatra and Indonesia,” he said.