Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., has inaugurated 1,023 people from UGM graduate programme, consisting of 897 master’s degree holders- 15 of whom are foreigners, 76 specialists and 50 doctors. Average study time for master is 2 years and 8 months, specialist 4 years and 5 months, and doctors 5 years and 5 months. Shortest study time of 13 years and 16 days for master is completed by Abdul Karim Susastro (Economics), for specialist Vita Yanti Anggraeni (Cardiac Disease) in 34 months and 29 days while the doctoral graduate is for Ike Nurjuita Nayasilana (Biology) in 35 months.
Average age for master graduates is 30 years and 9 months old, specialist 34 years and 4 months, and doctoral 45 years and 10 months. Youngest master graduate is Ariesta Annisaa Lubis (Management), aged 22 years and 9 months old, specialist Victoria Dewanti Arifiana (Orthodontics) at the age of 28 years and 3 months old, doctoral Rizma Adlia Syakurah (Medicine and Health), at the age of 31 years and 11 months old.
Average GPA in magister is 3.55, specialist 3.68, and doctoral 3.67. Highest GPA of 4,00 in master is earned by six people, specialist is Prima Ananta Putra (Orthodontics) and Nadia Akita Dewi (Dermatology and Venereology) with GPA 3.96 respectively, doctoral, 4,00, earned by three people, one of whom is also the fastest to graduate, Ike Nurjuita Nayasilana (Biology).
In his remarks, the Rector congratulated the graduates. He said they became part of the big family of UGM alumni who are spread across the country and the world.
The Rector also said that year 2018 was a political year with the implementation of regional elections in 17 provinces, 39 cities, and 115 regencies. He hoped these would run well. He asked the alumni to maintain conducive situation through harmony and unity. “Regional elections should not divide the country, different choices should not make disharmony between neighbours,” he said.
Furthermore, the Rector said these graduates also had the chance to be regional leaders through elections. He hoped each of the alumni, if elected, could run the mandate honestly and responsibly, “It’s possible in the next 5 or 10 years, you will be a leader responsible for your people. When that happens, please use your knowledge for society, the country and humanity by upholding the value of truth,” he said.
UGM graduates, said Rector, had to maintain integrity, honesty, and responsibility, while forming synergy with others to give benefits to society and the state.
Representatives of the graduates, Siwi Sari Prasastiwi, in a speech said one of the biggest challenges to the young generation is technology. In her opinion, automatisation system made services system easier, faster, and more transparent. But on the other hand, such progress had brought risks to human dependence on technology that caused many work areas gone. “Our competitors are no longer foreign workers, but advanced applied technology,” said the graduate of Public Administration department.
In her views, the young generation need to think creatively and innovatively so that fresh ideas may grow and process whilst adapting to such technological progress. “But I believe that we all can pass those challenges so that we become stronger and resourceful persons,” she said.