Universitas Gadjah Mada has established cooperation with 4 regencies: Kuantan Sengingi, Tanjung Jabung Timur, Wakatobi, and Cilacap regencies, in areas of research, education, and community service.
Signing of a memorandum of understanding was done in Multimedia room UGM on Thursday (22/2) by Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., and Regent of Kuantan Sengingi Riau, Drs. H. Mursini, M.Si, Deputy Regent of Tanjung Jabung Timur, H. Robby Nahliansyah, Assistant to Regent of Wakatobi, Rusdin, S.H., M.Si, and Assistant to Regent of Cilacap, Drs. Dian Setyabudi, M.M.
The Rector expected the cooperation with the four regencies would develop the region in terms of education, tourism, natural resource utilisation, human resource capacity building, governance, research, ancient sites as well as other areas. He also hoped the cooperation would more open studies done by experts and lecturers
Regent of Kuantan Sengingi Riau, Mursini, appreciated UGM for the mutual cooperation which was expected to benefit the people of Kuantan Sengingi in Riau province. The region of Kuantan Sengingi has agricultural potential especially plantation and crops, mining, and tourism but have yet to be explored.
“We expect to have research centres development with many universities, particularly with UGM. Through transfer or technology and information, we hope to improve human resource capacities and optimisation of natural resources,” he said.
Deputy Regent of Tanjung Jabung Timur, Robby Nahliansyah, revealed the area of
Tanjung Jabung Timur was a challenge to infrastructure development because most of the area were peatland areas, so currently the local people have relied on the agricultural sector.
He added the regency had a site of old ship, which was not much researched into. He said, “We hope there would be a follow up to the cooperation.”
Assistant to Regent of Wakatobi, Rusdin, said Universitas Gadjah Mada was the dream of the children of Wakatobi to pursue higher learning. The regional government very much hoped to send their children to study at UGM.
He added the region mostly consisted of sea areas and 30% were conservation lands. "There are two potentials here, namely marine sector and tourism. Currently, this area is among Top 10 National Destination, but the problem is human resource development,” he said.
Similar expectations were raised by Dian Setyabudi, Deputy Regent of Cilacap who said that the regency needed the help of the UGM Student Community Service because many things can be done through it in terms of community empowerment or poverty reduction.
"The cooperation between UGM and Cilacap has entered its fourth years. Poverty rate is still high here, so we hope UGM to be able to assist the regency in order to have equal welfare like stated in our vision and mission,” he said.