UGM Chancellor officially inaugurated 1.934 students from bachelor and diploma programs both virtually and limited-offline on Wednesday (24/2) as an effort to prevent Covid-19 transmission.
In Balairung hall this morning, there were 1,607 graduates from bachelor programs, including six graduates from foreign nationals and 327 graduates from diploma programs. Additionally, there were 355 Bidikmisi scholarship grantees for the bachelor program and 34 for the diploma program during this period. On the other hand, 34 graduates from the 3T regency came for the bachelor program and 9 for the diploma program. The average study period for the bachelor program was around four years and ten months. Irfan Fadjar Ramadhandi obtained a title as a person with the shortest period for the bachelor program from the Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, who had successfully graduated in 3 years, one month, and four days. The average study period for the D IV Program this period is five years and four months. Dimas Dwi Saputro achieves the title for a person with the shortest period for a D IV program graduate from the D IV Civil Infrastructure Management and Maintenance Engineering Study Program, Vocational School, who completed his study around four years of study 3 month 19 days.
Additionally, for the D III program, the average study period is three years and ten months. Meliana Rista Utami from the Japanese Language Study Program, Vocational School, had completed her study with the shortest period for a D III program in 2 years, 11 months, and six days. The youngest graduate of the bachelor program in this period was Grecia Dian Puspita Sari from the Accounting Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, who had completed her studies at the age of 19 years seven months 29 days. For the D IV Program, Farhan Reza Saputra achieved the youngest graduate from D IV Internet Engineering Technology study program, Vocational School, who completed his applied bachelor's program study at the age of 22 3 months and three days. On the other hand, for the D III program, the youngest graduate was Ivan Panji Setiawan from the D III Mechanical Engineering study program, Vocational School, who completed his Diploma study at the age of 20 years six months four days.
The average GPA of this second period for the bachelor program is 3.34. The Diploma IV program is 3.27, and the Diploma III program is 3.25. The graduate from the bachelor program that achieved the highest Grade Point Average was Vivin Purnawati from the Law Study Program, Faculty of Law, with a GPA of 3.98. Meanwhile, the highest GPA for the Diploma IV program was achieved by Rizki Maulana Fadillah from D IV Civil Infrastructure Management and Maintenance Engineering Study Program, Vocational School, with a GPA score of 3.66. At the same time, Vira Yuniar Anggraini achieved the graduate title with the highest GPA for the Diploma III Program from Japanese Language Study Program III, Vocational School, with a GPA score of 3.92.
The UGM Chancellor, in his remarks, stated that even though pandemic has highly influenced every economic sector and made some shifts in this life order, it should not have hindered fresh graduates from pursuing their dreams. Several companies might limit their number of workers, but on the other side, there might also be open chances for particular skills because of increasing demand. Furthermore, creativity and ideas are more expensive than any salary. People can start to develop critical thinking, create opportunities and be productive.
"Some businesses do not need much capital value. In the middle of a pandemic, they who are successful and keep hanging on are ones with innovative, adaptable, creative, and smart in bringing themselves to opportunities," Panut added.
He also stated that UGM graduates are tough and have plenty of work opportunities. Therefore, today, they are challenged to face today's condition supportively. In the meantime, UGM also dedicated its contributions to several fields such as educational and teaching activities, research, and community service. In education, UGM is involved in the 2020 Permata-Sakti Student Exchange program and opens opportunities for students from various universities in Indonesia to engage in online lectures at UGM for one semester collectively.
UGM lecturers and students in the research fields successfully produced relevant and applicable research-based innovation products, such as the GeNose C19 product, as a Covid-19 screening tool applied in several public facilities. "UGM also remains to carry out various community service activities, not only through providing physical support, but also education and assistance needed for pandemic control and economic recovery," he explained.
He hoped for all today's graduates to be actively engaged in overcoming the pandemic based on their background. "You have not only received education and training just to be smart people or just to obtain a degree. More than that, you should use your knowledge to serve the community and to develop our dearest nation," he said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Translator: Natasa A