Sixteen new UGM officials took the oath of office in an online-offline ceremony at the UGM Senate Hall, Thursday (1/7). The said officials included Wawan Mas’udi as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Political Science for 2016-2020, Darwito as President Director of UGM Academic Hospital, Margaretha Widyastuti as Interim Vice-Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Geography, and Widyanto Dwi Nugroho as Interim Vice-Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Forestry.
“Congratulations to the new officials inaugurated today. Let’s work together to strive for the best results and performance,” said UGM Rector Professor Panut Mulyono.
He revealed that the pandemic had significantly challenged educational institutions to adjust the teaching and learning activities to the current situation. The established in-person learning that had been ongoing for years and years must be replaced with online learning, and both lecturers and students must be able to adapt. Institutions must maintain the quality of education and students’ learning outcomes amid the difficulties. They had to ensure there was no decline in quality and students would still receive the best education.
“Some sources report that online learning has caused significant setbacks in the quality of students,” he said.
Challenged by this, he encouraged every UGM academic to synergize and give mutual support to advance the university, not only in the current pandemic but also in the future.
“Our heavy tasks will feel lighter if we all work shoulder to shoulder. Hopefully, the UGM family can continue to build cohesiveness and togetherness. No matter how difficult the problems are, we will find solutions and solve them together,” he said.
Author: Gloria
Photo: Firsto