Developing Research, UGM Opened Auto Service

Vice Rector for Student, Alumni and Business Development of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M.Phil., Ph.D., officially  opened the Gadjah Mada Auto Service (GAS), a cooperation between UGM and Ultratune Auto Service Australia on Tuesday (24/11). The opening of GAS was signed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  The entire guests later visited the area of the workshop.  

The Vice Rector hoped that the operation of GAS can give opportunity for the students to work in the real world so that they will have competence and entrepreneurship spirit. That is in line with the program of National Education Ministry which for the next five years will emphasize on entrepreneurship education. Through this auto service, an understanding of that educational concept is expected to come true.

With UGM’s status as a state-owned legal entity and currently legal education entity, the business activity such as this auto service is hoped to create financial stability at UGM. Radian Krisna Putra, S.T., M.Eng., as a member of the supervisory board of GAS, conveyed that this auto service can be made a place for maintenance for students’ and lecturers’ cars as well as  to develop and apply their research results. “We serve as a channel for various researches conducted by lecturers and students from many universities. If possible, this auto service can be applied for many existing vehicles,” he explained. The researches, however, will be tested and analyzed first in the workshop so that the result is valid.

Radian gave an example of an UGM student who is conducting research on vehicle ignition with two sparks on the plug. Such ignition can increase power, but how it can save fuel through better combustion is being researched. “Therefore, we work with the Australian to support the management and mechanics in order to comply with international standard,” he said.

For UGM academic community, Radian offered to give special service and price.  “The management is under PT GMUM. Later, we will provide subscription cards for students and lecturers and they need only to give us a call and we will collect their cars,” he added.