The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Thursday (24/1) visited Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The visit that aimed at collecting input from experts was led by Head of the Agency, Dr. Syamsul Maarif. They were received by Assistant to Senior Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Zuprizal, accompanied by Chair of UGM Institute for Research and Community Services, Prof. Dr. Ir. Danang Parikesit, M.Sc., at the Board of Trustee's Meeting Room, UGM.
During the visit, the two institutions had the chance to discuss multidisciplinary-based disaster management. Head of UGM's Center for Disaster Studies, Dr. Junun Sartohadi, M.Sc., explained the background for disaster mitigation at UGM. Mitigation programmes at UGM include all sectors in line with Higher Learning's Tri Dharma principles through research, education, and community service. “Those cover all types of disaster management, from preparation, emergency response to recovery,†he said.
Junun said that due to the significance of disaster management, UGM has opened some study programmes, among others are Magister in Disaster Management, Magister in Geoinformation for Spatial Planning and Disaster Risk Management, which are a cooperation with ITC Netherlands, as well as other short courses related to disaster risk reduction and management.
UGM has also conducted a number of researches, especially basic researches, including on landslides, tsunamis, flooding, earthquakes, volcanoes, storms, and draughts. The researches employed various Early Warning and Risk Based Multi-Hazard Mapping. In addition, disaster rapid surveys are often done with local institutions and community empowerment groups. “In the area of community service, a disaster emergency response unit was formed, also disaster socialisation, and formation of village social groups for disaster response, KKN Disaster Care, Module of Disaster Education, Post-Disaster Empowerment of Middle, Small and Micro Businesses, and drafting of Academic Paper and Draft Law,†Junun Sartohadi explained.
With such positive aspects, it is not surprising that UGM became one of the institutions that have the potential to support the National Agency. Those include guiding for institutional development service based on technical and non-technical experience. “The potential can be seen, too, in communication forum that support disaster mitigation infractructure, for example, multi-hazard map that is based on incident risks and measured impacts,†added by Junun.
Some examples of real support for the National Agency are the disaster profiling, disaster risk analysis, disaster mitigation planning, and drafting of Academic Paper-Bylaws and Academic Paper-Law related to disaster mitigation, formation of Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency and concept of decentralised disaster mitigation and other disaster emergency responses.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Institute for Research and Community Services, Dr. Wisnu Nurcahyo, said that the visit was an effort to gain input for the betterment of the Agency's future programmes as UGM has experiences in disaster mitigation. Besides, UGM has also many study programmes whose multidisciplinary approach will give solutions to overal disaster management. “UGM is the only university with continued commitment in disaster issues,†he explained.  Â