Dream of the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business to have a new building has come closer to reality. To realize that dream, the Rector of UGM Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., Dean Prof. Dr. Marwan Asri, Finance Director of PT Pertamina, M. Afdal Bahaudin, and Arifin Panigoro, owner of PT Medco, laid the cornerstone of the building expansion on Tuesday (25/1).
As one of 18 faculties at UGM, the Faculty currently has more than 5,500 students. As many as 40% or approximately 2,300 people occupy the old building. This building accomodates all activities, including lectures, laboratories, libraries, and research. "Gradually, it has become more cramped. We have tried to give lectures up until late at night, but it makes many people difficult. Numerous students objected, even their parents felt worried and made phone calls to us because their children come home at 22:00 hours," said Marwan Asri in his speech.
Therefore, the expansion of the building becomes a necessity. The new building will be planned for relocation. The new seven-story building that is built with the help of PT Pertamina and PT Medco is expected to support all activities of lecturing, administration, academic, financial, library, and the lecturer workroom. "Various training research, data centers, Sharia Center, SME Center, and Center of Good Corporate Governance, research, etc, so that the new place will really be integrated according to their respective functions," the Dean added.
The Dean is very grateful to PT Pertamina, which has allocated funds for the construction and PT Medco Energi for participating. "Stubs actual construction of the expansion of this building has been started since Prof. Ainun Na’im’s assignment as Dean," said Marwan Asri.
The Rector also gave high appreciation to PT Pertamina and PT Medco Energi for their attention to education by giving most of allocation funds for the construction of the new building.
The Rector hopes that the new building will able to facilitate the students in learning and mastering the knowledge. Thus, UGM graduates are capable of contributing services to the nation. "The efforts of the Faculty with the support of partners, such as PT Pertamina and Medco, hopefully make the study facilities at UGM," said Rector.
For Arifin Panigoro, UGM is not just a mere college and university, but rather as a center of excellence, even as a pioneering center of excellence in Indonesia. “As that comes first in Indonesia, it’s only natural that many elements from outside, partners, and alumni participated to advance, improve the ability for UGM to be a truly respected center of excellence because Medco is supported by many alumni of UGM," he said.
Meanwhile, the Finance Director of PT Pertamina, M. Afdal Bahaudin, admitted though it is rather tricky when dealing with university, he was relieved to be able to realize the building expansion. In fact, this development has become a program of PT Pertamina since 2007. "That’s what happens when dealing with a campus, it’s a little complicated, we should see it from all angles. This is not the first and hopefully a breakthrough for the Faculty and an example for others," said M. Afdal.
PT Pertamina as the party that disbursed 10 billion rupiah expects that such patterns of cooperation can be developed because to build a nation we must do it together. As a counterweight, PT Pertamina in the future will do a similar development outside of Java. For the development acceleration of eastern Indonesia, such pattern seems to be urgently needed. “It’s not sympathetic if we continue to do it in Java, we need to shift eastwards. I give my sympathy to the teachers and students in the east. We will continue to work with UGM because, after all, they are part of us so the East will be enjoying the development as well," M. Afdal expressed his hope.
The construction of the new building is estimated to cost 19 billion rupiah. The new building named Pertamina Tower is planned to stand on the area of 3600 m2 and will have seven stories. PT Wika, the constructor, estimated the process will be completed in August 2011.