For years 2011-2013, UGM again receives Institution-based Competence Grant Program (PHKI) from Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of National Education. Through this program, UGM is expected to accelerate themselves and realize the development of every academic unit which is in accordance with University Strategic Plan. “We thank those who are involved in Institutional Competence Grant Program years 2008-2010. They have preceded and initiated the grant thus opening opportunity for the next years,” said UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., in the kick-off program of Institutional Competence Grant 2011-2013 at UGM Senate Hall, Wednesday (6/4).
Related to PHKI theme C (community empowerment) and D (global excellence) which have been received by UGM, the Rector said that PHKI is a program that creates something unknown to be productive that can increase people’s income. The program not only aims to improve science, but also to accelerate the improvement of social welfare.
The Rector said that the PHK-I theme C which will be implemented in Bantul, Kulon Progo and Gunung Kidul has received response from Yogyakarta Provincial Government. Several programs which will be conducted even have been consulted with Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X as Governor of Yogyakarta. “To smooth this program, Yogyakarta Provincial Government asked to establish special cooperation,” said the Rector.
Dr. net. techn. Sigit Setyabudi, Executive Director of PHKI Batch IV, explained that in the big theme Improving UGM Role in Achieving National Prosperity through Community Empowerment, through PHK-I theme C UGM, activities will be conducted in the form of institutional reinforcement of SMEs, regional support capability and security improvement of superior local food products. Besides, improvement of renewable energy sources utilization and quality improvement of water fulfillment will also be conducted. “The program will be maximized through cooperation with regional government and local superior industrial community. This cooperation is expected to be one of UGM’s excellences and can be used as model for other universities in improving social welfare,” he explained.
The theme C will be divided into 3 sub themes namely subtheme C1 Institutional Reinforcement and Collective Demand Power of Community which is driven by Center for Rural and Regional Studies, Center for Populist Economy Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Social and Political Sciences; Subtheme C2 Technical and Financial Performance Improvement and Competence of Small Industries/ SMEs which is driven by Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Center for Food and Nutrition Studies and Faculty of Animal Sciences; Subtheme C3 Development of Support Capability of Regions which is environmentally sound for Competence Improvement which is driven by Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Department, Physics Engineering Department, Center for Energy Studies and Center for Disaster Studies.
Meanwhile, PHK-I theme D, Building Global Reputation with National Character through Synergy of Technology, Conditional Engineering and Natural Potential of Indonesia in the Context of Sustainable Community Empowerment is expected to accelerate the target achievement and Strategic Plan of UGM. Besides the realization of research based learning, other target is the achievement of international reputation and accreditation in education, research and community service and the achievement of increased international cooperation network. “Other is achievement of UGM in solving national problems with Indonesian socio-cultural approach including advocacy of local excellence to the world’s level,” Sigit Setyabudi explained.
As a university which is concerned with national and world’s problems, programs proposed by UGM focus on georisk reduction, improvement of food security through the control of mito-toxic pollution on agricultural and plantation products (CEMycoS), and raw material saving, energy efficiency and minimization of environmental impact through eco efficiency for sustainable development. “Excellent programs of PHKI theme D will be conducted by Geology Engineering Department, Faculty of Agricultural Technology and Chemical Engineering Department,” he said.
In the kick-off PHKI 2011-2013 which was attended by Senior Vice Rectors and Vice Rectors and Director of PHKI Batch I, Ir. Djoko Luknanto, Ph.D., and other invited guests, an award was delivered to managers of PHKI 2008-2010. The award was handed over by the Rector to Dr. Azis Purwantoro from Plant Breeding Department, Faculty of Agriculture UGM and Dr. Eko Purbaningrum from Forest Resources Conservation Department, Faculty of Forestry UGM.