YOGYAKARTA-UGM and Ministry of Youth and Sports today, Monday (25/4), signed a memorandum of understanding on education, research, and community service in the field of youth and sports. The signing of cooperation was undertaken by UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng, Ph.D., and Deputy Minister of Sports Performance Improvement Division, Prof.Dr. Djoko Pekik Irianto, M. Kes., representing Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Andi A. Mallarangeng, at Multimedia Room of UGM.
In his explanation, Djoko Pekik Irianto said that cooperation between the two parties is one of three responsibilities of higher education development program to build and enhance the character of the nation. Universities, according to Djoko Pekik, so far are considered as the place to find solution to national problems, including the youth and sports. "This MoU is one of real developments of three responsibilities of higher education. Higher education is expected to play a role in finding solutions to problems among youths and in sports," Djoko said.
Djoko admitted the role of young people today continues to get the spotlight, not only in sports. Many positive and negative factors affect it. He exemplified the case of 'Bondo nekat' (hooligans) to Cirebon blast that involve youthst. "Both positive and negative factors actually involve the youth in it," Djoko said.
In Djoko’s opinion, at least there are three parties who are competent to develop the role of youth and sport in Indonesia. These are school, KONI (Indonesian National Sports Committee), and universities. Djoko explained the improvement in Indonesia's sports achievements is good enough. However, it would still encounter several obstacles, among them low-qualified human resources, lack of achievement motivation among sportsmen, the utilization of science and technology and professionalism issue of organizational management. "The quality of human resources that are less good includes the athletes, coaches, and administrators. In addition, we are continuously encouraging professionalism of organizational management, such as in KONI and others," Djoko said.
Indonesia’s achievement in sport, both in the regional and the world levels, so far is still good. He pointed out that Indonesia was in third position in the SEA GAMES, fifteenth position in the ASIAN GAMES, and forty second in the world. "Of course we continue to strive to improve the achievement last year, including in the upcoming SEA GAMES in Palembang," Djoko said.
Meanwhile, UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng, Ph.D., in his speech welcomed the cooperation with the Ministry. UGM as a place of development and application of knowledge is ready to assist government to enhance and develop the achievements and the role of Indonesia's sports. The Rector exemplified Faculty of Social and Political Sciences which has begun pioneering studies of youth which is expected to capture the needs of youth and the solutions of problems. "Through this cooperation we are going to match the existing problems with the Ministry, then look for solutions," Sudjarwadi said.
According to the Rector, to be able to reach sport achievements in national and world levels does not take a short time. A great mental attitude, according to Sudjarwadi, is very influential on achievement. "I was inspired by the mental attitude of Rudi Hartono who became the world champion for eight times. A good mental attitude while playing brought him as a champion," he concluded.