YOGYAKARTA - Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) cooperates with the United Mercury Group (UMG) University in Myanmar. One point of cooperation is for UGM to initiate the establishment of Faculty of Engineering at UMG University. It is planned that UMG will open four-study programs, including the department of mechanical engineering, civil engineering, geological engineering, and electrical engineering. Realization of this cooperation is to send UMG’s faculty to UGM for education and training. In fact, UGM in particular assists to draw up the engineering education curriculum.
UGM Rector, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, welcomed the cooperation. According to the Rector, it is an opportunity for Myanmar academicians to cooperate with international partners after the opening of democracy in the country. "I hope this cooperation would give better benefits, not only between universities, but also between students and society," he said.
Pratikno added it is possible that the cooperation would be opened wider in the future to support the ongoing democratization process in Myanmar. "UGM has a variety of science disciplines, producing more than two hundred thousands of alumni who become bureaucrats, politicians, and professional workers. The experience of these alumni can be explored more deeply," he added.
UMG Rector, Prof. Dr. Aung Shein, said the partnership opens up opportunities and chances for Myanmar students to receive education with international curriculum standards. He mentioned that UGM is one of the world's top 500 universities. "We expect graduates of UMG would qualify as professional engineers," he said.
Myanmar's ambassador to Indonesia, Myint Lwin, said the cooperation between universities would strengthen the commitment of the countries in Southeast Asia towards ASEAN Community 2015. "It is not only cooperation between governments, but also cooperation between communities through education," he concluded.