YOGYAKARTA – Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M.Soc., Sc., has challenged students and researchers from UGM Vocational School to be able to produce an equipment that can clean up the volcanic ash impacted by volcanic eruptions. Up to these days, we rely on rainwater only to clean up the ash.
“Now we’re inundated by volcanic ash. Researchers from Vocational School should be able to create a simple technology to clean up the ash during disasters, also to make use of the ash,” said the Rector to hundreds of Vocational School graduates that are inaugurated today, Thursday (20/2).
According to Pratikno, he was convinced that the students and researchers from the School are able to make such tools. So far, many of their creations have been used by society and industry. “In addition to the use of the tools to society, their works will be useful to industry and Indonesian economic development,” he said.
Pratikno said disasters should be able to inspire every member of academic community to create an innovation. He pointed out the example of Japaneses who were able to detect an earthquake even if it is only four seconds before it happened. This tool was made after the Kobe quake in 1995. “Before the quake hit Kobe, all gas distribution system and mass trains were halted, hence minimising casualties,” he said.
To the 587 graduates of the Vocational School, Pratikno said amidst the disasters that complicate things, everyone can make use of them as an innovative learning arena while bringing them closer to God. “Disasters are not a thing to lament about, but a learning arena which we have to make use of,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, UGM Academic Administration Director, Dr.Agr. Ir. Sri Peni Wastutiningsih, announced UGM inaugurated as many as 587 Diploma graduates with the average time of study being 2 years and 9 months. Agus Budiman from Electronics and Instrumentation study programme completed the quickest in only 2 years and 4 months. Enggar Sukma Kinanthi from Accounting study programme became the youngest graduate at the age of 19 years and 2 months.
There are 129 graduates with cumlaude distinctions or 21.98% with average GPA 3.22. The highest GPA of 3.97 is attained by Ryan Alief Putra from Applied Economics study programme.