Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) have agreed to expand their collaboration in developing competencies, conducting research, and engaging in public outreach related to LPS’s functions, duties, and authorities, while also increasing access to higher education for students from underprivileged families. The memorandum of understanding was signed during a ceremony held at the Rector’s Meeting Room, UGM Central Office, on Monday (Oct. 20).
UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, expressed hope that the partnership would continue to bring meaningful benefits to the advancement of the university’s three pillars of higher education: education, research, and community service.
The collaboration between UGM and LPS has been ongoing for nearly a decade, producing tangible outcomes in academic, research, and service areas.
Through this renewed agreement, both parties are committed to broadening their collaboration to include student and lecturer competency development, research funding, and financial literacy programs.
“Since 2016, we have collaborated in many areas, including internship programs, visiting scholar exchanges, and research and student funding support,” said the rector.
The extended scope of cooperation covers six main areas: student competency development through internships, faculty capacity building via visiting scholar programs, and research funding in the fields of banking, finance, insurance, and financial system stability.
Additionally, LPS will provide funding support for undergraduate theses, master’s theses, and doctoral dissertations in related disciplines, as well as organize outreach activities on LPS’s roles and functions.
“We are committed to opening broader opportunities for collaboration that foster scientific advancement and sound financial practices,” the rector added.
On this occasion, Professor Emilia also highlighted the challenges UGM faces in maintaining access to education for students from low-income families. She noted that government budget efficiency measures have reduced the quota for Indonesia Smart College Card (KIP-K) scholarship recipients by up to 50 percent.
This situation has encouraged UGM to seek alternative funding sources to ensure that educational opportunities remain widely accessible.
“We are striving to establish strategic partnerships so that students from underprivileged families can continue their studies without financial barriers,” she said.
Responding to this, Chair of the LPS Board of Commissioners, Professor Anggito Abimanyu, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting UGM’s efforts through empowerment initiatives and programs to improve access to higher education.
LPS will allocate part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget to expand learning opportunities for students.
“We want the funds we manage to deliver tangible benefits for society, particularly through educational support and capacity-building programs at universities such as UGM,” said Professor Abimanyu.
He further stated that LPS is opening opportunities for UGM students and faculty members to participate in internships and mentoring activities related to bank resolution and risk management.
At the same time, LPS also seeks to enhance the capacity of its own human resources through educational collaborations with UGM, especially for staff pursuing studies in actuarial science at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM).
“We want to invite students, lecturers, and our own staff to take part in various joint programs to ensure that learning and knowledge exchange occur in both directions,” he explained.
The implementing units for this cooperation are FMIPA UGM and the Vocational College (SV UGM). Both units will follow up on the partnership through educational, research, and community service programs aligned with their respective areas of expertise.
The rector emphasized that this partnership represents a strategic step in strengthening the university’s contribution to enhancing financial literacy and national financial stability.
The collaboration between UGM and LPS reflects a shared commitment between academia and state financial institutions to promote economic stability and improve the quality of higher education.
Both institutions are dedicated to positioning this partnership as a sustainable model of collaboration that contributes to national development.
“UGM has a strong academic reputation, and we see great potential for synergy that can bring meaningful benefits to the wider community,” concluded Professor Abimanyu.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Salma
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian