PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur has established a collaboration with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
This collaboration was by providing financial support for constructing the UGM Innovation and Creativity Center Building (GIK UGM) and renovating the Chemical Reaction Engineering and Catalysis Laboratory at the UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM).
Each contribution amounts to Rp 500 million and is intended to enhance the quality of education, research, and community service.
“Although it may seem small, we genuinely want to contribute to UGM. UGM has significantly influenced our company, allowing us to become a leading company in our field,” stated the President Director of PT Pupuk Kaltim, Budi Wahju Soesilo, on Wednesday (Oct. 15) at the UGM Central Office.
He explained that UGM graduates have contributed substantially to the company’s advancement, with around 163 of the 1,300 employees being UGM alumni.
Soesilo also expressed appreciation and gratitude for all forms of guidance and support provided in the collaborative activities that have taken place thus far.
Soesilo mentioned that UGM and PT Pupuk Kaltim have collaborated for years at the faculty and university levels.
Some examples include research, education, community service, and consulting services with FT UGM (2010); collaboration with FEB UGM (2013); assistance with Root Cause Failure Analysis for the Broken Tube Problem at Unit WHB 101-C Plant 2 with FT UGM (2014); admission of undergraduate students for the Pupuk Kaltim Foundation (2015); and several other collaborations.
“We are highly dependent on UGM, so it is only fitting for us to be present at UGM. We also plan to open a new factory in Fakfak, West Papua,” Soesilo explained.
He hopes this contribution will help UGM enhance its quality as a center for education and development for future generations.
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, expressed appreciation to Pupuk Kaltim for its contribution to the construction of GIK UGM and the renovation of the FT UGM laboratory.
“We are very pleased to have collaborated with you, and thank you for the support given to GIK UGM, which is still under construction, as well as to FT UGM,” Professor Emilia stated.
On this occasion, the rector explained the progress of GIK UGM. The building will serve as a center for creativity development and play a crucial role in providing industry training for students.
Through various job fair programs and talent development at GIK UGM, students can gain insights into their future career practices.
Regarding research collaboration, Professor Emilia mentioned that UGM is open to becoming a Research and Development (RnD) center for companies.
“We can send faculty members and experts to conduct the development research the company wants to pursue. So, whatever PT Pupuk Kaltim wants to develop, the research can be done at UGM,” Professor Emilia explained.
For the rector, the collaboration between higher education institutions and industry must continue to thrive to maximize the competencies of students entering the workforce after graduation.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto