On Tuesday (Oct. 29), at Grha Sabha Pramana, 1,814 new postgraduate students were introduced to UGM values during the Pionir Gadjah Mada General Lecture, themed “Collaboration of Science: Synergy of Knowledge.”
This introduction aims to help new students adapt to the campus environment while fostering religious values, trustworthiness, sensitivity, and care for the environment.
Additionally, students are expected always to prioritize honesty, possess strong nationalism and patriotism, actively engage in critical thinking, have adequate intellectual capacity, and maintain camaraderie and self-discipline.
Addressing the new students, UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia stated that UGM has five identities as a university: a National University, a University of Struggle, a Pancasila University, a University of the People, and a University of Cultural Center.
These five identities are realized through the university’s three pillars of higher education.
Further elaborating on UGM’s identity, UGM Secretary Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu added that the founders named UGM after Gadjah Mada because they envisioned students educated at this university elevating its stature, similar to the role of Gadjah Mada during the golden era of the Majapahit Kingdom.
“If you have nobility of character, sharpness of vision, broadness of perspective, devotion, and other noble values, then your reputation will surpass that of a king,” explained Dr. Tonralipu.
Meanwhile, Professor Kuwat Triyana, the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), emphasized the importance of synergy and collaboration.
He explained that students and academics could share knowledge to create innovations that benefit Indonesian society and the global community.
“Synergy and collaboration are crucial. Just imagine, if I didn’t collaborate, I wouldn’t understand or contribute to the medical field, and vice versa; medical colleagues wouldn’t be able to create tools. By combining efforts, we can develop products we can further enhance,” Professor Triyana explained.
Professor Nurul Indarti from the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM) noted that synergy and collaboration benefit the academic community and individual students.
“The benefits of collaboration include more effective solutions, accelerated innovation, and better preparation of graduates for a more complex work environment. This seems to be the university’s domain in preparing future leaders,” she concluded.
Author: Hanif
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto
Post-editor: Afif