During the opening ceremony of UGM’s orientation program PPSMB at the Grha Sabha Pramana on Monday (31/7), the Minister of Transportation and one of the notable alums of UGM, Budi Karya Sumadi, congratulated the 10,106 new students of the university.
He expressed his belief that these young Gadjah Mada (Gamada, a term used to refer to UGM’s new students) have the potential to be initiators of progress for the nation.
“I welcome you to this leading campus. We are all proud to be part of UGM,” he said.
Minister Budi Karya pointed out that UGM is ranked 12th in Southeast Asia and holds the top position in Indonesia, making it a prestigious institution. However, he humbly advised the new UGM students to remain humble and continuously strive to improve themselves.
Addressing the nation’s challenges, Minister Budi Karya emphasized the importance of innovation and technology to achieve Golden Indonesia 2045, the vision of Indonesia as a developed and prosperous nation by 2045.
“We have homework, a gap between our current situation and the target set for 2045, achieving an income per capita of 8,000. We, including all of you, Gadjah Mada, play a crucial role in shaping the nation and the economy to become a great nation,” he explained.
The minister stressed the urgency of narrowing the innovation gap in science and technology between Indonesia and developed countries and collaborating with global figures.
“Indonesia has a demographic bonus and abundant natural resources, and it is essential to pursue innovation diligently to seize opportunities and challenges,” he said.
Minister Budi Karya’s message served as an inspiring call for the new UGM students to be proactive in contributing to Indonesia’s growth and development, particularly in innovation.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto