Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) officially inaugurated a new co-working space at the UGM Library and Archives on Tuesday (May 13). The facility is part of BNI’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, which supports learning activities, collaboration, and creativity within the university community.
The inauguration was officiated by UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia and BNI Institutional Director Eko Setyo Nugroho. The presence of the co-working space is expected to strengthen a more open and interactive learning ecosystem on campus. The event was also attended by members of the academic community and institutional partners from both organizations.
Professor Ova Emilia explained that the development of the co-working space had been planned over the past two years. According to her, collaborative spaces on campus have become increasingly important as student learning patterns continue to evolve.
She noted that libraries are no longer viewed as silent spaces but rather as interactive environments that support collaborative learning. Professor Ova Emilia said the co-working space could serve as a hub where students meet to develop ideas and build interdisciplinary collaboration networks.
“Today, co-working spaces are no longer silent places, but spaces where people interact and engage in the learning process together,” she said.
Professor Ova Emilia added that UGM already has several co-working spaces across campus. According to her, the new facility at the UGM Library and Archives was also designed to provide a comfortable environment for both studying and working. She explained that the area would be equipped with supporting amenities, including food and beverage areas for visitors.
“We hope the BNI co-working space at the UGM Library can improve the quality of library services as a comfortable and modern space for learning and collaboration,” she said.
BNI Institutional Director Eko Setyo Nugroho stated that the inauguration of the facility marked an important milestone in strengthening the synergy between BNI and Universitas Gadjah Mada. According to him, collaboration with higher education institutions is part of BNI’s commitment to advancing national education.
Nugroho explained that universities play a strategic role in creating an excellent generation capable of adapting to changing times.
“For us, cooperation with higher education institutions is not merely an institutional relationship, but also a tangible manifestation of BNI’s commitment as Indonesia’s campus bank in supporting the advancement of education,” he said.
Furthermore, Nugroho said the BNI CSR co-working space is expected to foster innovation and student creativity. According to him, the collaborative space can be utilized by the UGM academic community to develop ideas that benefit society.
He also expressed appreciation for UGM’s trust in appointing BNI as the university’s banking service partner. For BNI, he said, this trust is both an honor and a responsibility to continue providing the best services.
“We hope this facility can become a space for collaboration, innovation, and creativity for students and the UGM academic community in developing ideas that are beneficial to society,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Firsto