Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed a delegation from South Barito Regency led by Acting Regent Dr. Deddy Winarwan at the UGM Rector’s Office on Friday (Feb. 2).
The meeting, attended by Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching Professor Wening Udasmoro, focused on exploring potential collaboration in education, training, research, community service, and human resource development.
Acting Regent Deddy Winarwan highlighted the developmental challenges faced by South Barito Regency, spanning a vast area of 6,267,087 km2 with a population of 133,916. The region grapples with limited human resources and a need for advancements in science and technology proficiency.
“We are focused on enhancing the quality of human resources and public services in various sectors, including health, education, and public works,” he stated.
South Barito Regency, comprising six districts, seven sub-districts, and 86 villages, boasts diverse natural resources such as rattan, rubber, coal, oil palm, pineapples, durians, corn, and rare black orchids.
“We have black orchids. This type of orchid is rare and expensive. A single stem of black orchid in Singapore is priced at 8 million rupiahs. Therefore, we are open to UGM, should they wish to conduct research and cultivation to prevent extinction,” explained the regent.
The regent also highlighted the healthcare challenges, citing inadequate services in remote areas and a shortage of medical professionals, including general practitioners, nurses, and midwives.
South Barito Regency currently lacks 56 general practitioners, and he acknowledged that preparing and producing healthcare workers requires a lengthy process.
“We are still lacking general practitioners, not to mention medical specialists. Currently, we have eight specialists, 171 midwives, and 322 nurses. However, this is still insufficient considering our vast area and population,” he elaborated.
Therefore, he expressed hope for collaboration with UGM to prepare human resources to support development and services in South Barito Regency. The acting regent also welcomed UGM students to participate in Community Service Program (KKN) activities in the regency.
“If you wish to conduct thematic KKN, please do so. Professors are also welcome to conduct research in our regency because we have a variety of flora and fauna. Hopefully, you are willing to collaborate in all possible sectors,” he added.
UGM Vice-Rector Wening Udasmoro welcomed the prospect of collaboration, aligning with UGM’s Strategic Plan for 2022-2027, which prioritizes inclusion and regional diversity in student admissions.
Students from Jakarta and Yogyakarta are said to be very dominant, which UGM does not desire. With the new strategic plan, UGM aims to have students from all regions of Indonesia. Therefore, UGM allocates a portion of seats for students from outside Java through an affirmative action program.
“For this affirmative action program, UGM has collaborated with East Nusa Tenggara, Riau, and Bengkulu. For instance, in Bengkulu, they offer a grant for students entering the affirmative action program, selecting those who were student council chairpersons during high school. Every year, Bengkulu sends ten names,” the vice-rector revealed.
Regarding field laboratories, Vice-Rector Udasmoro mentioned that they could take the form of KKN. UGM hopes to do the same for community empowerment in South Barito Regency, as previously done in Bengkulu, especially for isolated areas.
“Thank you, and hopefully, we can discuss many things and collaborate on various aspects so that there is a contribution from all of us in educating the younger generations to truly contribute to building Indonesia wherever they are across the country. I believe the affirmative action program for new students should start with signing cooperation agreements first,” she concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto