Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has agreed to establish collaboration with the Sumatra Institute of Technology (ITERA) and the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah) in the fields of education, research, and community service.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the three university leaders at UGM, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (18/7).
The Rector of ITERA, Professor I Nyoman Pugeg Aryantha, stated that this collaboration is expected to enhance the quality of education and teaching at ITERA, a university established eight years ago in Lampung.
He hoped for support from UGM, particularly in improving the competencies of lecturers pursuing studies at UGM.
“Approximately 35 students currently studying at UGM are lecturers from ITERA, and some are UGM alumni,” he said.
Professor Aryantha explained that ITERA has the Edu Patriot program, which encourages its teaching staff to pursue higher education at reputable universities.
“We want to strengthen the distribution of teaching materials to students. In addition to teaching and community service, we want ITERA and UGM to collaborate in developing agricultural resources and others in Lampung,” he added.
The Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Professor Asep Saepudin Jahar, expressed that the collaboration with UGM is expected to support their efforts to transform UIN Syarif Hidayatullah into the first State University with Legal Entity (PTNBH) within the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“We want to learn from UGM about transformation, achievements, best practices, business and enterprise management systems, IT fields, green campus development, and human resource management,” he said.
He mentioned that such a transformation goal requires preparing asset, finance, education, and research management competencies.
“Hopefully, this collaboration will be concrete, and Islamic Studies will remain our distinctive feature in building networks and enterprises,” he added.
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, MD, expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the trust given by ITERA and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah in selecting UGM as a partner in the development of education, research, and community service.
“We are appreciative of the existing family relationships and trust. UGM, an educational institution authorized by its founders, is expected to support the advancement of knowledge in the country. Therefore, we should work together as closely as we can. This MoU shouldn’t be a piece of paper. We must plan practical, technical, and operational steps to get measurable results,” she said.
Professor Emilia hoped that this collaboration would benefit each institution in enhancing the competence of its human resources.
“I believe this collaboration will build synergies that truly enhance the competencies and outcomes for all parties involved,” she concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Donnie Tristan