Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has conferred the inaugural doctorate from the National Resilience program housed at the Graduate School.
Dr. Erlan Wijatmoko achieves this feat with a dissertation focused on assessing the efficacy of laws implemented by the Aceh government in regional development.
“Dr. Erlan Wijatmoko completed his doctoral education in 2 years and ten months. He is not only the first doctoral graduate of the National Resilience program at UGM but also the first doctoral graduate in national resilience science in Indonesia because our program was the first of its kind in the country,” proclaimed Professor Armaidy Armawi, the program head, on Wednesday (Jan. 10).
Expressing optimism, Professor Armawi envisions Dr. Wijatmoko making a positive contribution upon his return to the North Aceh Regency Government. He underscores the significance of Dr. Wijatmoko’s role in disseminating knowledge, propelling societal advancement, and fostering the intellectual development of the nation.
Dr. Wijatmoko, a distinguished National Resilience Doctoral Program student, completed his doctoral journey by defending a dissertation titled “The Effectiveness of the Aceh Government Law (UUPA) in Regional Development for Economic Resilience in North Aceh Regency.”
Guided by Professor Armaidy Armawi and Professor Teuku Faisal Fathani, Dr. Wijatmoko graduated with honors, attaining an impressive GPA of 3.98, during the degree conferral meeting held on Dec. 22, 2023.
In his dissertation, Dr. Wijatmoko delved into the challenges posed by the perceived ineffectiveness of the Aceh Government Law as a guiding framework for regional development policies.
His findings pointed to various factors contributing to this ineffectiveness, including the limited involvement and distinctive characteristics of new political elites in implementing the law, legal uncertainties regarding its content vis-a-vis other national regulations, and the minimal role of the community in providing constructive feedback on regional government policies.
These challenges had adverse effects on the economic resilience of North Aceh, rendering it susceptible to threats of poverty and regional dependence.
Moreover, Dr. Wijatmoko’s significant contribution extends beyond the academic realm, with his dissertation being successfully published in Scopus-indexed international journals.
Notable publications include “Uncovering the Challenges of Sustainable Development in North Aceh: A Policy Analysis of Special Transfer Funds” in the Journal Sustainability (MDPI) – Scopus Q1, “Legal Effectiveness in Promoting Development Policies: A Case Study of North Aceh Indonesia” in the Journal Heliyon – Scopus Q1, and “An evaluation of a special government’s legal structure for alleviating poverty: Role of local government in North Aceh, Indonesia” in the Journal of Infrastructure, Policy, and Development – Scopus Q2.
Author: UGM National Resilience Program
Editor: Ika