The Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Arie Sujito, inaugurated 50 Student Activity Unit (UKM) managers and 26 community managers for 2024.
The inauguration, which took place on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 19) at Grha Sabha Pramana, saw each UKM and community sending three representatives, serving as chairperson, secretary, and treasurer.
Their respective advisors and trainers accompanied each UKM and community during the inauguration.
Dr. Arie Sujito emphasized that the inauguration of student organization and community managers is not merely a formal symbolic gesture but reflects UGM’s trust in facilitating and encouraging the organization of UKMs and communities to grow, develop, and progress amidst internal and external challenges.
“To the new managers, I extend my congratulations. I have experienced it myself, having been a manager of the Student Council, Student Executive Board, and Senate. I’ve been through all that, as well as the campus press and martial arts units. It is all part of our leadership process,” the vice-rector said.
He mentioned that the Student Activity Units are intended to facilitate student character development, to be honed, processed, and trained in building organizations. They aim to develop traditions that enable students to become leaders in various fields.
Vice-Rector Sujito believed many achievements had been accomplished and initiated, all thanks to the students’ activity and the advisors and trainers.
“Therefore, with respect, I always express my gratitude to the advisors, the lecturers who continuously encourage students to make the best use of these organizations,” he said.
Organizations are meant to facilitate growth and development and achieve excellence alongside academic progress. Hence, besides succeeding academically, students’ biggest challenge is developing creativity in extracurricular activities.
According to the vice-rector, success in academics and extracurricular activities determines a student’s future. Universitas Gadjah Mada continuously evaluates and facilitates efforts to ensure that what has been achieved is academically beneficial for students and socially beneficial for society.
“I am always proud of UGM students for their numerous achievements. This is evidence that Universitas Gadjah Mada is not only known for its grand narrative as the largest university but also proves that the achievements of UGM students are continuously improving,” he explained.
The Internal Quality Audit (AMI) UKM Award was also presented during the inauguration. Karate was awarded as the Best Sports Unit, Swagayugama as the Best Arts Unit, and Scout as the Best Special Unit.
Dr. Sujito expressed great hope that UKMs and Communities will be able to utilize the soon-to-be-inaugurated UGM Innovation and Creativity Arena (GIK). He mentioned that GIK is not just a symbolic building but should be used to develop students’ creativity.
“Once achieved or developed, the communal model has experienced tremendous shifts. Students in our time were also achievers, but of course, with all limitations, the romanticism of communalism has undergone tremendous shifts. Therefore, we encourage students to use GIK in the future to develop their character’s creativity to achieve excellence and build leadership character,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto