Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), STT Migas Balikpapan, and the North Kayong Regency Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in education, research, and community service.
Dr. Lukman, Chair of STT Migas Balikpapan, explained that his institution had previously established cooperation with UGM in community service programs in Penajam North Paser Regency.
STT Migas Balikpapan gained additional knowledge through these activities, especially regarding community service implementation from UGM.
“Five years ago, we signed an MoU and a cooperation agreement on joint community service activities,” Dr. Lukman recalled during the signing held at UGM on Monday (August 28).
“We learned a lot from UGM, where initially, community service was not part of our curriculum. Now, it has become a necessary program for our students.”
Dr. Lukman further explained that community service was new and unfamiliar to STT Migas Balikpapan in the past, but it has now become an essential program for their students.
He expressed hope that, after signing the MoU, there would be guidance from UGM regarding community service, starting from planning and other aspects. Besides, UGM is also expected to assist in relation to study programs.
North Kayong Regent Citra Duani stated that the cooperation with UGM focuses on improving human resources, particularly in the health sector, specifically in the education of specialist doctors.
Regent Duani mentioned that they allocate a yearly budget for two civil servants to pursue medical specialty studies. Through this cooperation, they hope to create opportunities for their region to send students to pursue medical specialty education at UGM.
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, expressed gratitude to their partners for their trust in establishing cooperation with UGM.
Through this collaboration, UGM can contribute to developing human resources in North Kayong and community empowerment in Balikpapan and its surrounding areas through joint community service programs.
She hopes that the agreed-upon cooperation can be promptly implemented by utilizing the potential of each party and synergizing it in real activities that benefit all parties and contribute significantly to the nation’s development.
“This collaboration with STT Migas is an extension to intensify what has been achieved so far, such as community service activities or other programs like faculty development, innovation, research commercialization, and community service with special themes involving the local community,” the rector said.
Regarding medical specialty education in cooperation with the North Kayong Government, Professor Emilia stated that the Academic Health System (AHS) is being implemented to fulfill the needs of specialist doctors as outlined by the Ministry of Health.
UGM’s AHS has been carrying out several programs designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Health to meet the needs of general practitioners and specialist doctors based on the AHS in Yogyakarta, Central Java, and Kalimantan.
“The concept of AHS has been communicated with the West Kalimantan Province. With this step, we hope to meet the needs and distribution of specialist doctors in the country,” she added.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto