The UGM student hub GIK management convened with an assembly of industry leaders from state-owned enterprises and private companies. The rendezvous occurred in the GIK hall on Tuesday (Dec. 19).
Among the distinguished guests were the Chair of the UGM Board of Trustees, Professor Pratikno, and the Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia.
The guest list extended to include top-tier executives such as Rivan A Purwantono, the CEO of Jasa Raharja, and several directors from corporate giants like Pertamina, Telkom, Pupuk Indonesia, KAI, PLN, TikTok, and Bio Farma.
Professor Ova Emilia said GIK activities are profoundly dedicated to education, the practical application of research innovations in the industry, and the nurturing of student talents. The construction of GIK has surged beyond the 70 percent mark.
“The construction is about more than 70 percent, and it will be a place for education and downstream activities,” beamed the rector.
Addressing the working partners, the rector underscored GIK’s pivotal role as a haven for fostering the learning ecosystem. GIK’s mission is to make significant contributions to resolving various societal challenges through the nexus of science, technology, and entrepreneurship.
“We are committed to contributing to social issues through the development of science and technology and entrepreneurship,” she asserted.
Spanning an impressive 20 thousand square meters, GIK is poised to pioneer a groundbreaking paradigm in education and downstream methods. It’s set to emerge as the first super creative hub in Indonesia.
“Talent management development, research and innovation development, and cross-sectoral collaboration with partners will be important to GIK development. Cooperation can impact the lives of the community and the nation,” emphasized the rector.
Professor Pratikno said GIK was born from the idea of forging a nexus between students and industry partners. This symbiotic relationship seeks to seamlessly integrate university graduates into the workforce while instilling an entrepreneurial ethos.
“We are currently facing a problem: many students are not absorbed in the job market. The higher the level of education, the higher the percentage of not being absorbed into the workforce,” he elaborated.
With GIK as the catalyst, Professor Pratikno envisioned business practitioners assuming the mantle of educators and imparting knowledge to students. The courses on talent development at GIK are designed to give students industry-recognized certificates, with earned credits transferable to their respective campuses.
Additionally, GIK aims to stoke the entrepreneurial flames in students, creating many employment opportunities post-graduation.
“We also want GIK not only to educate students to be absorbed into the workforce but also to educate students to become entrepreneurs,” expressed Professor Pratikno.
Rivan Purwantono shared insights into the collaborative efforts between his company and GIK, coupled with the Directorate of Education and Teaching, to develop 27 courses involving 13 state-owned enterprises.
“The implementation for the next six months with 22 classes will be provided. In this program, students will receive certification,” he affirmed.
Endang Suraningsih, the Director of Public Relations at Bio Farma Capital, extended a warm welcome to the advent of GIK. The platform presents a unique opportunity for companies to scout for talented students, particularly in the pharmaceutical and drug industries.
“Bio Farma opens a professional certification institution and 201 occupational certification schemes for vaccine production, which we have exported to 151 countries, including quality control and research and development. We open internships so students can follow the certification process,” shared Suraningsih.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto