Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU., welcomed KAGAMA Virtual (KaVir) on Friday (19/7) at Rector Room, UGM Main Building.
KaVir visit this time was discussed about KaVir proposal to held a bridging event for new students to be more familiar with Jogja. This proposal was well-approved by Panut, reminding that many UGM students come from outside Jogja.
Anang Batas, representative of KaVir said that this event was made by seeing many cases about intolerance issues nowadays. Many newcomers, one of them are students, and they are considered as responsible object for politeness value of Yogyakarta’s people which starts to fading, but KaVir still feel optimistic that it was not caused by newcomer students who do not have politeness value, but because they are not yet familiar or even do not know how to behave during their stay in Yogyakarta.
“KaVir plans to make a bridging event for new students so they could know more about culture, politeness value, art, and Jogja culinary and adapt with how things work here,” said Anang.
Panut also welcomed this proposal with expectation that it could embrace students in Yogyakarta to be able to communicate with the society and it will increase social aspect between newcomers and the host community.
“It is better if this kind of event is held for more than once but sustain, for example every new semester or annually,” he added.
Moreover, the purpose of this agenda was also to introduce alumni community, KaVir is one of them, which could be interactive media between new students and alumni. During this event, new students could also ask about campus or Yogyakarta which will be answered by seniors, including alumni. This event also expected to build an emotional relationship between students and the community or students and their campus.
Anang also conveyed that this event will include local government, local community, and The Palace so everyone could get synced to one another. KaVir hoped that this event could happen and becomes a platform for new students to get to know Yogyakarta, not just the culture but also specialty products, art, values, and how to build social relation with Yogyakarta’s community. [Alumni Relation/Article&Photo: Winona; Translated by Irzha]