UGM Chancellor greeted alumni in East Kalimantan through an activity titled “UGM Greet Alumni” held at the Grand Senyiur Hotel, Balikpapan, on Saturday (7/10).
There are several activities in UGM Greet Alumni. On the first day, the UGM group visited the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) in Semboja. This location is a place for orangutan conservation, which aims to prepare orangutans with the ability to live independently in their natural habitat, there are 364 orangutans living currently. BOSF is also a sanctuary for sun bears, which currently number 52 bears. One thing that we are proud of is that there are three (3) UGM alumni who have dedicated their knowledge to the development of orangutan conservation at BOSF.
UGM is very concerned about environmental issues, including the protection of orangutans. One of the things was manifested in the form of donations for BOSF by UGM Rector Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU. Ganjar Pranowo, Chairperson of PP KAGAMA who also participated in the group did not miss giving donations. Prof. Panut and Ganjar Pranowo hope that conservation at BOSF can develop and be supported by the people of East Kalimantan. The government is expected to be able to provide additional broader conservation sites due to the increasing population of orangutans. For this reason, UGM is ready to collaborate with BOSF in future development.
Saturday (7/9) is the main agenda of the UGM Greet Alumni event. UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., IPU. and Deputy Chancellor for Cooperation and Alumni, Dr. Paripurna, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M. present at the event. Also in the group are the leaders from faculty/school and heads of work units also staff within UGM. Also present were the General Chairperson of PP KAGAMA, H. Ganjar Pranowo, S.H., M.IP., Mayor of Bontang, and Balikpapan city government officials.
The program began by singing Indonesia Raya and Gadjah Mada Hymns. After that, the event was followed by the inauguration of the KAGAMA Balikpapan Branch Management by Chairman of PP KAGAMA, Ganjar Pranowo.
The Chancellor in his speech said that UGM has a very high concern for alumni, as evidenced by the event of UGM Greeting Alumni. All input from alumni is very meaningful for UGM. Especially for KKN, it was felt very intimate, harmony was felt when there was an accident of KKN students, alumni support was very meaningful. “UGM expresses its deepest gratitude for the assistance of alumni in Central and East Kalimantan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ganjar Pranowo said that many KAGAMA communities are conducting fundraising activities for scholarships to help younger students. Ganjar reminds that the election was over. The difference in choices in the last election was a democratic process. KAGAMA is free to choose anyone, but the chosen one, whoever he is, must be supported. Not sulking. Let’s build the nation together.
On this occasion the UGM Friends of North Paser, East Kutai, and Bontang Mayor presented their awards for the contribution that had been given to UGM, particularly in the community service program, the Community Service Program (KKN). The Mayor of Bontang expressed his gratitude for the trust given by UGM to be a place for Student Community Service. The existence of KKN has really inspired Bontang people to develop.
The next activity in UGM Welcomes Alumni is the Rector and Alumni Dialogue with the title “Uniting Strategic Steps of UGM and KAGAMA Supporting the Empowerment of Regional Potential for National Development Acceleration”. The dialogue moderated by Dr. Paripurna, S.H., M.Hum., LL.M. it raises environmental, health and education issues. It appears that the alumni are very enthusiastic about conveying thoughts concerning the conditions in East Kalimantan. They hoped that UGM would help Balikpapan City in preparing itself as a city supporting the national capital.
In the evening, the UGM and KAGAMA groups were invited to be warmly by the Mayor of Balikpapan. On this occasion, the MoU was signed between UGM and the Government of Balikpapan and handover of Sahabat UGM certificate to the Mayor of Balikpapan. The activity was followed by a dialogue on various issues faced by the City of Balikpapan.
Through the activities of UGM Greet Alumni, it is expected to be able to capture the needs, aspirations, potential, and problems in the area and then synergize with the UGM program to jointly develop the country.