Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) RI, Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy M.A.P. visited UMGO and held an audience with academic civitas of Universitas Muhammadiyah Gorontalo (UMGO). The Minister team received a warm welcome from the Rector of UMGO, Prof Dr. Abd Kadim Masaong, MPd with UMGO academic civitas and students in David Bobihoe Akib Indoor Building of UM Gorontalo, Friday (25/11).
In his remarks, Prof Kadim Masaong mentioned that personally and on behalf of the institution highly appreciated the Menko PMK due to his willingness to meet all academic civitas of UMGO.
“UM Gorontalo currently has five faculties and 21 study programs with thousands of students. UMGO had prominent programs, familiarly known as the four-month Capacity and Character Building of Freshmen (PPKKMB) since 2021 full in the dormitory for new students. The third batch in 2022 was integrated from the Independent Learning Independent Student (MBKM) which is similar to taking 20 Credit Hours,” he said.
The Rector continued as an Islamic campus, the PPKKMB aimed to implement the tagline of UMGO. “To have a strong faith, knowledge, good character, and great soft skills,” he said. Kadim highlighted that the four elements were in line to result in qualified graduates as outputs, and InsyaAllah it will be beneficial for religion, nation, and the communities nearby,” he added.
Furthermore, in front of hundreds of freshmen, Prof Muhadjir expressed his pride to see the rapid development of UM Gorontalo. “For the dormitory program (PPKKMB), I support the program that has been integrated into the MBKM, it is really good. Especially the launching of student dormitories or rusunawa. I still remember it was inaugurated by President Jokowi and I had accompanied him and many other ministers. I hope UMGO will establish other dormitories,” he hoped.
The former minister of education also asked the students to keep learning and to keep preparing and adapting to the rapid information technology development due to the high probability in the working world. “The students should understand and implement the Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). Where the future working world will face an unstable transformation with high probability and complex complications that have disrupted us. Therefore, we should prepare ourselves to face the industrial world ahead,” he said.
Lastly, he also highlighted the 5C tradition for the students. The 5C tradition can encourage students to be future leaders. “First, the students should have critical thinking. Second, communication skills, and third, collaboration. Fourth, creativity to create a breakthrough, and fifth, confidence. You can prepare for your first four months in the dormitory to organize discussion forums to think critically and create varied soft skills including writing, speaking, and mastering the foreign language,” he concluded.
After the meeting, the Minister had dinner and held an audience with the Heads of the Bureau, the Deans, and the Head of Departments. Also attending the gathering, the Rector of UM Gorontalo, Prof. Dr. Abd. Kadim Masaong, M.Pd., the Coordinating Minister of PMK, Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, M.A.P., the Vice Rector II, Dr. Salahudin Pakaya, the Vice Rector III, Dr. Apris Ara Tilome, the Head of General Affairs and Finance, Ramlah Alkatiri, M.Si., academic civitas, and dormitory students.
