SLEMAN - The peak of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta 59th  Anniversary event at Auditorium UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY), Friday (15/12/2017) was commemorated with Open Senate Session. Minister of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy attended this event.

He delivered his speech in front of the guests and hundreds of UPNVY students. Mendikbud conveyed the students to the spirit of learning and not hit on the financial condition. Mendikbud described some of Indonesia's progress, such as increasing human development index, controlled inflation rate, and increasing number of Smart Indonesian Cards.

On this occasion, Mendikbud also advised UPNVY.

"This UPN is huge. The number of students is still a little of 14 thousand. It can be increased so that many people enjoy the facilities in UPN. My suggestion of selection is somewhat to be relaxed and to give a space to poor families. I think by giving opportunities to underprivileged students is part of defending the State, "he ended closing remarks.

On the same occasion, Director of General of Science and Technology Resources and Directorate of Higher Education, Kemristekdikti, Prof. Ali Ghufron Mukti provided a  scientific oration about the role of universities in the era of advanced information and communication technology

Former Deputy Minister of Health in the era of President SBY encouraged universities to improve the innovation and quality of lecturers and students as the cadres of the country defender.

"Hopefully UPN and other universities improve the character of students so that they have communication skills, confidence, and improve the values ??of goodness," he said.

Rector UPNVY, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sari Bahagiarti, M.Sc delivered progress reports that UPNVY has achieved during 2017.

In the field of education, it has achieved a number of progress namely the development of study programs, increasing the quality of student input, increasing academic services, and increasing the quality of lecturers.

"Improving the quality of the learning process is evidenced by the average study duration of students that is less than 10 semesters with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) averaging 3t.22," said Sari.

At this anniversary event, Rector said UPNVY had an advantage in the field of earth and energy technology since its inception. The proof is the competence and gait of the alumni in society, industry, and government in that field.

"Not only a few alumni served as a leader in both oil and mining companies. This encourages UPN to further grow into Energy University, " said Sari.

Sari hopes that UPNVY will be the enforcement of the four pillars of nationality, namely Pancasila as the ideology and the basis of the State, the 1945 Constitution as the constitutional foundation, NKRI as a container and state form, and Bhineka Tunggal Ika as a principle in the life of nation and state. (Wwj / humas)