Sleman-UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta held a flag ceremony to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas). The National Education Day commemoration was attended by thousands of lecturers, education staff and students on Thursday (2/5) in the ceremony field, UPN "Veteran" Central Campus Yogyakarta.

In this ceremony, the Chancellor of UPNVY Dr. Irhas Effendi who acted as the ceremonial master read out the remarks from the Minister of Research and Technology who spoke about the sub-theme of National Education Day 2019 namely creating "Competitive, Innovative and Characteristic Human Resources".

This theme is relevant for dealing with the current conditions of the world which are developing increasingly complex with increasingly rapid changes. In the life of a nation, education has a very important role to ensure the development and continuity of life. The development of qualified education is also one of the targets for the sustainable development or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to encourage the welfare of all society. One of the steps taken is to build qualified human resources on young people and adults to have relevant knowledge and skills, including technical and vocational skills, to be able to get decent jobs and have entrepreneurial spirit. To improve the competitiveness of higher education, universities in Indonesia are encouraged to improve the institutional accreditation to be superior one (A) by increasing the number and quality of research and publications, collaborating on research development at national and international levels and increasing student achievements to the international level. This effort is in order to motivate the universities to get the ranks of the world's best universities. The study program must be developed in accordance to the market needs and encouraged to have a superior accreditation (A) and subsequently encouraged to achieve international accreditation. The application of a quality culture must be carried out in a sustainable manner in line with the need of human resource competency improvement that is adaptive to the times. The competitiveness of lecturers, education staffs, and students continues to be developed by increasing the literacy of data, technology and humans. Humanitarian affairs are very important in facing the complexity of the industrial revolution era 4.0 and society 5.0. Technological progress signifies the advancement of education and science which still has to honor humanity and the welfare of humans and Indonesian. The increase of interaction and social cohesion must be better established between students and lecturers from all different disciplines so that it can increase the intellectual activity which triggers a variety of creativity, innovation, collaboration, and self-identity", said Mohamad Nasir in his speech.

He further explained that “there are other important things; human quality as an academic person related to character development must be a priority agenda. The human character that is built is characterized by the ability to uphold truth, honesty, justice, virtue, responsibility and love for the motherland. Realizing a strong HR character as well as anti-corrupt mentality is a very strategic agenda to create qualified human resources as well as a smart work ethic, which has been built since they were students and it was exemplified by lecturers and university managers. Responding to the advancement of education and science and technology, let's use it wisely and become a space for the birth of dignified, innovative human beings. We as higher education people must understand and develop technology and continue to create innovation along with the long-life learning skills. Having this ability, human quality will be maintained continuely in this era of disruption. Let us together realize the Indonesian noble ideals that are free, united, sovereign, conscionable and prosperous through the qualified higher education that is oriented to the creating of competitive, innovative and character HR. The strategy to improve the quality of higher education is to synergize the dharma of education-research-community service which is supported by the effectiveness of penta helix between universities, government, and private / industry, as well as the public and media, especially in developing the quality of the students, graduates, lecturers, education staffs, networking, publication, downstreaming the results of research and innovation products, supported by better, transparent and accountable management of universities”.

"To realize these ideals, the Chancellor of UPNVY invited all UPNVY academics to work hard and work together to face problems both from the community and the demands of the government. Let us synergize to realize the vision and mission of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta to be a superior university, which is characterized by defending the country for the development and welfare of the nation and the country”, added the Chancellor of UPNVY.

PR/Dewi

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