SLEMAN - The Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemristekdikti) supports the proposal to establish a new study program by Higher Education. The study program must support the needs of the industrial world.

This was conveyed by the General Secretary of Dikti Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Agus Indarjo when responding to questions on the Specific Kunker of Commission X of Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) of Republic of Indonesia, at UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY), Thursday (05/16).

He considered that universities must prepare to create graduates who could fill the industry, one of the ways is to prepare new study programs.

"The study program must be adapted to the needs of the industry, if there is a market and it has economic value, we will support it", he said.

Agus said his party would evaluate the feasibility of the study program proposal and see the ratio and availability of related lecturers. On this occasion, he explained the Directorate General of Science and Technology Institutions and Higher Education, Kemristekdikti had just approved the opening of a coffee study program at one of the universities.

"We see the economic potential of the coffee sector is very large. The circulation of money in the coffee industry is billions of rupiah in a day so this study program is feasible”, he explained.

Likewise in the oil and mining industry, according to Agus, UPNVY can also respond by opening study programs as needed in both industries.

In its response, the UPNVY Chancellor, Mohamad Irhas Effendi, assessed that the mining problems are not only in the technical field.

"Not only technics of mining, post-mining, mining environment, but also its added value of mining products", he said.

Based on the problem, he has opened three new study programs, namely Environmental Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, and Masters in Disaster Management.

According to Irhas, the three study programs are the embodiment of UPNVY as a state defense campus. The Environmental Engineering Study Program, said Irhas, focused on geology especially in the mining area.

The Metallurgical Engineering Study Program is a commitment of UPNVY to welcome the new era of mining. The focus of this study program is to process mining materials so that they are not only dug up and sold immediately.

"Metallurgy plays a role in increasing the added value of mining materials into materials that are ready for use to become final products. This is one of our way to contribute to the society. "

While the Study Program for Disaster Management, UPNVY collaborates with various parties to process post-mining land. UPNVY cooperates with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to deal with disaster issues that arise in the post-mining area.

"In addition, we are collaborating with mining companies to manage post-mining land in Tanah Bumbu, Tabalong, South Kalimantan by turning it into a tourist spot."

On this occasion, Irhas explained about the various developments and challenges of UPNVY had from changing private university to the state one. He explained about the institutional fields, resources, student affairs, research, facilities and infrastructure, and various obstacles. (wwj / PR)

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