The Ta’aruf (Mataf) period of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta to welcome new students of the 2020/21 class was held through online media on Monday (28/9). The University Student Executive Board (BEM), as the organizing committee, provided an interesting talk show session discussing the Mataf theme, namely Solidarity of Intellectuals with Integrity.
The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Muhajir Effendy, M.A.P. became one of the speakers, emphasizing the importance of youth to have a positive and optimistic attitude. Even more so now that the world is being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has paralyzed several aspects of life.
“In the Covid-19 situation, all young people or new students must have a positive and optimistic attitude. We must build a clear mind, not give up easily, and always be persistent in facing challenges in the future,” he said through YouTube and Microsoft Teams.
In the 2020-2021 academic period, UMY accepted 5711 new students. Muhajir added that with such a large number UMY already has agents of change in facing an increasingly challenging era of disruption in the midst of a pandemic situation. But for that, students need to apply 5C. “Students are agents of change and the hope of the nation, who are required to implement 5C, namely good Critical Thinking, Creativity or having the creativity to advance, Communication for the ability to communicate with other people and master various languages which will greatly help young people to become successful people. Then Collaboration so they can work with friends. And the last one is Character, personality, honesty, and social character, “he continued.
In line with Muhajir, Dr. Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, the Indonesian ambassador to Turkey and an alumnus of UMY International Relations, said that a successful young man in the future must have clear goals. “Now is the right moment for you to set goals. The intellectual culture in UMY is already very good, so you should take advantage of it. There is an opportunity to collaborate because UMY also gives you the opportunity to develop your organizational skills.”
Iqbal hopes that new students do not limit themselves in developing their potential. “I am confident that what you have can compete at the international level. Improve your language skills, English is no longer a foreign language because you have to master it, at least you have to master two other languages so that all of you compete in the international world,” he concluded. (Hbb)
