Universitas Indonesia (UI) and the South Nias Regency Government have established collaboration, marked by the signing of a Joint Agreement, on Thursday (21/3), in Meeting Room A, Floor 2, University Administration Center Building, UI Depok Campus. The signatory was represented by the Deputy Chancellor for Human Resources and Assets at UI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Priadi, DEA and Regent of South Nias Regency, Dr. Hilarius Duha, S.H., M.H. This collaboration will later cover the fields of education, research, community service, and providing scholarships to students from South Nias Regency.
Prof. Dedi said that universities actively participated in the collaboration between UI and local governments in helping the government develop its vision and mission. “Apart from carrying out the Tri Dharma of Higher Education (education, research, and community service), we also carry out strategic activities with government and industrial partners. “Activities carried out include training for government employees to develop their abilities and competencies,” said Prof. Dedi.
According to him, UI can provide the best education for children in Nias because it has 14 faculties, 2 postgraduate school programs, and 1 vocational education program. They can choose a field of knowledge that suits their interests. UI also has many institutions and special work units that can assist the government in making regional studies and policies. Moreover, South Nias Regency has natural resource potential that can be developed for sustainable development.
The local government has put efforts to improve the quality of human resources in the South Nias Regency area. Regent Hilarius believes that efforts to equalize education can be achieved through collaboration with universities. “One regional child from South Nias Regency succeeded in entering the UI Faculty of Law in 2023. We immediately provided him with a scholarship to get into the best university in Indonesia,” he said.
During the meeting, the two parties also discussed plans to organize an Education Fair to expand access to higher education for youths in South Nias Regency. Moreover, problems such as job transfers/moving to the area of origin by the State Civil Apparatus (ASN) in the South Nias Regency Government, will be addressed through the provision of training, which related institutions from UI assist.
The discussion was also attended by the Deputy Regent of South Nias, Firman Giawa, S.H., M.H.; representatives from UI, the Director of Cooperation, Dr. Toto Pranoto, S.E., M.M.; Head of the Public Relations and KIP Bureau, Dra. Amelita Lusia, M.Sc.; Head of the UI Sub-Directorate of Academic Cooperation, Dr. Eko Saka Purnama; and Head of Sub-Directorate of Student Services, Achmad Solechan, S.Si., M.Si.
