Taking place at the Ballroom of UNY Hotel on Wednesday the 8th of February, the Department of Academic and Student Affairs of UNY initiated a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and the signing of the Further Study Cooperation for Students of School of Sports Talent (SST).

Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., stated that the aim of this activity is to enhance collaboration between UNY and various SSTs in Indonesia.

“The implementation of this collaboration will not be halted for the sake of supporting each side within the symbiosis mutualism, keeping the mutual benefit of the two in order of facilitating talented children, especially in sports, to be able to further their studies in the UNY environment,” added Prof Siswantoyo in his opening remarks from the committee.

Rector of UNY, Prof. Dr. Sumaryanto, M.Kes., stated in his opening speech that to be a champion is by design, which design can be started from early ages. To make one a champion athlete, UNY is ready to help by accepting students of SSTs from multiple university entrance selection: Educational Achievement (SNBP), Test (SNBT-UTBK), and Individual Appliance (SM).

Besides that, Prof. Sumaryanto also added, “Excellently qualified students are the ones with high-rated GPA, graduate quickly, and are able to improve welfare, as an example, obtaining a proper and high-income job. It is impossible for excellently qualified students to graduate in a long time.”

In relation with the readiness of UNY in aiding the implementation of SST, Rector of UNY said that UNY is ready to deploy its support. Furthermore, UNY offers the implementation of SST to be held on the Wates Vocational Campus.

Coming after the opening remarks and kick-off by the Rector, this relaxed yet familiar activity is then continued by the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNY and all the invited schools within the department of Education, Research, Community Service, and Resource Development. In addition, there is also another signing of cooperation between UNY and invited schools about Human Resource Development through the Educational Achievement Entrance Selection at UNY.

Succeeding the signing of cooperation, Prof. Siswantoyo, Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, guided an FGD session. The keynote speaker of the session was David Eka Wardoyo, a representative of the Directorate of PMPK of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Research and Technology. David talked about the regulation and governance of education units of his directorate.

To obtain optimal results, this FGD invited representatives from the SSTs, including from SKO International East Kalimantan, SMANOR Jatim, SMANOR Riau, SMP-SMAO N Sriwijaya Ogan, SO Ragunan, SMAKOR Papua, SMANKO Sulsel, SMANO Tadulako, SMANO Lampung, SMAKO Bahteramas, SMAKO West Sumatra, SMANKO Bengkulu, SMAKO Flobamorata NTT, SMANKO Sulut, SMAKO North Maluku, SMAKO Babel, SMAKOR Aceh, SMAKO Central Java, SMAN 1 Krembung Sidoarjo, SMP-SMAO Pembangunan Jaya Raya Tangsel, SMAN 4 Yogyakarta, SMAN 2 Playen, SMAN 1 Tanjungsari, SMAN 2 Ngaglik, SMAN 1 Seyegan, SMAN 1 Sewon, SMAN 1 Lendah KP, and SMAN 1 Pengasih KP. Meanwhile, elements from UNY include the ranks of chiefs’ meeting members, Vice-Deans, Heads of Departments at FIKK.

Ending the FGD session, Priya Santosa, M.M., as a representative of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Education, Youth and Sports Office, said that there will be STT in Yogyakarta. The STT will not be a pioneering unit but will be a dedicated one. “STT in Yogyakarta will still be establish even though at the time being it use the UNY Wates campus as its main office. It is our program and is also a target that must be realized”, added Priya Santosa. (Writer: Sudaryono, Editor: Prasetyo Noviriyanto, Translator: Alif Azzaki)