On Sunday, October 11th, 2020 as a tradition at the beginning of each new academic year, a meeting of Perkumpulan Orang Tua Sekolah Vokasi Gadjah Mada (Potmasevo Gama) was held to invite the parents of the new students. Since the pandemic situation did not allow mass gathering in large numbers of people, and for the sake of affordability of students’ parents from outside Yogyakarta, the meeting was held virtually.
The meeting was attended by the Potmasevo Gama board chaired by Drs. Munajad Amonarto along with the board of directors, the Dean and Vocational College leaders, also all of the head of the department. One of the important decisions at the meeting was that each parent of the new student was asked to participate in giving a one-time voluntary fee of Rp. 500.000 for their children studying at the Vocational College of UGM.
In his remarks, Dean of Vocational College UGM, Dr.Ing. Agus Maryono conveyed about the online lecture which still be carried out until at least at the end of the semester, “The online lecture turned out has positive side, which were the student seem to meet the lecturer directly without being blocked by their friends as happened in the class, could listen carefully, and also saving time and less likely to be late for class.”
The Dean continued, UGM is examining student repopulation. Currently the campus is accessible mainly for the final year students who need laboratory facilities and also the students who have to help the lecturer doing the research. After a session with the Dean and the chair of Potmasevo Gama, the next session was continued by discussing with the head of each department.
The Head of the Department of Languages, Arts, and Culture Management, Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati in her speech conveyed the profile of graduates and the cooperation that has been undertaken by DBSMB. “We already have cooperation with Asia University Taiwan for a double degree scheme, and can even directly take a master’s degree”, she said, mentioning one of international cooperation the department has.
After the speech from the Head of the Department, the activity was continued by a question and answer session with the parents. Some parents asked for job opportunities after graduate from each study program, international program opportunity including the fee, consequences of late tuition payment, partners, and internet fee support.
At the meeting which was finished at noon, the Head of the Department was accompanied by all Heads of the Study Program, and the Manager of the Cooperation, Alumni, and Research Community Service Unit.