Universitas Gadjah Mada eagers to improve national competitiveness through the achievement of the top 500 world ranking conducted by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) through QS World University Ranking (QS- WUR) as mandated by the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) towards several State Universities including UGM. The impact of international recognition is the improvement of reputation and the role of universities in the development of science and technology. The Summer Course Program is one of UGM strategies in academic internationalization. Along with the development of information and communication technology, the last few years Smart City is increasingly tight talked about and believed will be one solution of various problems arising from the progress and dynamics of an increasingly advanced and modern city. Universities, industry and government institutions play an important role in developing information technology to be implemented in Smart City.
On 7 to 15 August 2017, the Department of Development Geography, Faculty of Geography UGM conducted Summer Course of Smart City, Village and Region (scvr.ugm.ac.id) coordinated by Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. “There are thirty-five participants from 10 countries as well as some representatives of local government agencies such as from the East Kutai Local Government, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) as well as individuals from Indonesia who are following the event. In addition, thirteen speakers from 8 different countries including UGM Smart City Consortium participate in this activity” stated by Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. (Fig 1).
Figure 1. Smart City, Village, and Region Summer Course Participants
Ir. Lukito Edi Nugroho, M.Sc., Ph.D as the representative of UGM Smart City Consortium added “This Smart City, Village and Region Summer Course is an event for us to learn together about the experiences of various countries on the thematic of Smart City”. Dr. Goh Hong Cing as the representative from the speakers, coming from University Malaya, explained that “The selection of place of the Smart City, Village and Region Summer Course in Yogyakarta City this time is a very suitable since Yogyakarta is a best case study location where we can learn how to implement Smart City in several different aspects, such as education, tourism, etc.”.
In her opening speech, the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Alumni of Faculty of Geography UGM, Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, M.Sc., M.T. emphasized that “this Summer Course is one of the exit strategies to develop a culture of interdisciplinary cooperation in a multicultural atmosphere for the academic community of UGM and to strengthen UGM’s position in cross-disciplinary leading disciplines in relation to UGM’s contribution to science and humanity, in order to develop implementation of ‘locally rooted’ ideals.”.
In addition to this event, Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T also held a Side Event: Roundtable Discussion “Strengthening Kutai Timur Smart Regency” which is also a series of Smart City, Village and Region Summer Course. It will be conducted at Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada which will be attended by East Kutai Regent (Ir Ismunandar, MT), Sleman Regent (Drs H. Sri Purnomo, M.Si) and Vice Chairman of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) of the Special Territory of Yogyakarta (Dharma Setyawan, MBA.).