Chairman of PP Muhammadiyah, Prof. Dr. Din Syamsuddin, for the first time attended an inaugural ceremony of professor within the Muhammadiyah Universities. This time, those who were lucky were the two professors of the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM). Din attended the event and gave a speech on the inaugural ceremony for Prof. Dr. Bambang Widagdo, MM and Prof. Dr. Indah Prihartini, Saturday (05/21) in the UMM Dome.
"I congratulate the two professors and the UMM which has added its professors. Hopefully, this inaugural ceremony would make this great UMM campus to be center of academic excellence," Din said in brief remarks.
Interestingly, the two professors inaugurated by the UMM Rector Dr. Muhadjir Effendy, MAP were to important people at the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) UMM. Bambang was the director of DPPM, while Indah was the Chief of Publications, Documentation and Journal Division on the same unit.
Bambang was inaugurated as a professor of Management Sciences of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), while Indah as a professor of cattle nutrition and feed of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (FPP).
"Both of them are productive lecturers in conducting research, services and patent-based inventions. Their roles in DPPM were so great that UMM is widely known as the most productive private campus in research and community service," said Vice Rector I Prof. Dr. Ir. Sujono M.Kes.
Bambang and Indah took part in adding the number of professors inaugurated recently. In the last three years, UMM has inaugurated at least 11 professors. In the near future, that number would continue to grow following the increase of doctorate-titled lectures who were processing their academic titles toward professors.
Rector said the increase number of UMM professors is a necessity for the growing advance of the university, the academic determination of the lecturers also should be strengthened.
As the highest academic degree for a lecturer, professor title has a consequence on professionalism. Its social responsibility, among others, is making the discipline to be more mature and beneficial to the wider society. "Being a lecturer or teacher is calling of the soul. Therefore, the sincerity and maturity in serving the community must be upheld," said Muhadjir.
The experience and expertise of the two new professors of UMM needed no questions. Both of them had had experience to serve in their fields for more than 20 years. Bambang was once the Chief of the Bureau of Finance, Vice Dean I and Dean of the Faculty of Economics. Before becoming director of DPPM, Bambang had served as a Chief of Research Institute at UMM. Bambang was also known as the director of CEERD UMM as well as exemplary lecturer of Kopertis VII in 1992.
Meanwhile, Indah was known as a lecturer who was close to farmers and breeders. The results of research and three patent findings owned by the former Department Chief and Vice Dean I were applied to coach organic farmers in the area of Malang. The consistency of the findings of biomolecular products were widely used to help farmers and breeders.
Bambang delivered a speech entitled "Corporate Governance, Social Responsibility and Corporate Sustainability." In his speech, Bambang argued for the implementation of corporate governance or corporate profit organization being realized in a clean and good manner, it is necessary of precondition in which all parties in society support the implementation of good corporate governance as well. "In modern terminology, it is called Good Corporate Governance (GCG)," said Bambang.
Husband of FTTE UMM lecturer Dr. Sugiarti said that good governance is actually taught by the Prophet Muhammad as the hadith of the Prophet which means Allah likes someone who does the job well. "It's important to underlie efforts with faith in God Almighty," said the third professor UMM.
Bambang admitted that despite the implementation of corporate social responsibility so far has been well enough, but there were still a few who had the sensitivity to environmental concerns. Concern for the stakeholders, he added, was often being done by a corporate, but concern for environment was still very rare. Many people assumed that natural disasters belong to state affairs related to the budget to be endured. Whereas, the use of nature by corporate directly or indirectly has the potential to reduce the power of nature.
"So this is only an ethic issue of how far the corporate is sensitive enough to nature, yet they generally are not sensitive," said Bambang.
In addition, Bambang gave a message to the students not only to seek knowledge but also improve the interaction with various stakeholders through seminars and discussions. This, according to the father of M. Budi Prayogo and Atika Permatasari, is a challenge for young people. From his experience of interacting with the various parties, Bambang had managed to write at least seven books on management. The last book entitled Pemodelan Persamaan Struktural Aplikasi dalam Penelitian Bisnis was launched at the inaugural ceremony.
Meanwhile, Indah was often referred to as the "Mother of Organic Farmers" by the farmers under her guide because she managed to help increase crop yields with organic products which are not only healthy but also high-valued economically. "Every time we need a coaching, Bu Indah is always ready," said Mukani, a farmer from Pakisaji, Kabupaten Malang.
In her speech, Indah highlighted the role of biotechnology on increasing resilience and sustainable food security. The owner of three patents was a researcher who was always consistent on developing lignochloritik-based biotechnology products. The products were utilized to coach organic farmers in various areas of Kabupaten Malang.
"I was focused on lignochloritik bacteria-based biotechnology. My research, book writing, as well as my community service are directed to change the mindset of society on feed and food which are safe from chemicals," said the lecturer who obtained her professor title exactly after 20 years of service at UMM.
According to this wife of Agoes Prijono, studying microbes is analogous to working at UMM. Her pride as UMM lecturer who had experienced hard times especially when UMM was still relatively unknown were creative attitude and courage to keep moving even a small one. "Microbes are agile. They always have a way to work even though the space for their movement is narrow," said Indah, likening her situation on the 'hard' time. "That's why UMM lecturers are great in making their works," she continued.
In various forums, according to this UMM lecturer achiever of 2011, UMM always won compliment both in terms of work and performance. This is because the lecturers always learn from the UMM leaders who gave a good role model. "As long as I became the chief of department and laboratory, I learnt much from the Mr. Muhadjir who was still Vice Rector I at that time. Every meeting, it was like I got a lecture on academic management, college management," said Indah who was born in Bogor in 1965.
FEB Dean Dr. Nazaruddin Malik was optimistic that Bambang would be able to spur the juniors to go ahead. "Prof. Bambang is inspirational figure who often have sharing with young teachers," said Nazaruddin.
The similar thing was described by FPP Dean, Dr. Damat, about Indah. He hoped that by the increase number of professor in his faculty, it would improve the image and prestige of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. FPP is one of the faculty at UMM that has the most number of professor with their innovative findings. Later, FPP UMM has experienced student’s interest because it has been proved to be reliable graduating reliable and professional bachelors. "The job market on agriculture and animal husbandry is very wide and prestigious," said Damat. (han/nas/t_alf)
