Students Enthusiastically Welcomed Jokowi?s Visit to UPH

?Welcome, Governor Joko Widodo to Universitas Pelita Harapan?. That was the welcoming shouts by the students that poured into the UPH for welcoming the famous Governor of Jakarta. On Thursday, April 11, 2013, the Governor of Jakarta, well known as Jokowi, for the first time visited UPH. His coming was welcomed merrily with the dances and folksongs that were presented by UPH?s students.

            His purpose for visiting UPH was to give a public lecture for the students, faculty members and staff. Before presenting the public lecture, Jokowi took a glance of several facilities in UPH, accompanied by UPH Rector, Jonathan L. Parapak, UPH Founder, James T Riady and some of UPH officials and lecturers such as Tjipta Lesmana, Lie Nathanael Santoso and John Riady.

            When Jokowi was asked whether he was happy for coming to UPH, Jokowi answered that he was very happy being here in UPH. He also thought that UPH is one of the outstanding universities and was shocked because he never imagined that UPH is a place that is very neatly organized, green and modern and arguably to be super modern.

            ?If the children can get education in a good environment like here in UPH, then it can produce a good quality students with a good character,? said Jokowi after finishing the campus tour. When he was asked whether UPH could be a model so that Jakarta can also have university and school like UPH, Jokowi answered with straightforwardness and said, ?Yes. Because we have to take an example of good things and to do that, it does not have to be outside of country. If Indonesia already has the good model such as UPH, then why don?t we take it as an example??

The one-hour public lecture by Jokowi at UPH entitled,?New Jakarta, New Indonesia?, was presented in the form of open-interactive. Starting Jokowi?s public lecture, UPH Rector, Jonathan L. Parapak said that the invitation by UPH was an appreciation to Jokowi, as the Governor of DKI Jakarta and UPH wanted to contribute in the event of the upcoming reformation for the new Jakarta and new Indonesia. This is because about 60% of UPH?s students are coming from and have the DKI Jakarta?s identity card. Because of that, much of longings stemmed from UPH?s student to meet the Governor of DKI Jakarta. Jokowi?s leadership and approaching methods are not only intellectual but also spiritual, thus it became a focus attention that were interesting as well as important which also shares UPH?s vision; true knowledge, faith in God and godly character.

?This is a wonderful opportunity because students can learn from the figure of leaders like Jokowi that is highly committed, honest, and also close to the people, in building the new Jakarta and new Indonesia,? said Parapak.

Meanwhile for building the new Jakarta, Jokowi stated that he will begin to realize the MRT?s construction by this month and to run the monorail?s plan by next month. Jokowi hoped that with the addition of public transportations, the never-ending problem of Jakarta?s congestion could be solved. (lat)