City administration to cooperate with universities

JAKARTA (JP): City administration signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday with a number of state universities to conduct joint research into improving services for residents.

"City administration has to prepare its officials and also its residents with the latest development in science and technology. I hope this cooperation can help city administration in doing so," Governor Sutiyoso said while addressing the ceremony marking the signing of the memorandums at City Hall.

"Universities can use Jakarta as a dynamic living laboratory to apply new theory and to acquire new knowledge," he added.

The ceremony saw the establishment of new cooperation agreements with three universities, renewed agreements with two universities and a renamed agreement with a university, which changed its name. In total, there are 10 universities grouped in the cooperation with the city administration.

The newly established agreements were made with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) covering urban forest, farming and fishery issues, the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) covering social, economy and city facility issues, and the Jakarta-based Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic Institute (IAIN) covering religious and women empowerment issues.

The two renewed agreements were made with Bandung-based Padjadjaran University (Unpad) and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Meanwhile, the renamed agreement with Jakarta-based Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) was renamed as the institute changed its name to Jakarta State University (UNJ).

Other universities involved in the cooperation are the Jakarta-based University of Indonesia (UI), State Institute of Public Administration (IIP), State Institute of Administration (STIA LAN-RI) and Police Staff College (PTIK). (05)