MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir received Hamengkubuwono IX Award 2024 for his significant contributions to education, social affairs, politics, and humanity. The award ceremony was conducted on Thursday, December 19, at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
Haedar, who completed both his master’s and doctoral studies in Sociology at UGM, expressed his gratitude and humility upon receiving the honor.
“I would like to thank the Rector of UGM, the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta, and Muhammadiyah for giving me the opportunity to receive this Hamengkubuwono IX Award from our beloved UGM,” said Haedar.
Reflecting on his time at UGM, Haedar shared five values he learned during his studies and he internalized.
The first value is the importance of truth-seeking based on knowledge that is connected to Pancasila, religion, and the nation’s noble culture. “In my studies of sociology at UGM, I learned that truth is a fundamental value for scholars,” he said.
The second value is the importance of a strong tradition of knowledge. He described UGM as more than just an academic institution, calling it a “school of thought” where he learned various interconnected methodologies and intellectual tools.
The third value is unity in diversity. He shared how UGM, with its diverse university members, fosters an environment of harmony. The fourth value is the university’s commitment to serving the people. Haedar stressed the importance of translating this commitment into practical actions, such as community service and policymaking that empowers the community.
Haedar stressed that serving the people should go beyond symbolic gestures, such as visiting poor communities or offering temporary aid. Instead, it should involve impactful policies and initiatives that truly empower and uplift the population.
The last value is the need for a global perspective. Haedar encouraged UGM and Muhammadiyah universities to play a more active role in addressing international issues such as climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He further praised UGM Wanagama program in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) as an example of forward-thinking efforts focused on sustainability.