Yogyakarta- In an effort to increase writing interest and culture in academic surrounding, Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY) holds UMY Blog Contest for all civitas academica: students, lecturers, and employees. This has been the fourth contest held by UMY since 2010.

 

That was informed by Deputy Rector III of UMY, Sri Atmaja P. Rosyidi, Ph.D when giving an opening remark during workshop blogging as well as socializing 4th UMY Blog Contest held on Thursday (17/11) at AR Fahrudin room on the 5th floor at UMY integrated campus. The contest is a media to support the thought an idea to be turned into writing, especially students.

 

Sri says nowadays UMY not only puts forward spiritual and Islamic values. As an educational institution, UMY also tries to balance those values with intellectual values. Blog, besides improving critical thinking of a writer, is also as information exchnage that can give additional value for intellectual development.

 

Sri also explains that cyber world is becoming more unlimitless. Information access is easier. That is an indicator that there should be more students who use it to increase their intellectual. Cyber world can bu utilized for postitive, not negative things. "We cannot determine whether technology is a positive or negative thing," said Sri.

 

In the meantime, the Head of Information System Department of UMY, Wahyudi, ST, MT explains that the scoring indicator for blog contest is not only seen from the quality of writing. Giving comment on other people's writing is also one of the scoring indicators. The blog contest is expected to support students to like reading.  "Without reading, we cannot produce good writing. Comment on other people's writing is a sign that the students read. Besides, blog can add network and friends in the cyber world," said the lecturer of computer science. (www.umy.ac.id)

 

(trans by hamzah - uhamka)