UBB NEEDS RP38 BILLION TO BUILD AUDITORIUM

Pangkalpinang, Bangka, May 28 (ANTARA) - The University of Bangka Belitung (UBB) here needs around Rp38 billion in funds to build its auditorium and student center at its Balunijuk integrated campus.

"Six buildings have been completed and occupied, but we still need around Rp38 billion in funds to construct auditorium and student center," UBB deputy second rector Fauzi Amiruddin said here on Firday.

Amiruddin admitted that to date the university has yet to get funds for the construction of auditorium and student center at its Balunijuk integrated campus.

"The construction of UBB new campus is financially supported so far by the regional government and PT Timah, but we still need funds to build an auditorium and a student center," Amiruddin said.

He added that a building of PT Timah at Merdeka Square, exactly at the center of Pangkalpinang city, was currently used as the auditorium.

"Around Rp24 billion has been spent on the construction of six buildings for the integrated campus and they have been completed and occupied, but we still need to realize an auditorium and a student center to equip the integrated campus at Balunijuk village in Merawan area," he said.

According to Amiruddin, the University of Bangka Belitung also planned to open a maritime faculty in Belitung district, Belitung island.

He said the maritime faculty would be established in Belitung in cooperation with the local government.

It is important to build the faculty in Belitung because the island is far enough from Bangka island.

"The establishment of maritime faculty in Belitung has been planned since the past two years, and we have discussed it with the local government who gives a positive response, but we still preparing a feasibility study," he said.

He added that the faculty would need at least Rp5 billion of funds and therefore cooperation with the local government was needed.

"We need cooperation with the local government in the regulation, funding, human resources, and other supporting facility," Amiruddin said.