In 2025, an innovative research initiative was carried out at Prambanan Temple, focusing on culinary depictions carved into its intricate reliefs. The study aims to identify and explore the potential of culinary tourism based on cultural heritage. The findings are expected to contribute significantly to sustainable cultural tourism, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to food, education, and economy.

Yogyakarta, July 25, 2025 — In the spirit of creating a clean, healthy, and comfortable campus environment for new students for the 2025/2026 Academic Year, Sekolah Vokasi UGM (SV) held a community service activity together with the UGM Directorate of Assets. This activity took place on Friday morning at 7:30 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, starting from the north lobby of the SV Central Building.

Yogyakarta, July 21, 2025 — In an effort to improve the quality of public relations and protocol services, the Public Relations team of Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) participated in a workshop on Strengthening Public Relations and Protocol in Supporting Impactful Diktisaintek. The event was organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada Secretariat and took place in Multimedia Room 1, UGM Central Building. 

This workshop is highly relevant to us at the Vocational School, which continues to strive to strengthen its image and disseminate information about impactful vocational education. The event featured two expert speakers in their respective fields, namely Mr. Doddy Zulkifli Indra Atmaja, S.I.Kom., M.Si., Head of Public Relations and Protocol, General Affairs, Public Relations, and Goods and Services Procurement Bureau, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia, who discussed public relations with the theme “Public Communication in the Era of Impactful Research, Technology and Higher Education,” and Mr. Yayat Hendayana, S.S., M.Si., as Head of the Information Services-Public Services Team, General Affairs, Public Relations, and Procurement Bureau, Kemendiktisaintek RI, who focused on protocol matters with the theme “Enhancing the Competence of Protocol Human Resources in Higher Education Institutions.” 

The University Secretary, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M., was also present to provide guidance and officially open the event. This event was a golden opportunity for the SV UGM public relations and protocol team to gain knowledge directly from practitioners.

In the first session, Mr. Doddy explained effective public relations strategies in the digital age.

“Today’s public relations strategy is not just about releasing news, but building authentic dialogue and engagement with the public,” said Doddy.

The material was delivered in a practical manner, accompanied by live demonstrations so that participants could easily understand its implementation in higher education environments, particularly at SV UGM.

The next session with Mr. Yayat Hendayana emphasized the importance of ideal protocol human resources.

“Protocol is not only about seating arrangements, ceremonial procedures, and honorary protocols. Protocol officers must know what ideal protocol is, namely protocol that understands its role based on job descriptions and work guidelines, as well as protocol that has personal skills and is always ready with its supporting pack,” he explained.

The practical session was the most eagerly awaited moment, where all participants—including those from various faculties and directorates of UGM—could directly try out the material they had learned. The activity ended with a feedback session from the speakers, who provided constructive evaluations for future improvement.

As a form of environmental awareness, the committee also encouraged participants to bring their own tumblers or water bottles. Water dispensers were provided as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste.

By participating in this workshop, SV UGM Public Relations and Protocol team hopes to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen the institution’s role in supporting the mission of Diktisaintek—namely higher education, research, and innovation that have a broad impact on society.

Writer: Sekolah Vokasi UGM PR Team
Dokumentation: UGM PR

Gunungkidul, 18 July 2025 – Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) participated in the Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival 2025, held from 18 to 20 July 2025 at the Agricultural Technology Park (Taman Teknologi Pertanian or TTP) Embung Nglanggeran, Gunungkidul. This annual festival carried the theme “Local Chocolate with Global Competitiveness” and served as a vital platform for local chocolate industry players to expand their networks and introduce their products to a wider audience.

On this occasion, Sekolah Vokasi UGM’s participation was coordinated by the Center of Excellence (CoE) Cocoa in collaboration with the Agroindustrial Product Development Study Program, Department of Biological and Veterinary Technology. SV UGM took part in the Chocolate Farmers and MSME Bazaar of the Yogyakarta Special Region by showcasing innovative chocolate-based products developed through collaboration between students and lecturers. These products represent the downstream results of research and technological development in the agroindustry sector that has been consistently carried out by SV UGM.

In addition to the product exhibition, SV UGM through CoE Cocoa also conducted direct market research with festival visitors. The research aimed to explore consumer preferences for new chocolate product variants currently under development. The results will serve as valuable input for refining product formulations and designing more targeted marketing strategies.

SV UGM’s participation in this festival also serves as a concrete contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger, through support for food security based on local commodities
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, through the application of research and innovation in the development of the local chocolate industry
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through education and the provision of sustainable processed food products

The Nglanggeran Chocolate Festival 2025 is expected to serve as a collaborative space for academia, communities, and business actors in building an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable local chocolate ecosystem.

Writer: Budi Ariyani Hermawati

Documentation: CoE Cocoa Team

Yogyakarta, July 14, 2025 — Students from Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) have officially launched SWARA (Smart Wukirsari Agrofarming), a strategic initiative to promote community-based food security through an adaptive and applicable integrated technology approach.

This program is part of the Program Penguatan Kapasitas Organisasi Kemahasiswaan (Student Organization Capacity Strengthening Program, or PPK Ormawa), funded by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs under the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology, Republic of Indonesia (KEMDIKTISAINTEK). Through SWARA, SV UGM students implement a modern integrated farming model based on aquaponics, combining fish farming and crop cultivation in a single, sustainable ecosystem.

The key innovations in this program include the application of sensor technology for automatic water quality monitoring, technical training in aquaponics farming and post-harvest processing, and community mentoring to develop economically viable agricultural enterprises. The program focuses on empowering women from the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) group in Wukirsari Village, Imogiri Subdistrict, Bantul Regency who play a central role in household food security and serve as agents of social transformation at the village level.

Running from July to November 2025, the program integrates not only food production but also education, environmental sustainability, and local economic empowerment. The aquaponics learning center established during the program serves as an open community hub. In parallel, hands-on training in harvesting, post-harvest processing, and organic waste composting encourages the adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

In addition, the student team initiated the development of an aquaponics starter pack, produced and marketed by local residents. This innovation aims to create new entrepreneurship opportunities based on modern agriculture and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the village community. The establishment of this community-based agribusiness marks the first step toward building an independent and sustainable agricultural value chain.

SWARA is implemented by a team of 15 students from various majors at SV UGM, all of whom were selected through a competitive process from university to national level. With strong support from faculty advisors and student organizations, the team successfully secured official funding from the Ministry, in recognition of the relevance and impact of their innovative proposal.

By combining appropriate technology with active community participation, SWARA is expected to become a real-life model of how collaboration between students and local residents can bring about sustainable positive change. This program is not merely a short-term initiative but serves as a prototype for a replicable village innovation model that can be applied in other regions with similar potential.

“We believe that change begins with small steps, taken with sincerity by people who care. From the village we move, with the community we grow, and for Indonesia we take our stride,” said a representative from the SWARA SV UGM team.

Writer: Febriana Trisnawati

Gunungkidul, July 2025 — Lecturers in Tourism Business Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have developed the “Grogol Kaloka Experience” Cultural Tour in Grogol Village, Paliyan District, Gunungkidul Regency. This activity is part of the Road to Jogja International Kite Festival (JIKF) 2025 series, serving as a pre-event for the international kite festival to be held in Yogyakarta. This cultural tour is designed to introduce the rich culture, traditions, and way of life of the rural community of Grogol to JIKF guests and participants. Through a community-based tourism approach, participants are not merely spectators but also experience cultural processes firsthand, learn about local wisdom, and interact with villagers.

Kulon Progo, May 6, 2025 — The Green House Field Research Center (FRC) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed a visit from the team of UGM’s Center for Agrotechnology Innovation (PIAT) to initiate a strategic collaboration in the distribution and marketing of Green House’s premium melon products through PIAT UGM’s integrated agricultural e-commerce platform, Nutrifresh (https://nutrifresh.piatugm.id/shop).

Kulon Progo, May 9, 2025 — The Center of Excellence (CoE) FabLab Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, held a dissemination event to share the outcomes of their community-based research and engagement activities. The event took place at the Conference Room of the FRC Building, Sekolah Vokasi UGM, and marked a continuation of the successful Fab Camp Challenge program—an incubation platform for interdisciplinary student ideas and local community innovation.

Kulon Progo, May 6, 2025 – The Green House Field Research Center (FRC) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently welcomed a visit from the General Manager of Swiss-Belhotel Kulon Progo. The visit aimed to explore strategic partnership opportunities in the field of edu-tourism, envisioned as an added-value experience for hotel guests. During the visit, the General Manager toured the Green House FRC UGM facilities and observed firsthand the melon cultivation process, which stands as one of the center’s signature programs. He was warmly welcomed by Ari Kustanto, the FRC manager, accompanied by Arif Firman, head of the greenhouse team.

Yogyakarta, April 30, 2025 – Sekolah Vokasi, Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM)  continues to encourage synergy between vocational education and the business world through the launch of the Teaching Factory (TEFA) program. The event was held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Room 201, 2nd Floor of the TILC Building, Sekolah Vokasi UGM, marking a strategic step in strengthening practice-based education aligned with real industry standards.