Yogyakarta, 19th May 2025 – A total of 25 students from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), along with 2 teachers, engaged in a profound cross-cultural experience as part of the Short Term Immersion Programme SUSS x SV UGM. This program, a collaboration between SUSS and Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM), spanned nine days from May 8 to 16, 2025. The activity is part of the Interdisciplinary Global Learning Course (NIE351), which carried the theme “Discovering the Power of Storytelling for Self-Development and Community Building.”

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.

This collaborative program integrates technological approaches with socio-cultural insights to address pressing environmental challenges in the Anthropocene era, while strengthening community involvement in developing contextual and practical sustainable solutions.

With the theme “Voices from the Community: A Healthy Environment in the Anthropocene Era,” the program targeted four villages in Kulon Progo—Bugel, Mlarangan Asri, Beji, and Klewonan (Triharjo)—each with distinct ecological characteristics and environmental challenges. The initiative engaged diverse community groups including housewives, youth, village officials, and local innovators, with strong support from Bapperida Kulon Progo (the Regional Planning, Research, and Innovation Agency) and other relevant technical departments.

Prof. Dr. Sabine Troeger, a visiting scholar from FIB UGM, emphasized the importance of transdisciplinary approaches in understanding the complex relationship between humans and nature. Using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods, the research highlighted community-led innovations such as organic farming greenhouses in Bugel, solar panel initiatives in Mlarangan Asri, maggot-based organic waste processing in Beji, and waste banks in Klewonan, all of which demonstrate active citizen participation in responding to environmental change.

FabLab SV UGM contributed through technical assistance, tool design, and capacity-building efforts. Their innovations included user-friendly technologies such as the Maggot Box and renewable energy systems, aiming not only to promote environmental sustainability but also to unlock opportunities for local entrepreneurship and green economy development.

“We believe that integrating social innovation with appropriate technology creates sustainable impact—especially when communities are engaged from the beginning,” said Dr. Eng. Yosephus Ardean Kurnianto Prayitno, S.T., M.Eng., program coordinator from Sekolah Vokasi UGM.

The outcomes of this initiative will be compiled into policy recommendations to support community-based regional development and serve as a reference for refining future community engagement and research programs grounded in real-world needs in the Anthropocene context.

Beyond dissemination, the event also served as a collaborative learning platform, strengthening ties between interdisciplinary students and local communities. This initiative further reinforces UGM’s role as a “university for the people,” committed to addressing contemporary challenges through science and technology that prioritize social and environmental sustainability.

On May 5, 2025, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participated in a significant collaboration meeting with the Kulon Progo Government, held at the Menoreh Meeting Room in Kulon Progo Government Complex. The meeting was attended by the Regent of Kulon Progo, the Assistant Secretary of the Region, the Regent’s Expert Staff, the Economic and Natural Resources Division, the Agriculture and Food Office, and the Bapperida team. Also present at the event were Dr. Wiryanta, S.T., M.T., Vice Dean of Research and Community Service of Sekolah Vokasi UGM, Eko Prasetyo, S.Hut., M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of Research and Community Service Unit of Sekolah Vokasi UGM, and Dr. Nurulia Hidayah, S.Pt., M.P. as the FRC coordinator. This gathering aimed to discuss potential partnerships that could enhance agricultural productivity and food production in the region.

Faculty members and students from Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) visited the Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) to participate in a Short-Term International Mobility Program on 8th to 9th of January, 2025. The visit, which included discussions on potential collaboration, took place in Room 201 of the Teaching Industry Learning Center (TILC) at Sekolah Vokasi UGM on the 2nd floor from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM WIB.

The event was attended in person by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, IPM., ASEAN Eng., Dean of Sekolah Vokasi UGM, Dr. Leo Indra Wardhana, S.E., M.Sc., CFP., Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Dr. Wiryanta, S.T., M.T., Deputy Dean for Research and Community Service, Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati, S.Pd., M.Pd., as the Vice Dean for Cooperation and Alumni Affairs, Alfelia Nugky Permatasari, S.S., M.A., as the Manager of the International Relations Unit of Sekolah Vokasi UGM along with her team, representatives from UniKL MICET, Amin Safwan Bin Alikasturi as a lecturer, and student representatives from UniKL MICET.

The event is opened with a welcome speech by the Dean of Sekolah Vokasi UGM, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, IPM., ASEAN Eng., who expressed his hope for further collaboration between SV UGM and UniKL MICET. “Thank you so much for visiting Sekolah Vokasi UGM. This visit is our first visit in 2025. I hope this activity is not merely a visit but will lead to more sustainable collaboration not only now but also in the future.” he explained.

Not only that, the representative and academic advisor from UniKL MICET also expressed their gratitude for being welcomed to Sekolah Vokasi UGM. “Thank you for the warm welcome; it’s very nice. This is my first time here, visiting Sekolah Vokasi UGM. At UniKL, we specialize in Mechanical Engineering; I hope we can work together in the future.” he added. 

The event continued with a sharing session. Sekolah Vokasi UGM, represented by Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati, S.Pd., M.Pd., presented the results of project-based learning by Sekolah Vokasi students. Not only that, to deepen their knowledge, participants were invited to visit the labs in the TILC UGM building, such as the Cultural & Tourism Center, Smart System and Innovation Center, and others.

The event concluded with a group photo and the exchange of souvenirs between SV UGM and UniKL MICET. The visit by faculty and students from Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology (UniKL MICET) to Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada is expected to open opportunities for closer collaboration between the two institutions. Discussions on potential collaboration marks an important step in strengthening academic and research ties across borders.  

Author: Marwah Putri Nahampun, Irmanon Rindina

22 November 2024 – The recently concluded research comparing the linguistic landscapes of Malacca, Malaysia, and Yogyakarta, Indonesia, has provided valuable insights into the relationship between language, cultural identity, and urban heritage. Conducted between January and October 2024 under the research roadmap of Gadjah Mada University, this project explored how the languages displayed in public spaces reflect the emotions, perceptions, and cultural identities of the communities in these historic cities. The findings offer a rich understanding of how linguistic landscapes not only document cultural heritage but also shape the future of urban development.

Yogyakarta, November 9, 2024 – Universitas Gadjah Mada’s (UGM) Vocational School organized the 2024 National Seminar on Community Service Outcomes (SNH2PM) at the Field Research Center (FRC) building in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Themed “Innovation for Poverty Alleviation and Regional Economic Growth,” this seminar brought together academics, practitioners, and service partners to present impactful initiatives aimed at tackling local social and economic issues.

On Thursday, November 1, 2024, the Vocational School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta, Indonesia, made an official visit to the East Asia Management University (EAMU) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to discuss the follow-up of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The meeting was attended by a delegation from EAMU, including Prof. James Chua, the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Kaing Sopheap, the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Roland Goh, Head of School, and Mr. Saruon from the University Relations, along with other management and staff members. The UGM delegation was represented by Dr. Faiz Zamzami and Dr. Kun Haribowo, lecturers from the Department of Economics and Business at the Vocational School.

Yogyakarta, 28 October 2024 – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, IPM. ASEAN.Eng., Dean of the Vocational School, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), has been invited as an expert speaker at the UNESCO Regional Capacity Development Workshop which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 28 October to 1 November 2024. This workshop focuses on the Whole-School Approach (WSA) for Global Citizenship Education (GCED) to support the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yogyakarta, October 19, 2024 – The Vocational School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) proudly held the National Seminar on Applied Technology (SNTT) 2024 with the theme “Strengthening Comprehensive Vocational Higher Education as a Pillar of Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045.” The event took place on October 19, 2024, at the Teaching Industry Learning Center (TILC) of UGM’s Vocational School in Yogyakarta. This seminar is expected to serve as a platform for academics, practitioners, and stakeholders to share innovations and ideas in strengthening vocational education and applied technology to support Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045.

Makassar, October 15, 2024. On October 15-16, 2024, a team of lecturers and educational staff from the Vocational School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) as a Source Vocational Higher Education Institution (Pertivsum) served as resource persons and moderator for a Training of Trainers (ToT) program for 35 lecturers and educational staff from Politeknik Dewantara Palopo. The event took place at the Arya Duta Hotel in Makassar. This ToT, titled “Training of Trainer Promotion Kits, Public Speaking and English Skills, Soft Skills, and Work Ethics,” is part of an initiative designed by Politeknik Dewantara as a targeted vocational higher education institution (Pertivsas) to optimize partnership efforts, not only with domestic partners but also with international ones.