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

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 16) – Four lecturers from Sekolah Vokasi UGM have won awards for their scientific works published in reputable international journals during the period of February 2025. The awards were presented by the Director of the UGM Research Directorate as a form of institutional appreciation for the lecturers’ contributions to strengthening academic culture through globally impactful publications.

Yogyakarta, (14/3) – Sekolah Vokasi Universitas (SV UGM) held a Ramadan Symposium with the theme “Welcoming the Revelation of the Quran: Celebrating the Blessings of Ramadan 1446 Hijri” on Friday afternoon (14/3). The event aimed to deepen understanding of the meaning of the Qur’an in academic life and strengthen Islamic values within the campus community.

In a significant move towards sustainability, Sekolah Vokasi UGM (SV UGM) has implemented a new strategy for meeting consumption procurement during meetings. As of June 2024, all snacks and lunch provided for meetings within SV UGM environment will no longer utilize cardboard boxes and plastic materials. This initiative aims to address the growing issue of plastic and cardboard waste in Yogyakarta, a city grappling with environmental challenges.