UGM’s 2024 Public Engagement Programs: Free Access Events Bridging Academia, Innovation, and Society
Free Event – General Public Lecture
The university hosts multiple free-access events through general public lectures, webinars, and seminars/workshops. Public lectures at UGM often involve collaboration with experts to explore and discuss a wide range of contemporary issues. In 2024, the Masjid Kampus UGM Public Lecture (MPL) series featured various distinguished speakers, including academics, education activists, and policymakers. Several events were held in conjunction with special occasions, such as the Ramadan Public Lecture, which raised themes like “Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT) for Strengthening National Security” with the Deputy Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Indonesia, Nezar Patria, S.Fil., M.Sc., M.B.A., as the keynote speaker. Other sessions addressed issues such as misinformation and journalism ethics, featuring Najwa Shihab, the founder of PT Narasi Media. Additionally, the Webinar on the Integration of Science and Religion discussed the intersection between Islam and other disciplines, including a session titled “Islam and Biology: Exploring the Intersection of Faith and the Origin of Life.”
Sources: Diseminasi INKLUSI FISIPOL UGM – Universitas Gadjah Mada
The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, FISIPOL UGM, has also demonstrated similar initiatives in providing free education for the public. In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the ASEAN Studies Center UGM, the faculty organized a public lecture titled “Navigating Contemporary Challenges: Indonesian Diplomacy in a Changing Global Landscape” featuring Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, S.IP., M.A., Director of the Center for Policy Strategy for the Asia Pacific and Africa Region. The lecture provided valuable insights into the prospects of Indonesia’s diplomacy in the Asia Pacific region.
In line with UGM’s commitment to inclusivity, a dedicated research team from FISIPOL has initiated a study across three provinces: Aceh, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi. The team also held a dissemination seminar titled “Seminar Diseminasi Riset Inklusi Sosial dan Kewargaan FISIPOL UGM” through the Pasar Sapaham agenda. The program encourages public participation and raises awareness to foster a better understanding of individuals with special needs.
On the other side, The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Michigan-Flint, USA, held a public lecture titled “Gender and Society in Indonesia.” The public lecture “Gender and Society in Indonesia” not only enriched the knowledge of students but also formed part of UGM’s efforts to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly points 5 and 4. Point 5, which emphasizes gender equality and women’s empowerment, was reflected through discussions about policies and practices affecting the rights of women and gender minorities.
Free Event – Webinar
Through webinars, UGM continues to share knowledge and diverse perspectives on various issues. The Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) actively participates in evaluating health-related policies through initiatives such as the webinar “Analyzing Funding Policies from 2014–2022 in the Perspective of Health Sector Reform and Conducting Policy Analysis in the Context of JKN Sustainability.” The discussion covered topics such as improving access to healthcare in remote areas, emphasizing the need for supportive regulations, investment incentives, and collaboration with philanthropic institutions to strengthen health infrastructure.
Sources: International Society for Quality in Health Research (ISQua) 2024
The Center for Health Policy and Management (PKMK) of FK-KMK UGM, together with the Department of Health Policy and Management FK-KMK UGM, also held a weekly seminar titled “Talkshow: Sharing Lessons from the Global Symposium on Health System Research (HSR) 2024, International Society for Quality in Health Research (ISQua) 2024, and Global Digital Health Forum 2024.”
UGM also pays strong attention to digital transformation. The Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral) UGM organized a webinar on Digital Supply Networks to identify stakeholder roles in implementing a digital supply system in Indonesia. Another webinar, Digital Transportation and the New Era of Mobility: Towards Indonesia 2045, explored the challenges of digital transformation in the transportation sector and proposed innovative solutions to advance transportation digitalization in Indonesia.
As part of the Annual Scientific Meeting organized by FK-KMK UGM, the HPU FK-KMK unit developed a national seminar highlighting best practices in promoting healthy lifestyles after the pandemic. The forum encouraged critical discussions to identify strategies for fostering healthy living within the academic community and inspired other organizations to adopt similar initiatives.
Free Event – Seminar/Workshop
UGM also organizes free seminars, workshops, and conferences on a wide range of contemporary topics, including technology, digitalization, and health, providing valuable insights for students and the general public. These activities reflect the university’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive and lifelong learning opportunities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine hosted the 2024 Vetepreneur National Seminar under the theme “Sustainable Business: From Sustainability to Profit.” The event aimed to develop entrepreneurial awareness among young veterinarians, encouraging them to become professionals who are not only clinically competent but also innovative in creating new business opportunities. This initiative supports SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by fostering sustainable and inclusive entrepreneurship within the veterinary field.
Similarly, the Center for Biotechnology Studies carried the theme “Promoting Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.” In addition to the main seminar, the center organized a workshop titled “Production of Raw Polymerase Enzymes from Escherichia coli,” which was open to participants interested in the practical applications of biotechnology. This program provided hands-on learning experiences that complemented theoretical knowledge and encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable innovation.
The Faculty of Cultural Sciences also celebrated the UGM Language Month 2024 through the Language Month Festival, one of the university’s flagship cultural events. The festival featured a series of creative activities, including the “Behind the Scenes of Language Month: We Tell Stories” exhibition, the interactive “Discover Me” showcase, and an exhibition of award-winning works from 2023. Visitors were also invited to express their aspirations through Suar Memoar and engage in a reading corner where they could create free scrapbooks or zines. The festival culminated in dynamic performances such as modern dance, musical poetry, and live music that highlighted the diversity of Indonesia’s cultural expression.
In the academic field, the Faculty of Biology held a Molecular Biology Mini Workshop in collaboration with several industry partners, including PT Ditek Jaya, PT Indolab Utama, and PT Nutrilab Pratama. The workshop was open to the public and aimed to strengthen the connection between academic research and industry practices.
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) UGM continued its long-standing tradition of fostering a research culture through competitive funding programs for lecturers, students, and researchers. Since 2015, this initiative has been part of Research Days, which in 2024 was rebranded as Research Week to emphasize knowledge dissemination over the course of several days. With the theme of Sustainability and Climate Change, Research Week showcased over 70 research outputs involving more than 100 researchers, including faculty members, students, and research center collaborators. The event was open to the public, providing a platform for exchanging ideas and strengthening UGM’s role as a hub for sustainability research and innovation.
Resources:
Free Event – General Public Lecture:
- “Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT) for Strengthening National Security”
- About misinformation and journalism ethics, featuring Najwa Shihab
- “Islam and Biology: Exploring the Intersection of Faith and the Origin of Life.”
- “Navigating Contemporary Challenges: Indonesian Diplomacy in a Changing Global Landscape”
- “Seminar Diseminasi Riset Inklusi Sosial dan Kewargaan FISIPOL UGM”
- Legal, Social, and Cultural Perspectives in the Public Lecture “Gender and Society in Indonesia” at FIB UGM
Free Event – Webinar
- “Analyzing Funding Policies from 2014–2022 in the Perspective of Health Sector Reform and Conducting Policy Analysis in the Context of JKN Sustainability.”
- “Talkshow: Sharing Lessons from the Global Symposium on Health System Research (HSR) 2024
- Webinar: Digital Supply Network
- Digital Transportation and the New Era of Mobility: Towards Indonesia 2045
- the Annual Scientific Meeting organized by FK-KMK UGM
Free Event – Seminar/Workshop
- “Sustainable Business: From Sustainability to Profit.”
- 2024 Vetepreneur National Seminar
- “Promoting Interdisciplinary Solutions in Biotechnology for Sustainability.”
- Molecular Biology Mini Workshop
- Sustainability and Climate Change
- Research Week
- “Behind the Scenes of Language Month: We Tell Stories”