In the Odd Semester of the Academic Year 2025/2026, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed new international students through PIONEER (Program for International Orientation and New-student Empowerment to Enhance Readiness), which took place on Friday, August 15, 2025, on the first floor of the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) Building.
This event, organized by the Office of International Affairs (OIA) UGM, is part of a welcoming event for international students aimed to introduce international students to the UGM and Yogyakarta environments and help them adapt smoothly during their studies. Additionally, it also served as a platform for international students to interact and get to know each other.
In the August 2025 intake, UGM accepted 376 international students, consisting of 103 degree program students, 216 exchange program students, and 57 students in language and other non-degree programs.
Following the opening performance by UKM Swagayugama, Prof. Wening Udasmoro, Vice Rector for Education and Learning in UGM, delivered her welcome address. She explained that internationalization is one of UGM’s biggest strengths.
“Student mobility is the heart of internationalization in UGM. Many who come here for a short program often return for their master’s or doctoral degree,” said Prof. Wening. “While studying here, don’t forget to keep learning, exploring, and connecting with others.”
The event continued with several overviews of UGM and its facilities, along with essential information about living in Yogyakarta. Presented by various speakers across UGM, the sessions introduced the wide range of resources available on campus, from academic support and research facilities to health services and student activity centers. They also offered practical guidance on everyday life in Jogja, including navigating transportation, understanding local customs, and exploring the city’s unique blend of tradition and modernity. These sessions were designed to ensure that international students feel well-prepared both inside and outside the classroom.
This explanation about life in Yogyakarta was further enriched by a sharing session from Roxanne Marie Flores, an international student from the Philippines who’s currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Linguistics at UGM with the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) scholarship.
Known as Mbak Roxanne, she shared her various experiences while studying in Indonesia, and gave useful tips about Indonesian food. “When ordering food in Indonesia, please be considerate of the level of spiciness. Indonesians love spicy food, so if you can’t handle it, let them know that you’re ordering non-spicy food,” said Mbak Roxanne.
After the opening event, PIONEER 2025 will continue its agenda with other supporting activities, such as Cultural Immersion and Excursion on August 30, and Learning Indonesian with the Local Community on September 20. See you on the next agenda!
Recent Comments