Directorate of Partnership and Global Relations in collaboration with Directorate of Student Affairs UGM recently hosted a cultural excursion program for Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) Scholarship awardees on Saturday, 22 November 2025 in Bantul, Yogyakarta. The KNB Scholarship is an Indonesian government-funded program designed to support students from developing countries in pursuing higher education across Indonesian universities.
This excursion program was designed as continuation of the annual meeting held a week earlier, in which students got the opportunity to experience Yogyakarta’s cultural richness while also strengthening connection and sense of community among KNB awardees at UGM.
The program began with a cultural immersion activity at Desa Wisata Krebet, a tourism village renowned for its traditional wooden batik crafts. The students learned to make wooden batik painting, a tote bag with eco-printing method, and took part in a gamelan workshop, all guided by local artisans.
“It’s so exciting to be here, as I have the opportunity to experience many things about Jogja that I haven’t known before,” said Isac da Costa de Jesus, KNB 2025 awardee from Timor Leste who is going to pursue Master in Business Administration at the Faculty of Economics and Business. “The most interesting thing I found here is that I get to see how the local community here thrives through creative economy practices,” he added.
Emily Paima, KNB 2024 awardee from Peru, also shared the similar sentiment. “I think this event is a great opportunity for KNB students to connect and build a network with each other, as we rarely get to interact with fellow awardees during our studies,” said Emily, who is currently studying for a Master in Extension and Development Communication at the Graduate School.
The activity continued with a visit to Chocolate Monggo, a well-known local chocolate producer that highlights high-quality Indonesian cocoa. Not only learning about the chocolate-making process, but the students also had the chance to enjoy the unique flavors of Yogyakarta’s signature chocolate.
During the dinner session at The Muara Restaurant, Ms. Desi Yulianti, M.Acc. from the Directorate of Student Affairs UGM expressed her sincere appreciation for the KNB students and her hope for the continuation of the program. “Hopefully, the program will give a good impression to KNB students about the richness of Indonesian and Yogyakarta culture, and then tell the story to their family and friends back home,” Ms. Desi concluded.
This cultural excursion program not only strengthened connections among KNB awardees in UGM, but also deepened their appreciation for Indonesia’s cultural heritage, which will help enrich their academic journey at UGM with meaningful cultural engagement.
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