On Monday, September 14, 2026, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed a delegation of educators from Singapore and Brunei Darussalam as part of the Management and Leadership programme with National Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. The regional education visit, which comprised 15 teachers and educators, gave participants practical insights, discussion and sharing session into the management and leadership of a large-scale higher education institution, for reflection and adaptation within their own schools.
During the visit, discussions focused largely on benchmarking UGM’s approach to student development. Topics covered included green education planning aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), human development, and student leadership programmes, as well as how UGM sustains continuous learning among its teaching staff and fosters collaboration between intracurricular and extracurricular activities.
On Sustainability, UGM highlighted its flagship approach to developing student leadership, beginning with PIONIR Gadjah Mada, a soft-skills orientation programme for incoming students through to KKN-PPM, a roughly 50-day community service programme in which students apply what they have learned at the university directly within communities. Ensuring that students actively engage in projects aligned with sustainable development as part of their academic experience. The university also shared how initiatives under the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas Mahasiswa (GIK) support student talent development by connecting high-potential students with industry partners.
The Director of Education and Learning, Prof. Dr. Gandes Retno Rahayu, M.Med.Ed., Ph.D highlighted the importance flagship approach to developing student leadership, beginning with PIONIR Gadjah Mada a soft-skills orientation programme for incoming students through to KKN-PPM “We take student leadership seriously, and that starts from day one. Through PIONIR Gadjah Mada, our soft-skills orientation programme, incoming students are introduced to the values and character we hope to build throughout their time here. That journey continues all the way through to KKN-PPM, where students implement and apply what they’ve learned directly within communities” she said.
Through these discussions, the delegation explored how institutional programmes and activities can be implemented at the unit level to foster collaboration, innovation, and sustainable organisational development.
Cheong Mun Mun Michelle expressed appreciation for UGM insights and the opportunity. “We already knew UGM was a great university, and this visit proved it. Seeing how UGM vision translates into real impact in society, and how they prepare students to lead in an unpredictable future, gave us a lot to bring back to our own schools.” she said.
The visit served as a platform for mutual learning between the two parties. For the delegation, it offered practical insights into how UGM integrates sustainability, student leadership, and community engagement into its academic programmes, insights that could be adapted within their own schools. For UGM, the engagement provided an opportunity to share its experience in student leadership and sustainability initiatives, contributing to regional knowledge exchange while strengthening its connections and partnerships with institutions in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam.
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