The Faculty of Geography at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Geography UGM) has reached a significant milestone. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Geography UGM ranked first in Indonesia and within the 101-150 bands globally, solidifying its reputation as a leading geography education institution in Southeast Asia.
Of the 251 universities listed in the geography subject ranking, only two institutions from Indonesia made it to the list: UGM and Universitas Indonesia.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject is one of the most prestigious global university rankings conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based organization.
This ranking evaluates more than 1,500 higher education institutions worldwide across specific subject areas, using indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, and bibliometric metrics, including citations per publication and the H-index, which measures the productivity and impact of scholarly publications.
Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, Dean of Geography UGM, stated that this achievement is a form of the faculty’s accountability to the public and an international recognition of its academic quality.
“This ranking reflects the reputation and quality of the Faculty of Geography. An institution’s quality claim must be supported by both qualitative and quantitative measures from credible ranking agencies, in this case, QS World University Rankings,” he said on Friday, Apr. 11, 2025.
Dean Hadmoko further explained that this accomplishment significantly influences the development direction of the faculty’s academic programs and curriculum at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Climbing in credible international rankings such as QS WUR boosts the institution’s global competitiveness and increases international partners’ trust in the faculty’s academic quality.
This trust lays a strong foundation for expanding international collaboration networks, including double degree programs, cross-country collaborative research, and joint curriculum development aligned with global standards.
“This ranking strengthens our position in establishing international cooperation, such as double degree programs, joint research, and academic collaboration,” he added.
Geography UGM has built an extensive and sustainable collaborative network with leading higher education institutions worldwide.
These partnerships include strategic collaborations with prestigious universities such as the University of Cambridge in the UK, and top European institutions, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, and other countries with strong academic traditions in geography and earth sciences.
Beyond Europe, Geography UGM also actively engages with reputable universities in East Asia, including institutions in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
These collaborations take various forms, including joint research, joint lectures, and joint student supervision.
“Many global partners actively collaborate with us. They come from regional circles and world-class institutions, which shows that our presence is increasingly recognized in international academic forums,” the dean confirmed.
Student contributions to research activities and international publications also drive this achievement.
The faculty encourages students to participate actively in various research projects, including publications in high-impact journals such as those ranked Q1.
According to Dean Hadmoko, research generates knowledge and serves as an integral part of education, shaping future leaders and innovators.
To maintain and enhance academic and employer reputations, Geography UGM continues to expand its cooperation network with graduate employers.
Strategies include alumni forums, workshops, and project collaborations involving stakeholders.
“We want to ensure that employers are satisfied with the quality of the graduates produced by the Faculty of Geography,” he added.
Moreover, the presence of guest lecturers and visiting professors is a key ongoing strategy at Geography UGM to strengthen academic quality, enhance international exposure, and expand cross-border collaboration networks.
These academics from abroad are involved in short-term visits and strategic academic activities such as dissertation examinations, joint research, co-teaching, and joint-supervision.
In addition, many Geography UGM lecturers are appointed as adjunct or affiliated professors at foreign universities in countries such as Japan, China, Germany, and New Zealand.
These roles recognize individual academic capacity and indicate that the faculty has reached high international academic standards.
“Such collaborations enrich the exchange of knowledge, enhance the learning experience for both students and lecturers and serve as a vital platform for maintaining innovation and global relevance in geography education,” he said.
Dean Hadmoko emphasized that one of the faculty’s main priorities is to intensify and improve the quality of international cooperation through the expansion of its International Research Network (IRN).
Additionally, the faculty strategically aims to increase both the quantity and quality of scientific publications in internationally indexed journals, particularly those indexed by Scopus and categorized as Q1, which serve as key indicators in strengthening the institution’s global ranking position.
These efforts are supported by a strong research culture, solid mentoring systems, and active encouragement for academic staff and students to continue producing innovative, applicable, and impactful scholarly work.
“We are committed to fostering high-quality academic collaboration, enhancing the global recognition of Geography UGM, and ensuring that our academic contributions have a real impact at local, national, and international levels,” he concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Donnie