Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is ranked the highest in Indonesia and is positioned within the 201-250 range globally in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS WUR) by Subject 2025 for the Business and Management cluster.
Alongside UGM, Universitas Indonesia secured second place, followed by Universitas Airlangga in third.
Dr. Gumilang Aryo Sadewo, Vice-Dean for Research, Community Service, Partnerships, and Alumni at the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM), expressed gratitude for this achievement and highlighted their success in claiming the first rank in Indonesia.
“This ranking result further motivates the performance and output of FEB UGM’s academic community. We remain committed to implementing the principle of continuous improvement through various policies. Better scores and rankings each year reflect our ongoing efforts toward improvement,” he stated on Friday, Apr. 11, 2025.
Vice-Dean Sadewo noted that improvements in the employer reputation and H-index indicators compared to the previous year were the most significant contributors to UGM’s high reputation and ranking.
The employer reputation indicator reflects employers’ trust in the quality of graduates, while the H-index measures research productivity and impact.
Despite the international recognition, he emphasized that the faculty is not resting on its laurels but is instead committed to continuous improvement, especially in developing curricula that integrate sustainability issues and equip students with the skills needed for future leadership.
“We don’t just want to produce research that ends in high-ranking international journals, but research that also leads to real changes in business practices and economic policy,” he explained.
To continue enhancing graduate quality, particularly in terms of employability and reputation in the job market, FEB UGM has established the Career and Student Development Unit (CSDU) and the Sustainability and Strategic Initiative Unit (SSIU).
The career unit offers flagship soft skills training programs for students to complement the core competencies gained through coursework.
FEB UGM also collaborates with industry for public lectures, on-campus recruitment, and internship programs.
“Of course, there are still many gaps to identify and address, which are part of our ongoing improvement efforts,” he added.
Amidst growing competition, Vice-Dean Sadewo stated that FEB UGM is committed to organic growth rather than shortcuts.
This path surely takes more time, but it is hoped to be more sustainable in the long run.
FEB UGM strives to strengthen its international research network through visiting professor programs and joint research initiatives.
In this context, he shared his long-term vision for FEB UGM, particularly in contributing to developing Indonesia’s economy and business sectors.
“FEB UGM must generate social impact by carrying out the tri-dharma (three pillars of higher education: education, research, and community service) in a way that benefits the community,” he concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang