The Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Ova Emilia, conferred degrees upon 2,335 postgraduate graduates, consisting of 2,028 master’s graduates, including six international students, 102 medical specialty graduates, 12 medical subspecialty graduates, and 193 doctoral graduates, including one international graduate.
The Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony for Period I of the 2025/2026 Academic Year was held over two days. On the first day, Tuesday (Oct. 21), UGM conferred degrees on 1,241 graduates from ten faculties: the Faculty of Forestry (Forestry UGM), Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UGM), Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), Faculty of Philosophy (Philosophy UGM), Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), Faculty of Agriculture (Agriculture UGM), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), Faculty of Geography (Geography UGM), and Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM). On the second day, Wednesday (Oct. 22), the university awarded degrees to an additional 1,094 graduates.
In her address, Professor Emilia emphasized that higher education plays a strategic role as a center for research and innovation as well as a cradle for developing highly skilled human resources in technology. As a higher education institution, UGM carries the mandate to advance scientific knowledge that benefits society by preparing competent future talents with strong professional integrity, ethical values, and a sense of social responsibility.
“Studying at a higher education institution is not only about mastering skills and knowledge but also about shaping graduates who are characterized, adaptive, and competitive, or as individuals who can actively contribute to solving national problems,” she said at Grha Sabha Pramana.
Before the graduates and guests, Professor Emilia expressed her pride in UGM’s recent achievements throughout September 2025, including 14 researchers from the Faculties of Pharmacy (Pharmacy UGM), Geography (Geography UGM), Vocational College (SV UGM), Engineering (FT UGM), Forestry (Forestry UGM), Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), Dentistry (FKG UGM), and Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), who were recognized among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists in 2025 by Stanford University. In October 2025, UGM also received the Mandaya Award from the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment of the Republic of Indonesia for its innovative and sustainable community empowerment programs.
As part of UGM’s ongoing commitment to excellence in education, research, and community service in language and literature at the international level, the university ranked first among Indonesia’s 68 Best Literature Universities according to Edurank University Ranking 2025. Additionally, the Master’s Program in Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS) at the Graduate School has earned the International Premium Quality Seal accreditation from the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA).
“This achievement reaffirms CRCS UGM’s position as a program committed to building cross-disciplinary bridges in religion and culture at the international level. These various accomplishments at both national and international scales demonstrate that UGM continues to uphold high standards in education, research, and community engagement, while strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships,” she explained.
Representing the UGM Alumni Family (Kagama), Deputy Minister of Industry, Faisol Riza, remarked that Indonesia is currently asserting its industrial sovereignty through downstreaming. This process, he noted, is not only about economic value-added but also about the dignity of scientific knowledge.
“We want Indonesia’s resources to be processed by our nation’s own intelligence, not merely exported as raw materials. This is where the tangible contribution of postgraduate graduates is needed,” he stated.
He added that university-based research should produce innovative, applicable outcomes capable of solving real industrial problems and benefiting society. Students, he said, should be engaged in applied research relevant to industry needs.
“We hope graduates will play a major role in identifying industrial challenges and formulating knowledge-based solutions. Therefore, be the bridge that connects theory from academia with practice in the field,” he emphasized.
Andi Ali Armunanto, a doctoral graduate from Fisipol UGM, representing the graduates, stated that earning a doctoral or master’s degree is not the ultimate goal but a transformative process. Through this process, graduates not only produce original scientific work but also cultivate essential scholarly values, such as perseverance in the face of obstacles, integrity in handling data and arguments, and humility in recognizing the vastness of unexplored knowledge.
“Through laboratories, libraries, research fields, studios, and discussion rooms, we have been trained not only to master theory but to read reality with sensitivity and empathy. Every challenge, every failure we overcome, and every moment of reflection has sharpened our intellect and humanity,” he said.
The average study period for master’s graduates in this cohort was 3 years and 1 month, with the fastest completion achieved by Felicia Servina Djuang from the Master’s Program in Mathematics, FMIPA UGM, who completed her studies in 1 year, 1 month, and 11 days.
The average age of master’s graduates was 30 years, 6 months, and 15 days, with the youngest graduate, Amanda Eka Lupita from the Master’s Program in Plant Pest Science, Agriculture UGM, completing her degree at 22 years, 6 months, and 29 days.
The average GPA for master’s graduates was 3.75, with 1,082 graduates (53.35%) earning cumlaude honors, 798 (39.35%) graduating very satisfactorily, and 148 (7.30%) graduating satisfactorily. A total of 25 graduates achieved a perfect 4.00 GPA, including Rizal Galih Pradana from the Master’s Program in Psychology.
For the Medical Specialty Program, the average study period was 4 years and 8 months, with the fastest completion achieved by Ghani Ihsanul Hakim from the Prosthodontics Program, FKG UGM, who completed his studies in 3 years, 11 months, and 13 days.
The average age of medical specialist graduates was 33 years, 6 months, and 15 days, with the youngest graduate, I Gede Made Hadi Nugraha Arisukra from the Periodontics Program, FKG UGM, graduating at 28 years, 2 months, and 20 days.
The average GPA was 3.80, with 63 graduates (61.76%) earning cumlaude honors. The highest GPA in this program, 3.99, was achieved by Dewi Ayu Karina from the Orthodontics Program, FKG UGM, who also graduated cumlaude.
In the Medical Subspecialty Program, the average study duration was 2 years and 8 months, with the fastest completion achieved by Daldy Arianda from the Subspecialty Program in Surgery, FK-KMK UGM, who completed the program in 1 year, 11 months, and 16 days.
The average age of subspecialty graduates was 43 years, 5 months, and 10 days, with the youngest graduate, Fresti Oktanindi from the Subspecialty Program in Pediatrics, graduating at 37 years, 8 months, and 20 days. The average GPA was 3.83, with 10 graduates (83.33%) earning cumlaude honors.
The highest GPA, 3.87, was achieved by Rahmalina from the Subspecialty Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, who also graduated cumlaude.
Meanwhile, in the Doctoral Program, the average study duration was 4 years and 12 months, with the fastest completion achieved by Raden Roro Widya Ningtyas Soeprajitno from the Doctoral Program in Accounting, FEB UGM, who completed her studies in 2 years, 10 months, and 27 days.
The average age of doctoral graduates was 41 years, 6 months, and 15 days, with the youngest graduate, Rizky Aflaha from the Doctoral Program in Physics, FMIPA UGM, graduating at 25 years, 10 months, and 1 day.
The average GPA was 3.87, with 74 graduates (38.34%) earning cumlaude honors, 111 (57.51%) graduating very satisfactorily, and 8 (4.14%) graduating satisfactorily. A total of 36 graduates achieved a perfect 4.00 GPA, including Awistaros Angger Sakti from the Doctoral Program in Animal Science, Animal Science UGM, who also graduated cumlaude.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian