A total of 10,629 new undergraduate students of Universitas Gadjah Mada took part in the Closing Ceremony of the Student Initiative Development and Orientation Program (PIONIR) on Saturday morning (Aug. 16) at the Pancasila Field, Grha Sabha Pramana.
Wearing traditional bamboo hats and holding colored paper, the students created celebratory formations, including the UGM logo.
Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sudjito, expressed his hope that the new students, known as Gamada, would develop their potential and contribute meaningfully to society. He highlighted the Action Plan program, designed to foster character and community engagement.
“We hope this program can embody UGM’s values, provide space for creativity, bring ideas into reality, and enable direct involvement with society,” said Dr. Sujito.
The Action Plan took place in Sleman Regency and Yogyakarta City from Aug. 4 to 15. Carrying the theme “Srawung” (meaning socialize), the program encouraged Gamada to build closeness with local communities and develop a spirit of change.
Dr. Sujito added that such character development is essential for students to grow not only as intelligent and outstanding learners but also as strong leaders who understand social issues.
To ignite a sense of nationalism, PIONIR featured an inspirational speech by Retno Marsudi, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy.
In her address to thousands of students, Marsudi emphasized that pride in being part of UGM must be reflected in concern for both national and international issues. She expressed concern about the current global humanitarian and environmental crises.
“The world is not in a good state today. Humanitarian principles and values are being overturned. This condition should make us stronger and more resilient,” said Marsudi, who served as Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2014.
As a member of Kagama (the UGM alumni association), she shared that being a UGM student is a blessing in pursuing one’s dreams. However, those dreams must go beyond personal achievement, bringing benefits to others, strengthening humanitarian values, and upholding goodness in every step.
One of the most anticipated moments of PIONIR is the formation celebration. This year, students used Puspakara to form unique patterns with profound meaning, encouraging self-reflection at the start of their academic journey to chart the path ahead.
The struggle to enter UGM, she added, must continue with creating meaningful works over the next four years.
PIONIR has become one of the most memorable milestones for Gamada. Beyond experiencing university life for the first time, they are expected to internalize UGM’s values and character.
As the nation’s young intellectuals, they are entrusted with bringing change and advancing new initiatives. The conclusion of PIONIR marks the beginning of a new chapter in the journey of Gamada at UGM.
Author: Tasya M
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto Adi