Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) served as the host of the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) Indonesia 2025, held at the UGM Innovation and Creativity Hub (GIK) Joglo on Thursday (Nov. 6).
The annual education exhibition connected Indonesian prospective students with more than 80 universities and higher education institutions from 15 European countries. During the event, visitors could obtain information on study programs, education systems, and various international scholarship schemes.
EHEF also featured sessions on academic mobility programs across countries. The event was attended by hundreds of participants from universities in Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas.
Director of Partnerships and Global Relations at UGM, Professor Puji Astuti, expressed her appreciation for the European Union’s trust in UGM as this year’s host of the exhibition.
She stated that through this event, UGM strengthens its efforts to advance campus internationalization while expanding students’ access to pursue studies abroad. Professor Astuti also encouraged students to confidently explore cross-border learning opportunities to broaden their global perspectives.
“We hope events like this will reinforce academic collaboration and open pathways for Indonesian youth to thrive on the international stage,” she said.
As part of major international education initiatives, EHEF serves not only as a platform for promoting study opportunities but also as a symbol of long-term partnership between universities in Europe and Indonesia.
UGM, through the Directorate of Partnerships and Global Relations, continues to encourage active participation from its academic community in various global initiatives. Events such as EHEF are expected to foster a spirit of collaboration among students.
“We want the campus to serve as a space where ideas from different parts of the world can meet,” Professor Astuti noted.
The exhibition received an enthusiastic response from visitors, especially students preparing for further studies.
Fitri Aulia Mahmud, a student at the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), said she attended the fair to gather information about doctoral scholarships in the Netherlands and universities aligned with her interests. She believes events like EHEF help students better understand European education systems that are open to international learners.
“I don’t have a specific university in mind yet, but I’m sure I want to go to the Netherlands because the education system is open and welcoming to international students,” she said.
A similar enthusiasm was expressed by Mahesa Satya, a student from Yogyakarta State University (UNY), who plans to pursue a master’s degree in Denmark. Satya said that EHEF served as an effective platform for obtaining direct information from representatives of foreign universities. Through consultation sessions, he received detailed explanations of scholarship requirements, collaborative research opportunities, and how to adapt to academic environments in Europe.
“I received new insights about my target university, and I’m planning to continue my Ph.D. in Denmark,” he shared.
In addition to facilitating individual consultations, EHEF featured presentations from participating universities. Campus representatives highlighted their academic strengths and leading research in green technology, energy, health, and sustainable transportation.
The event was highly interactive, allowing visitors to engage directly with education staff and alumni from around the world. Organizers noted that more than 1,000 scholarship opportunities were offered to Indonesian students this year.
The 2025 EHEF series will continue in Jakarta following its Yogyakarta event. The strong interest shown by students in the education city reflects the growing enthusiasm of Indonesia’s younger generation to pursue international education.
With support from the European Union and partner universities, more opportunities for educational and research collaboration are expected to emerge in the future. The event also reflects a shared commitment to strengthening cross-country education diplomacy.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian