Committed to bringing forth and developing economic and business knowledge and practices that offer tangible benefits to society, at its 70th Anniversary or Lustrum XIV, the Faculty of Economics and Business of Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) continues to focus on sustainability, not only as an academic institution of excellence, but also by further strengthening its role as a strategic partner in addressing the various challenges of the nation and the world.
This commitment, said Professor Didi Achjari, the Dean of FEB UGM, is realized through education and teaching, research, and community service, to foster social welfare, economic justice, and environmental sustainability.
Upholding values of integrity, objectivity, fairness, and inclusivity, FEB UGM believes that every member of the academic community deserves to be respected without discrimination, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or social and economic background.
“This year, we are advancing under the theme 70 Years of Impact: Advancing Economics and Business Knowledge for Society and Sustainability. This theme reflects FEB UGM’s mission: We Nurture Future-Ready Leaders in Economics and Business to Foster Sustainability. Naturally, this is aligned with UGM’s new credo, Merakyat, Mandiri, dan Berkelanjutan, and in harmony with UGM’s motto, mengakar kuat dan menjulang tinggi,” he said at the FEB UGM Learning Center Building, on Friday, Sep. 19, 2025.
Delivering the Dean’s Report in the framework of the 70th Anniversary, Dean Achjari revealed various achievements over the past two years by FEB UGM.
One important achievement is its success in maintaining international accreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s first and most prestigious accrediting body for business schools.
In 2024, FEB UGM successfully obtained AACSB reaccreditation for the second time, covering thirteen study programs under all departments within FEB UGM.
At present, he said, FEB UGM is also preparing the Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) Application, which will be submitted in 2026, to continuously maintain quality standards equivalent to those of the world’s best business schools.
In addition to being internationally accredited, FEB UGM has also achieved the highest national accreditation rating.
In 2024, twelve study programs at FEB UGM achieved the “Unggul” (Excellent) accreditation from LAMEMBA, and in 2025, the Master of Economics and Doctor of Economics programs also earned “Unggul.”
“We are grateful that, in 2025, all 14 study programs under the Departments of Accounting, Economics, and Management finally achieved the ‘Unggul’ predicate from LAMEMBA,” he said.
According to him, these achievements affirm FEB UGM’s position not only as an educational institution with high global competitiveness, but also as one deeply rooted in its domestic community.
The Master of Business Administration programs in both the Yogyakarta and Jakarta campuses also received awards as the best study programs under the PDDikti Award in 2024.
Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Finance, Professor Supriyadi, expressed appreciation for the various achievements that FEB UGM has secured.
He also commended the holding of the 70th Anniversary as well as Lustrum XIV of FEB UGM.
He noted that FEB UGM is one of the institutional spearheads at the national and global levels.
“With its various roles in the tri-dharma of higher education, FEB UGM has proven to support the direction of UGM’s vision. It is hoped that the 70th Anniversary will become a moment of evaluation. Beyond maintaining various excellences, FEB UGM, with its strategic programs, can renew matters that have not yet met expected standards,” said Vice-Rector Supriyadi.
Meanwhile, the scientific oration was delivered by Professor Nurul Indarti from the Department of Management, FEB UGM.
In the oration, she delivered a speech entitled “Motivation and Challenges of Green Innovation in Practice: Insights from Batik Small and Medium Enterprises.”
She conveyed that the journey toward green batik is not an easy one.
Batik artisans face various challenges, including high investment costs, limited technical knowledge, conservative perceptions in the domestic market, fragmented standards, and minimal incentives.
“If we pull this to the theoretical realm, these conditions strengthen the relevance of three perspectives used in this oration: self-determination theory, institutional theory, and the triple bottom line,” she explained.
Firstly, self-determination theory emphasizes internal drive from the artisans themselves.
Intrinsic motivation, derived from religious values, environmental ethics, and cultural philosophy, becomes the primary driving force that keeps artisans committed to practicing environmentally friendly methods, even when facing financial constraints and market resistance.
Without this motivation, green innovation efficiently stops at the level of temporary projects. Secondly, institutional theory explains external pressures.
Government regulation, community demands, social norms, and even imitation of successful competitor practices drive batik SMEs to transform.
However, the dilemma of costly certification without incentives and still fragmented standards shows that external pressure can become a burden if not accompanied by adaptive institutional support.
Thirdly, the triple bottom line provides direction for where transformation should proceed.
“Green innovation must not stop at formal compliance, but must generate layered value of economic sustainability (access to premium markets), environmental preservation (waste management and natural dyes), and social welfare (health of artisans and strengthening of communities),” she elaborated.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian