Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is once again providing free breakfast at several faculties during the December 2025 Final Semester Examination (UAS) period. The program aims to support students experiencing economic hardship, particularly those affected by disasters. Beyond this, the initiative serves as faculty support for students facing semester examinations.
“It is very helpful, especially for students affected by disasters. But beyond that, this program also greatly helps students who do not have time to eat breakfast,” said Vice Dean of the UGM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH UGM), Dr. Widagdo Sri Nugroho, on Thursday (Dec. 18).
At FKH UGM, the free breakfast is distributed during the first session of each exam by lecturers or academic staff. In each examination room, the breakfast packages are neatly arranged according to the number of examinees.
“Everything runs safely and smoothly, and it reaches the intended recipients. If there are leftovers, they are usually given to staff on duty or security personnel,” he explained.
Students also acknowledged the benefits of the free breakfast. A student from the Faculty of Geography (Geography UGM), Aulindasyifa, said she often uses the facility to help her stay focused during exams.
“Sometimes exams start very early in the morning, and there isn’t always time or a place to prepare breakfast. With free breakfast, we can focus better on the exam,” Aulindasyifa said.
A similar experience was shared by a student from the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM), Maria Rosa Fortunata. She noted that although the program has not yet been fully optimized (since it mostly provides light meals that may not fully meet energy needs during the UAS), it is still a positive initiative.
“This program has not yet had a significant impact on the burden I feel during exams,” she explained.
She hopes that in the future the faculty can further develop the program by providing more filling meals, so that the positive impact can be felt more strongly, especially by underprivileged students or those affected by disasters.
Similar programs are also implemented at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), and the Faculty of Law (FH UGM).
Although the technical implementation and funding sources vary, the primary goal of these programs is to help students complete their exams smoothly.
The initiative also reflects the deans’ empathy toward students’ conditions, particularly those living in boarding houses who must come to campus early without time for breakfast.
Okta Amaliya, an undergraduate student in the Law Program, said the program is quite helpful, especially for students with early morning exam schedules.
“Sometimes the food is not eaten right away, but it can be saved for later,” she said.
Based on the information she received, around 200 breakfast packages are distributed each day, although she believes the portion sizes and menu consistency could still be improved in the future.
At FIB UGM, the free breakfast program is known as SIBUYA (Sarapan Pagi Ilmu Budaya). The program is an initiative of the Student Parents Association (POTMA), in collaboration with Dharma Wanita FIB UGM and the faculty canteen.
Each day, around 200 breakfast portions are provided on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays for two weeks during the UAS period.
The program uses a coupon system that can be redeemed at Kantin Sastra on Mondays and Thursdays. Meanwhile, menus supplied directly by parents who own food businesses are distributed only on Tuesdays.
Dean of FIB UGM, Professor Setiadi, said the program represents the faculty’s empathy and contributes to student welfare.
“We see the importance of this activity as a form of appreciation and empathy from the deanship toward students who are undergoing final semester examinations,” he said.
Professor Setiadi added that the program has been running since 2023 and has operated smoothly, with a fairly diverse menu that includes steamed dishes, which have proven particularly popular among students.
Mulia, a representative of student parents, expressed hope that the number of portions provided could be increased in the future. She also emphasized the importance of evaluating packaging to make it more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Azizaw Hegar, a student in the Indonesian Literature Program, said the free breakfast program not only helps students physically but also motivates them.
“They become more enthusiastic about exams because they have some nourishment before they start thinking,” he said.
At FMIPA UGM, a similar program has been running for about three years and is part of Dharma Wanita activities. Vice Dean for Research and Community Service, Dr. Wiwit Suryanto, explained that the program was initiated out of concern for student well-being.
“Members of Dharma Wanita manage a small canteen area and often interact with students. They once heard about a student who fainted during an exam because they had not had breakfast,” he said.
At FMIPA UGM, around 250 breakfast portions are distributed each day for two weeks during midterm and final examinations, with funding consisting of approximately 60 percent from the faculty and 40 percent from the Dharma Wanita fund.
Overall, the free breakfast programs implemented at these faculties reflect the university’s commitment to fostering an academic environment that cares for student welfare.
The program is considered effective in helping students maintain their physical and mental condition while coping with academic pressure during final examinations.
Going forward, the faculties hope the initiative will continue and inspire other faculties to introduce similar programs.
Through collaboration between faculties, parents, and Dharma Wanita, the free breakfast program serves not only as nutritional support but also as a tangible expression of care that strengthens solidarity within the university community.
Authors: Ika and Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya