A total of 62 students from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Brunei Darussalam), the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom), WU Vienna (Austria), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Mulawarman University, State Polytechnic of Malang, Surabaya State University, and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) are participating in the Global Summer Week (GSW), organized by the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM) from July 13–24, 2026. This year’s program carries the theme Inclusivity and Innovation in Sustainable Entrepreneurship.
The Dean of FEB UGM, Professor Didi Achjari, said the Global Summer Week program, which began as a collaboration with WU Vienna, has grown into an international learning platform that brings together students and academics from around the world.
“This year, GSW welcomes 62 participants, including 13 international students from Austria, Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, as well as 49 participants from universities across Indonesia,” he said on Monday (Jul. 13).
Professor Achjari explained that inclusivity serves as the central theme of GSW 2026. Over the course of two weeks, participants will explore topics such as social entrepreneurship, impact investing, assistive technology, accessible economies, and diversity management in global workplaces through lectures, workshops, discussions with academics and practitioners, and visits to businesses in Yogyakarta that implement inclusive business practices. He hopes that participants not only gain new knowledge but also build international networks and return with ideas that can create a positive impact on society.
The Chair of GSW 2026, Dr. Annisa Hayatun Nazmi Burhan, said the program reflects the spirit of young people as critical thinkers, builders, and agents of change in addressing global challenges through business and entrepreneurship.
“GSW 2026 embodies the spirit of how we, as the next generation of critical thinkers, builders, and agents of change, choose to respond to global challenges through the lens of business and entrepreneurship,” she said.
Dr. Burhan explained that the program was designed to respond to evolving business strategies and economic development while encouraging meaningful social impact. Through this approach, GSW is expected to inspire future leaders who will help build a more socially sustainable world.
“Through this approach, we hope to inspire future leaders to make meaningful contributions toward creating a more socially sustainable world,” she said.
One of the GSW 2026 participants from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Ghevira, said she was excited to join the program because it provides an opportunity to build networks with students from universities across Indonesia and abroad. According to her, GSW offers an ideal environment for exchanging experiences while broadening perspectives in an international learning setting.
In addition to expanding her professional network, Ghevira believes interacting with participants from diverse backgrounds will provide fresh perspectives and enrich both her academic and personal experiences. She is particularly looking forward to discussing and collaborating with students from different academic disciplines throughout the program.
“I’m very happy to be part of this program because I have the opportunity to meet new friends from UGM as well as international participants. Experiences like this are invaluable for expanding my network and broadening my horizons,” she said.
Ghevira added that her participation in GSW 2026 was motivated by her desire to learn more about business and entrepreneurship, subjects that have not been a major part of her academic background. The program’s sessions will provide new insights into business strategies and their application in addressing global challenges.
“I’m not a business major, so I want to take this opportunity to learn more about business and entrepreneurship,” she said.
In addition to participants from various countries, GSW 2026 also welcomes observers from the University of Lublin, Poland. One of them, Mateusz Rozwalka, said he joined the program to observe its implementation while learning about Indonesian culture, particularly that of Yogyakarta. He explained that he discovered GSW while searching for leading universities in Asia and came across UGM and its Global Summer Week program.
“We want to learn as much as possible about the culture here. European and Asian cultures are very different, so we want to experience those differences while also seeing how the values of inclusivity and sustainability are implemented in this program,” he said.
According to Rozwalka, as an observer, he is not directly involved in every activity. Instead, his role focuses on observing the program and documenting its implementation for future reference.
Another observer from the University of Lublin, Kamil Mormoll, also expressed his enthusiasm for participating in GSW 2026. He said the program offers a valuable opportunity to experience Indonesian culture firsthand.
“I’m really looking forward to all the activities that have been prepared. Even the opening ceremony has already given me a new experience, and I’m eager to experience Indonesia’s cultural diversity firsthand,” he concluded.
Throughout the 11-day program, participants will take part in lectures, discussions, and workshops led by academics from UGM and partner universities. The sessions cover business, entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, inclusivity, and social impact. As part of the program, each group of participants will develop a business idea and present an e-poster. During the project development process, participants will also have the opportunity to consult with speakers on preparing a Business Model Canvas (BMC).
Author: Zabrina Kumara and Ika/FEB Public Relations
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: FEB Documentation