In response to a statement made by former Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Rector, Mr. Sofian Effendi, who questioned the academic status of Mr. Joko Widodo as a UGM graduate during a YouTube live stream on Wednesday (July 16), UGM affirms that his remarks are inconsistent with the academic records and evidence held by the UGM Faculty of Forestry.
We regret that certain parties have influenced Mr. Effendi into expressing a misleading and unfounded opinion. These statements carry legal implications and may pose personal legal risks for Mr. Effendi.
Regarding the diploma issued in the name of Mr. Joko Widodo, UGM stands by the official statement released on April 15, 2025, published on the UGM website (ID: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/joko-widodo-alumnus-ugm/, EN: https://ugm.ac.id/en/news/joko-widodo-is-an-alumnus-of-ugm/). In that release, it was stated that Mr. Joko Widodo is a graduate of the Faculty of Forestry at Universitas Gadjah Mada. He completed his academic studies, beginning in 1980, under student ID number 80/34416/KT/1681 and graduated on November 5, 1985.
Once again, UGM affirms that it is not involved in any conflict of interest between the Ulama and the Activist Defense Team (TPUA) and Mr. Joko Widodo. As a public institution operating within Indonesia’s higher education system, UGM is subject to national laws governing the protection of personal data and the disclosure of public information. Accordingly, UGM is only permitted to disclose publicly accessible data; personal academic data can only be provided in response to an official request from law enforcement authorities.
Yogyakarta, July 17, 2025
Secretary of the University
Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M.