Various global sustainability challenges, such as the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic inequality, can no longer be ignored without concrete responses.
The world needs a new generation brave enough to think critically and capable of addressing cross-sectoral issues with a sustainable approach.
Universitas Gadjah Mada addresses this challenge through Upchance 2025, a national competition that provides a platform for youth to present intellectually based solutions.
Through this activity, UGM aims to encourage public participation in building a fairer and more sustainable future.
Upchance 2025 is organized by the UGM Interdisciplinary Scientific Reasoning Unit (UPII) and will run from Jul. 13 to Sep. 13, 2025.
This competition is open to high school students, university students, and the general public who care about sustainability issues.
Carrying the theme ‘Integration of Intellectual Studies in Sustainability Inclusion: The Role of Academics in Shaping a Holistic Foundation Now and Later’, Upchance invites participants to contribute through sharp analysis and interdisciplinary perspectives.
This competition serves as a tangible manifestation of UGM’s commitment to developing a knowledge ecosystem actively involved in answering the challenges of the times.
This year, Upchance 2025 presents four main competition categories: a public speaking competition for the general public, essays for high school students, essays for university students, and a business plan competition based on a circular supply chain approach.
Each category is designed to explore intellectual potential and creativity from various participant backgrounds.
This competition is not only a platform for expressing ideas but also a means of building networks and collaboration across generations and fields of science.
With an open and inclusive format, Upchance serves as a strategic platform to concretely voice sustainability ideas.
As part of the series of activities, the committee also prepared an interdisciplinary talk show featuring speakers from various scientific fields.
This talk show will discuss various sustainability strategies from academic perspectives to field practices.
This activity aims to enrich participants’ understanding of the complexity of sustainability issues and open a dialogue space among stakeholders.
The peak event, a grand final and awarding ceremony, will be held offline at GIK UGM on Sep. 13, 2025, as a form of appreciation for the best ideas and concepts.
Registration for the Upchance 2025 competition is open until Aug. 9, 2025, and can be accessed via the link: bit.ly/PendaftaranUpchance2025.
All participants will receive an e-certificate as a form of appreciation for their active participation in this competition.
Winners from each category will receive attractive prizes and exposure opportunities at the national level.
Complete information about the competition mechanism is available in the official guidebook, accessible at bit.ly/GuidebookUpchance2025, or via the official Instagram account: @upchance_ugm.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photograph: UPII