More than 10,000 new students will take part in the Student Initiative Development and Orientation Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (PIONIR Gadjah Mada) 2026. The program serves as both an orientation and a learning experience for new Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) students, grounded in the values the university upholds.
PIONIR is more than an orientation program. It aims to cultivate successful learners who can think, communicate, and act effectively in both academic and non-academic settings. The program also encourages new students to develop a strong awareness of social issues through initiatives such as the action plan.
“PIONIR is part of UGM’s effort to cultivate students who are successful learners in the way they think, communicate, and act while upholding anti-violence values, both physical and psychological, in academic and non-academic environments,” said Dr. Hempri Suyatna, UGM Director of Student Affairs, during a podcast sharing session titled “Mengenal Lebih Dekat PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2026” on Wednesday (July 29).
PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2026 will take place from August 3 to 15 and feature a series of activities designed to welcome UGM’s new students. The program will begin with an opening ceremony, followed by introductions to UGM and its faculties, soft skills development sessions, and implementation of the action plan, and will conclude with a closing ceremony.
Dr. Hempri explained that PIONIR Gadjah Mada offers a wide range of learning materials to help UGM’s new students, known as Gamada, adapt to university life while strengthening their social awareness in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He added that participants are expected to understand and internalize these values throughout their studies at UGM.
“We hope UGM students will embrace UGM’s core values, including ‘Mengakar Kuat Menjulang Tinggi’ (Deeply Rooted, Reaching High), as well as the character values upheld across the university. In this way, new students will develop the soft skills needed to avoid culture shock as they transition into higher education,” he said.
Muhammad Prima Putra, Chair of the PIONIR Task Force, said the action plan would introduce new students to communities in villages surrounding the UGM campus while involving them in community engagement activities that create tangible benefits for residents.
Prima also explained that this year’s PIONIR closing ceremony will be presented in a special format, not only for new students and their parents but also for the wider public. According to him, the public has consistently shown strong enthusiasm for innovations introduced by UGM.
“The PIONIR closing ceremony is not only eagerly anticipated by Gamada and their parents; it feels as though people across Indonesia are also looking forward to the innovations we will present,” he said.
According to Prima, one of the main challenges in organizing PIONIR is meeting the expectations of both students and the public while ensuring that the program remains a memorable experience, given its status as one of UGM’s signature events. To achieve this, the entire UGM academic community and the student organizing committee continue to work together to deliver a PIONIR program that meets the expectations of all stakeholders.
Muhammad Ariq Bagaskara, General Coordinator of PIONIR, explained that the action plan is one of the program’s activities that enables Gamada to engage directly with local communities. Before entering the field, participants will receive classroom instruction that they will later apply through various community-based activities. In addition to putting their learning into practice, Gamada are expected to build meaningful relationships with residents.
Carrying the theme “Sinergi Gadjah Mada Muda, Srawung Wujudkan Aksi Nyata” (Young Gadjah Mada in Synergy, Building Connections Through Real Action), the PIONIR 2026 action plan is expected to introduce new students to the people and communities of Yogyakarta in a more meaningful and comprehensive way.
Bagaskara said every PIONIR program introduces innovations, while growing public expectations present an ongoing challenge for the organizing committee. As a result, the creative planning process began in January and involved multiple stages of development.
This year’s PIONIR will also feature an innovation that has never been introduced in previous editions.
“Every year, PIONIR introduces innovations, and public expectations continue to grow. Since January, the organizing committee has been preparing a variety of concepts through a long and challenging creative process. This year’s PIONIR will feature something different from previous years. We hope it will provide Gamada with a memorable and meaningful welcome,” he said.
Bagaskara expressed hope that, as UGM’s first point of contact with new students, PIONIR would provide a positive first impression of campus life.
“PIONIR is the first face of UGM. It is where Gamada will meet their first family on campus. We hope they will enjoy every stage of the learning process and the experiences they will share,” he concluded.
Author: Zabrina Kumara
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyanandaningrat
Photo: Documentation of UGM Public Relations