Yogyakarta, May 17–18, 2025 — The Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics (Sosek), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), continues to demonstrate its commitment to holistic student development by organizing a two-day soft skills training program. Held at the Harjono Danoesastro Auditorium, the event was attended by undergraduate students from the 2021 to 2024 cohorts and was marked by high enthusiasm, interactive sessions, and meaningful learning experiences.
This training was designed to enhance students’ non-technical skills, including communication, collaboration, networking, adaptability, and time management — all of which are critical in both academic and professional settings. Beyond equipping participants with practical skills, the program also offered valuable opportunities such as the chance to become a teaching assistant, participate in department-funded research grants, and receive a certificate required for the undergraduate thesis examination.
Over the course of two days, participants were guided by Mr. Gideon Surya, a seasoned professional trainer with extensive experience in corporate and institutional training. The first day of the program focused on Change Management and Teamwork & Communication Networks, while the second day covered Motivation & Goal Setting and Time Management.
What set this training apart was not just the relevance of the topics but also the engaging delivery method. Students were divided into small groups, each accompanied by a facilitator. In addition to receiving materials, they took part in mini-games designed by the trainer to help them practice and apply what they had learned. The training concluded with an awarding session that recognized the best-performing groups during each game session, providing an extra boost of motivation and appreciation.
This event was successfully organized through collaboration between lecturers, assistants, part-time staff, and the Swaragama Training Center as a professional partner. The program ran smoothly and enthusiastically, fostering camaraderie and building students’ confidence in facing future challenges.
The soft skills training initiative also aligns closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 4: Quality Education, by supporting student development not only in academic knowledge but also in essential life and career skills.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by preparing students with interpersonal competencies that enhance their employability.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through active collaboration between educational institutions and external partners like Swaragama Training Center to deliver impactful training programs.
Through this initiative, the Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, UGM, emphasizes that quality higher education involves not only knowledge transfer but also character building and capacity development to shape future leaders who are adaptive, productive, and collaborative.
Written by:
Adhika Hafizh Prasada, S.P.
Website Admin of the Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM