The commitment to inclusive and socially empowering international higher education was once again demonstrated by a student from the Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics (Sosek), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Ulin Nuha Diah Wulandari, a student of the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program, was selected as one of the Indonesian delegates for the UP HIRAYA Short-Term Exchange Program 2025 organized by the University of the Philippines. Carrying the theme “Honing an Inclusive and Socially Responsive Internationalization Program,” the program served as a platform for cross-cultural learning and academic collaboration among Southeast Asian countries.
Over the course of three weeks, Ulin and two other delegates from Indonesia—Panca Rahadi Mulyo and Ilham Justin Asmara—participated in a series of educational and practical activities across three regions in the Philippines: Manila, Batangas, and Bicol. Participants were introduced to Filipino language and culture through classes on the ancient Baybayin script, traditional cuisine like Halo-Halo, and exploration of cultural festivals and national heritage sites. In addition, they attended workshops on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and visited the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) to learn about disaster risk reduction models through the interactive educational simulation Sakunwari.
In Batangas, the participants engaged in design thinking training and community empowerment sessions with Gawad Kalinga, an organization widely recognized for its community-based social and economic development programs. They also interacted directly with local communities through traditional art performances and visits to local government offices. In the Bicol region, participants were divided into several modules, including organic farming, apiculture (stingless beekeeping), chocolate processing, and mangrove planting. In the agriculture module, they explored sustainable farming practices at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA).
A proud achievement was earned by Ulin Nuha Diah Wulandari, who received the Best Community Empowerment Proposal award during the closing ceremony for her proposal titled “Threadcycle: Weaving Waste into Worth by Community Initiative.” The proposal highlights the importance of community-driven textile waste management as part of a circular economy and community empowerment movement.
Ulin’s participation in UP HIRAYA 2025 reflects the strong commitment of Sosek UGM students to promoting sustainable social transformation, cross-cultural collaboration, and youth engagement in global development. This achievement also aligns with efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through international educational exchange, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through involvement in community development programs, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthening collaboration among regional and international stakeholders.
Written by:
Adhika Hafizh Prasada, S.P.
Website Administrator, Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Faculty of Agriculture UGM