A student of the Master of Agricultural Economics (MEP), Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Mahdaviqia Dharmawan, has brought pride to Indonesia after being selected as one of the country’s delegates for the ASEAN Youth United for Road Safety 2026 (AYU-RS 2026), held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 1–5 July 2026.
AYU-RS 2026 is an international youth forum organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare and Human Development, The Kingdom of Thailand. Indonesia’s delegates were selected through a national selection process conducted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia, which appointed three outstanding young representatives to participate in the forum. The event brought together participants from ASEAN+ countries, including all Southeast Asian nations as well as Japan, Australia, India, and China.
Throughout the five-day program, participants took part in a series of activities, including panel discussions, youth conferences, exhibitions, study visits, cultural exchanges, and group discussions. These activities provided valuable opportunities for delegates to broaden their understanding of road safety, strengthen international networks, and contribute to policy recommendations aimed at improving transportation safety across the ASEAN region.
As a student with an agricultural background, Mahdaviqia believes that transportation safety is closely linked to agricultural development, particularly in rural communities. He emphasized that improving road safety is an essential step toward enhancing farmers’ welfare and supporting sustainable agricultural development.
“I come from an agricultural background, which may not seem directly related to transportation. However, from the agricultural perspective, transportation safety can certainly be improved. We still face a high number of traffic accidents, particularly among rural farmers. I hope this program will encourage greater attention to transportation safety for farmers. This achievement is not merely a personal milestone, but also a gateway for me to contribute more broadly to improving the nation’s welfare, especially in the agricultural sector,” said Mahdaviqia.
Mahdaviqia’s participation in this international forum demonstrates that students from the Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics at Universitas Gadjah Mada are capable of contributing to global issues through interdisciplinary perspectives. His achievement also serves as an inspiration for students to continue developing their competencies, expanding international networks, and generating ideas that create meaningful impacts for society.
The Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics extends its heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement. May this accomplishment mark the beginning of even greater contributions toward sustainable agricultural development, improved community welfare, and stronger international collaboration in promoting safer and more inclusive transportation systems.
This achievement contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good health and well-being by promoting road safety and reducing the risk of traffic-related injuries, SDG 4: Quality education, through youth capacity building, knowledge exchange, and participation in an international learning forum, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals, by strengthening international collaboration among ASEAN+ countries to advance safer and more sustainable transportation.
Author: Natasya Putri Alifia, S.P.
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Documentation: Mahdaviqia Dharmawan