Yogyakarta, August 11, 2026─The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has completed organizing the PIONIR Society 2026 series as a welcoming gateway for 629 new students. Carrying the theme “Rangkai Arah Prakarsa Muda” (Formulating the Direction of Youth Initiatives), the faculty successfully introduced a safe and inclusive campus ecosystem that fully supports freedom of expression since the first day of orientation on Wednesday (August 5).
The success of this welcoming event was highly prominent in the creation of a warm interaction space without the barriers of rigid seniority hierarchies. The dialogical approach implemented by the committee and the entire academic community fostered a sense of security for new students to adapt, making the campus an open and discrimination-free place.
In addition to successfully building healthy social relations, PIONIR Society also succeeded in providing a comprehensive overview of a quality higher education ecosystem. During the department-level meeting sessions, the teaching staff introduced themselves by balancing academic seriousness with an interactive approach. This positive impression was further complemented by the introduction of integrated campus infrastructure, where the completeness of facilities and infrastructure is felt capable of ensuring equal learning accessibility for all students.
“From my perspective, starting from the facilities and infrastructure, I think it is already very, very complete, so we don’t need to, so to speak, walk further to look for something; everything is already available here at FISIPOL,” said Alfa, one of the new students of the 2026 cohort.
Furthermore, FISIPOL showcased its reputation as a safe space to speak up and hone critical reasoning. Entering the second day (August 6), new students were immediately invited to dive into social realities through an Action Consolidation titled “Keadilan Pendidikan dalam Ketidakpastian” (Educational Justice in Uncertainty). This agenda, which culminated in a street rally in the campus area, dissected crucial structural issues, ranging from equal access to education for vulnerable groups to the rejection of the commercialization of education.
The freedom of the academic pulpit and the availability of this dialogue space strengthen the students’ impression of a healthy campus democratic climate.
“Life here truly upholds the freedom of expression, just like what is spread on social media,” added Dinggan, a new student of the Public Policy and Management (MKP) study program, reflecting on the faculty’s culture.
Through the success of the entire PIONIR Society 2026 series, FISIPOL UGM reaffirms its readiness to welcome and guide young individuals toward their dreams. FISIPOL does not only focus on providing quality physical facilities and education but also serves as a safe, inclusive, and equitable home for everyone.