Yogyakarta, 24/4/2025 — The Tourism Study Programme at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), welcomed an academic visit from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Johor, Malaysia on Thursday (24/4). The visit marked a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and the strengthening of international networks in the fields of tourism and culture.

In a warm and engaging session, both institutions presented their academic activities and flagship programmes. Students and lecturers from both sides shared experiences on curriculum development, industry practices and research, as well as approaches to tourism education.

The event continued with an interactive bonding session. A relaxed atmosphere was created through ice-breaking activities involving all participants, followed by a traditional dance performance by students from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

This visit is expected to be the starting point for further collaboration between the Tourism Study Programme of FIB UGM and Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, particularly in future capacity-building initiatives.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 10/4/2025 – In order to welcome the new system of campus visit implementation, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held UGM Campus Tour Activity Guiding Training which lasted for two days, namely on Thursday, March 20, 2025 online through Zoom and Friday, March 21, 2025 offline in Multimedia Room 1, UGM Main Office (Balairung). This training was held as part of UGM’s efforts to realize a campus tour system that is more coordinated, informative, and representative of university values.

This activity is an important part of the implementation of UGM’s new policy in organizing campus tours, which were previously decentralized in each faculty and business unit. Now, the implementation is consolidated through a centralized system that involves student representatives from all faculties as guides. Therefore, the students involved are required to have good story telling skills, understand the values of UGM, and have basic visitor management skills, so this training is a crucial step in the process.

Understanding Values and Basic Guiding Techniques

The first day of the training was opened online by the committee, followed by remarks from Mohamad Rachmadian Narotama, ST, M.Sc., Ph.D., lecturer in Tourism Study Program at Faculty of Arts UGM as well as the Head of UGM Campus Tour Task Force Team. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of the guide’s role in the new UGM Campus Tour scheme which is not only as an introduction, but also as an ambassador of information and representation of university values.

The first session presented Runavia Mulyasari, S.Ant., M.A. and Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., both lecturers of Tourism Study Program and members of the UGM Campus Tour Task Force, who provided an in-depth understanding of the interpretation of UGM values in the context of guiding and the basics of guiding.

Meanwhile, Runavia Mulyasari, S.Ant., M.A. explained the importance of attitude, communication skills, and code of ethics that must be owned by campus tour guides. The participants were introduced to the principles of hospitality and professionalism as the key to maintaining UGM’s image in the eyes of visitors.

The next session was filled with a sharing session entitled “The Art of Telling Stories about Daily Activities” presented by Evander Dwi Pramana, S.Par, an alumnus of UGM Tourism Study Program who is now active as a guiding practitioner. In this session, participants were not only invited to hear field experiences, but also to share stories about campus life which could later be developed into story telling material for campus tour visitors.

Deepening SOPs and Guiding Practices

Meanwhile, offline training activities began with remarks from Popi Irawan, who emphasized the importance of this training in ensuring the quality of the campus visitor experience in the future. The first session was filled by Runavia Mulyasari, who explained the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) developed by the Task Force Team for campus tour guiding activities. Not only one-way, this session also encouraged participants to actively discuss to complete the SOP, such as dealing with emergency conditions and the limits of guide intervention.

The second session was a hands-on guiding practice facilitated by Evander. Through a paired method, participants practiced being a guide and a visitor alternately. Open discussions were also held to discuss effective guiding strategies in various situations. This practice also honed the participants’ skills in delivering information in an interesting, relevant and communicative manner.

Synergy for Sustainable Tourism

The active involvement of lecturers, students, and alumni of the UGM Faculty of Arts Tourism Study Program in this activity shows a commitment to sustainable education that is in line with the goals of SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve Goals. Collaboration across generations and faculties is an important foundation in creating a campus tour ecosystem at UGM that is inclusive, informative, and meaningful.

With this training, it is expected that all students involved as guides can be the best representation of UGM. Not only as a higher education institution, but also as an open, friendly, and inspiring life learning space.

[Public Relations of Tourism, Muhammad Alif]

Yogyakarta, 25/3/2025 – Muhammad Wirai Suryajati, an alumnus of the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) class of 2013, is one UGM Tourism alumni who has successfully built a career in the tourism industry. With his dedication and competence, Wira’i has obtained various achievements that contribute to the tourism industry in the country.

Wira’i now serves as CEO of PT Alodia Tour Indonesia, a company engaged in travel services with various superior packages, including private trips, company trips, honeymoons, MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions), visas, and flight tickets. In addition, Wira’i has obtained certification from the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) as a Professional Certified Tour Leader and MICE Organizer. This career and certification confirm his competence in managing tours and organizing MICE.

Wira’i shared his experiences and insights in the agenda of the Inspiring Alumni Graduation Briefing Period II 2024/2025, taking place at the FIB Auditorium, 7th Floor, Soegondo Building, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. The event was attended by prospective graduates and final-year students who are preparing to enter the world of work.

The Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM is committed to producing agents of change, ready to contribute to the tourism industry. With a curriculum combining theory-based and project-based approaches, as well as the support of extensive networks with industry, UGM Tourism Study Program continues to equip its students with relevant and innovative insights.

This effort aligns with the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve Goals. Having alumni network in various tourism sectors and business, UGM Tourism Study Program continues to contribute to the development of a sustainable tourism industry.

Wira’i’s career journey reflects how the education and experience gained during his college year at UGM evidence a provision in pursuing a career in the tourism industry. His story serves as a reference for students and prospective students of the UGM Tourism Study Program to develop their potential and build a competitive future in the industry.

[Public Relations of Tourism  Department FIB UGM, Muhammad Alif]

Yogyakarta, 25/3/2025 – Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a cooperation meeting with Saxion University on Friday, February 28, 2025. This visit is part of the ongoing cooperation established between the two institutions in recent years and is an important momentum in strengthening academic collaboration globally. The visit was attended by representatives from Saxion University, Jan Willem Meijerhof, as Head of Internationalization, Hospitality Business School, and Jasja Bos, Manager International Partnerships.

The discussion at FIB campus focused on curriculum comparison between the two institutions. The meeting further aims to initiate curriculum alignment as well as explore opportunities for more collaborative program development in the future. With this exchange of insights, it is expected to create a curriculum that is increasingly relevant to the needs of the global tourism industry and produce graduates who are ready to compete at the international level.

Mimi Savitri, M.A. Ph. D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni of FIB UGM, expressed her hope that cooperation with Saxion University will continue to help implement the vision of the Tourism Study Program in providing quality education with international collaborations. Cooperation between universities, both locally and globally, is a key factor in improving the quality of education, especially in the tourism sector which is dynamic and cross-cultural.

One form of cooperation that is possible to be implemented in the near future is a student exchange program. This program is expected to provide cross-cultural learning experiences for students of both institutions and broaden their horizons in the field of tourism and hospitality. With the exchange program, students are expected to gain broader and new perspectives, understand best practices in various countries, and develop professional networks early on.

The collaboration between the Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM and Saxion University is in line with the commitment to support sustainable development goals, especially SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve Goals. Hopefully, this collaboration will not only strengthen academic collaboration at the global level but also improve the standard of tourism education in Indonesia, create excellent graduates, and contribute to the development of a more sustainable and inclusive tourism industry.

[Public Relations of Tourism  Department FIB UGM, Muhammad Alif]

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) received a visit from Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA) in order to benchmark the Tourism Study Program. The meeting took place at Soegondo Building, FIB UGM, and was attended by representatives of lecturers and students from both institutions.

This visit aims to deepen ITERA’s understanding of the management of the Tourism Study Program. During the discussion, representatives from the Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM explained their curriculum structure, including the number of credits and courses offered in each semester. ITERA got a detailed description of the learning patterns and various best practices applied at FIB UGM.

In addition, the discussion also covered the challenges faced in running the study program, such as curriculum development, implementation of field practice, and management of human resources and infrastructure. Both institutions exchanged ideas to overcome these obstacles, and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.

This activity is expected to provide inspiration for Institut Teknologi Sumatera in managing similar study programs, as well as strengthening the collaborative relationship between the two institutions in supporting the advancement of tourism education in Indonesia.