Yogyakarta, July 13th 2026 — The Population Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPs UGM) organized an online student monitoring and evaluation forum via Zoom. It was held from morning to noon, the event was attended by more than 29 doctoral students from diverse professional backgrounds, including the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), local governments, ministries, as well as professionals and academics.
The forum, led by Dr. Agus Joko Pitoyo, S.Si., M.Si., Chief of the Population Doctoral Program, was designed not as a formal or pressure-driven evaluation session, but rather as an open discussion platform. It allowed students to reconnect, share challenges, and formulate concrete strategies to accelerate the completion of their doctoral studies.
The Population Doctoral Program has recently been awarded the “Excellent” (Unggul) Accreditation. One of the key requirements for maintaining this distinction is the active monitoring of students’ academic progress. Accordingly, the program is committed to organizing regular progress monitoring and discussion forums at least once every six months.
“The Program is fully committed to supporting all of you and will continue striving to provide the best possible conditions for the success and smooth progress of your doctoral studies. This forum is not intended to put pressure on anyone; rather, it is an opportunity to exchange ideas, motivate one another, and provide mutual support,” Dr. Agus Joko Pitoyo remarked in his opening address, as summarized from the discussion.
The forum, due to its large number of participants, was divided into several sessions and small groups, each consisting of approximately five students with an allocated discussion time of 20–30 minutes. During these sessions, each student presented their current academic progress—from the dissertation results seminar, assessment by the Evaluation Committee, to preparations for the dissertation eligibility examination and closed defense—while also discussing challenges related to academic work, scientific publication, and balancing doctoral studies with professional and family responsibilities.
Most participants were in the stages of Results Seminar II, dissertation assessment, or dissertation eligibility review.Several students reported challenges concerning scientific publications, particularly manuscripts that were still under peer review or required submission to alternative target journals.
The Program also emphasized the publication requirement for proceeding to the dissertation assessment stage to be more flexible. A manuscript that has been submitted to an internationally accredited journal (such as those indexed by Scopus, Copernicus, EBSCO, or equivalent databases) is now sufficient to support an application for dissertation assessment, without requiring the manuscript to have reached accepted status.
The forum also covered several administrative policies relevant to final-year doctoral students. The Program’s administrative officer, Siti Muyasaroh, provided technical explanations regarding deadlines and applicable procedures in accordance with the policies of the UGM Graduate School.
Furthermore, the Program reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating students’ academic progress, including its willingness to participate in discussions with supervisory committees whenever necessary. It is to ensure that dissertation assessment and eligibility processes proceed smoothly and on schedule.
In closing, Dr. Agus Joko Pitoyo expressed his appreciation to all students for placing their trust in the Doctoral Program in Population Studies. He reaffirmed the Program’s commitment to accompanying students throughout their academic journey until successfully earning their doctoral degrees. Similar forums will continue to be held on a regular basis as part of the Program’s ongoing efforts to maintain academic quality and support the timely completion of students’ studies.
Author: Hikmatun Lampadjoa
Editor: Siti Muyasaroh