Yogyakarta, March 3rd 2026 — The Graduate School (SPs) of Universitas Gadjah Mada proudly announced the participation of its student, Michelin Sallata, a Master student in Peace and Conflict Resolution Program. She represented Indonesian youth at the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Forum 2026. The forum took place on February 24th–27th 2026, at the United Nations ESCAP Office in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Asia-Pacific regional forum brought together governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, academics, and youth groups to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the Youth Forum representative session, she emphasized that young people must become an integral part of policy-making processes, not merely objects of development. “Youth in the Asia-Pacific region must be recognized, meaningfully engaged, and empowered,” she stated.
Her involvement was not merely symbolic representation, but also demonstrated the academic contribution of SPs students in sustainable development diplomacy. The experience showed that global platforms are open for students to bring forward ideas grounded in research and field practice.
Michelin’s participation has become a source of pride and inspiration for the SPs UGM academic community. Active student engagement in international forums highlighted that postgraduate education is not only focused on strengthening academic capacity, but also on fostering leadership and commitment to sustainable development agendas.
The presence of an SPs student at the UN forum reaffirmed that Indonesian youth are capable of serving as strategic partners in shaping the future of the region—grounded in knowledge, collaboration, and concrete action.
Author: Arfikah Istari