The Directorate of Education and Teaching at Universitas Gadjah Mada (DPP UGM) held an event titled “Sharing Session on Graduate Program Admissions” on Tuesday, 25th November 2025, from 14:00 to 15:00 WIB via Zoom. The session was intended for prospective students of the School of Graduate Studies Cluster Batch 2 and featured three speakers: Prof. Dr. Armaidy Armawi, M.Si. (Head of the Doctoral Program in National Security Studies), Ir. Rini Dharmastiti, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. (Head of the Master’s Program in Biomedical Engineering), and Dr. Priyaji Agung Pambudi, S.Pd., M.Si. (Coordinator for Partnerships, Public Relations, and Promotion).
The event began with a presentation by Dr. Priyaji, who outlined the structure of graduate education at UGM. He explained the School of Graduate Studies oversees a wide range of master’s and doctoral programs that have earned national “excellent” accreditation as well as international recognition. Priyaji also introduced the fast-track program, which allows undergraduate students to complete part of their master’s coursework in parallel, along with the double degree programs established with UGM collaborations with partner universities abroad. The administrative procedures which ranged from document submission to the selection process also provided an overview of the various scholarship schemes available to students.
Following the general overview of the School of Graduate Studies, the next session featured Prof. Armaidy Armawi, who discussed the National Security Doctoral Program. He described the program establishment in 2020 and emphasized its interdisciplinary nature, encompassing geopolitics, public policy strategy, and national resilience issues. Prof. Armaidy also highlighted that the program has produced more than one thousand graduates over the past four years, with career placements ranging from national intelligence agencies and the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). According to him, national security is not merely about defense, but about society’s collective readiness to face constantly evolving socio-political dynamics.
The session continued with a presentation by Ir. Rini Dharmastiti on the Biomedical Engineering Master’s Program. She emphasized the program is currently strengthening its academic ecosystem through the integration of student transfers to the School of Graduate Studies, aiming to expand spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration. Rini underscored the importance of developing locally manufactured medical devices and improving national health resilience through innovation and interdisciplinary research. She also described the program’s collaborative networks involving research institutions, medical technology industries, and hospitals both domestically and internationally. According to her, the program offers opportunities for advanced research while preparing graduates to contribute to global health standards.
The discussion on Biomedical Engineering then expanded to curriculum details, research structures, and career prospects for graduates. Both the master’s and doctoral levels offer opportunities to engage in medical device development research, international collaborations, and the application of cutting-edge health technologies. At the end of the session, Dr. Priyaji reiterated the variety of funding schemes available, including tuition scholarships, final research funding, and LPDP pathways for double degree programs.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session. Participants raised questions regarding admission requirements, scholarship opportunities, and the mechanisms of double degree programs. The speakers offered further guidance, such as applying the Biotechnology Double Degree Program with LPDP, consulting program alumni for more detailed insights, and accessing comprehensive information on graduate admissions through the portal um.ugm.ac.id.
This Sharing Session highlighted UGM’s commitment to providing an open dialogue space and delivering transparent information to prospective students. Through comprehensive and reflective presentations, UGM reaffirmed its role in fostering an adaptive, collaborative, and globally competitive graduate education ecosystem.
Writer : Hesty N Tyas
Editor : Yeti Susilowati