Tuesday, May 27th 2025 – The Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Gadjah Mada held a graduation ceremony for prospective graduates of the Urban and Regional Planning Program (URP). Taking place in Room K1 on the 2nd floor, the event began at 1:00 PM with the national anthem Indonesia Raya, followed by a solemn rendition of the Gadjah Mada Hymn. The ceremony was attended by graduates and their families, faculty members, administrative staff, and representatives from the student association HMTPWK.
Retno Widodo Dwi Pramono, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., representing the department, delivered a speech that reflected his personal thoughts as both an educator and a parent of Generation Z. He highlighted the challenges faced by today’s young graduates, particularly the difficulties Generation Z experiences in securing employment. In response to these realities, he emphasized several important values that should guide the graduates as they navigate life after university.
Retno Widodo Dwi Pramono, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. Delivering His Remarks
First, he underscored the importance of gratitude for everything achieved. Recognizing and appreciating both the process and the results is, he said, the foundation for moving forward with confidence. Second, graduates were encouraged to strive to be individuals who bring positive impact to those around them, with the mindset that success and sustenance are not things to be pursued relentlessly, but rather prayed for sincerely with a heart full of humility. Third, he reminded graduates to be discerning in choosing workplaces, and to avoid institutions that do not uphold values of integrity and honesty. Fourth, graduates were urged to be smart, adaptive, and brave in innovating; it would be excellent if they could start their own ventures as a form of real contribution to society and the national economy. Finally, he stressed the importance of nurturing and maintaining sincerity. In sincerity, he said, often lie unexpected paths that lead to more meaningful and impactful outcomes than initially imagined.
The list of prospective graduates was then read by Isti Hidayati, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Secretary of the URP Program, accompanied by Ir. Deva Fosterharoldas Swasto, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM., Head of the Department. Graduates were called one by one along with their parents to receive their graduation certificates. A total of 12 graduates were honored in this period, consisting of 1 with a “satisfactory” predicate, 1 “very satisfactory,” and 10 graduates with “cumlaude” honors. Their GPAs ranged from 2.84 to 3.86, with an average of 3.61. The highest GPA was achieved by Rofifah Nur Azizah, who was also the youngest graduate at 21 years and 6 months old. The average study period was 4 years and 3 months, while the fastest completion time—3 years and 8 months—was achieved by 7 students from the 2021 cohort.
Rofifah Nur Azizah, Graduate with the Highest GPA and the Youngest
Portrait of URP Bachelor’s Graduates – May 2025 Period
The event continued with a speech from Mrs. Halinestri Meirita, mother of Rofifah Nur Azizah, representing the graduates’ parents. She expressed her appreciation and hope that the graduates would continue to contribute positively to society. Following this, a speech on behalf of the graduates was delivered by Cosmos Damara (Class of 2018), and a speech from the student association HMTPWK was given by its chair, Arinto Raffi Ridho Pratama. The event concluded with a collective prayer led by Sigit Pramono.
This graduation ceremony reflects the Department’s commitment to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 4: Quality Education
This event represents success in delivering high-quality and holistic higher education, producing graduates who are not only intellectually capable but also morally strong.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The encouragement to innovate and pursue entrepreneurship reinforces the graduates’ roles in fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
With an academic background in urban and regional planning, the graduates are expected to actively contribute to building resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious communities.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Instilling values of honesty and integrity in the workplace reflects a strong commitment to strengthening fair and effective institutions.
This moment of graduation is a collective celebration involving the entire academic community—faculty members, students, administrative staff, and families—committed to preparing a new generation of urban planners ready to face future challenges and bring about real change toward a more sustainable Indonesia. This event is not just a formal academic ceremony; it also serves as a space to affirm values of national identity, integrity, and a commitment to knowledge-based and socially empathetic development. Through this collaborative spirit, the Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Gadjah Mada, affirms its role not only as an academic institution but also as a cultivator of leaders and change-makers for better cities and communities.
Reported by Rindi Dwi Cahyati
