From August 11–16, 2025, a field survey was conducted in IKN (Ibu Kota Nusantara) for the 2025 Fundamental Research Scheme with the topic:
“Innovation and Smart Waste Management Systems to Support the Implementation of Smart Cities in Ibu Kota Nusantara.”

The 2025 Fundamental Research Team is led by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. as the principal investigator (Lecturer at the Department of Development Geography and Head of the Regional Development Studies Master’s Program in Geography at UGM), with research team members including Prof. Dr. Eko Haryono, M.Si. (Lecturer at the Department of Environmental Geography and Head of the PhD Program in Environmental Science), and Ir. Agus Prasetya, M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D (Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering). The research assistants involved from the Regional Development Studies Program, Master of Geography at UGM, are Dias Oktri Raka Setiadi, S.Si., Yunita Salsabila, S.Si., and Gilang Cahya Nusantara, as well as alumni Amandita ‘Ainur Rohmah, S.Si., M.Sc. Additionally, Fauzan Hidayat, S.T., M.Si., a doctoral student in Environmental Science at UGM, is also involved. read more

The Summer Course Program 2025 with the theme “Smart City, Digital Transformation and Society in Southeast” was held from June 23 to July 10, 2025. The event was organized by the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (PSSAT) with support from the Faculty of Geography, and coordinated by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. (Head of PSSAT and also Head of the Regional Development Studies Program).

The summer course presented lecturers both online and offline from 12 countries, namely Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, Germany, Finland, Romania, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States, and Brazil. Meanwhile, colleagues from within the country came from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and Universitas Indonesia (UI). read more

The Head of Regional Development Program (MPW), MPW students, and MPW alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) conducted research activities in the Capital City of the Archipelago (IKN) on June 10-14, 2025.

This activity is part of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) Year 2025 which carries the theme “The Continuation of Nusantara Capital City Development: Strengthening and Limiting Aspects.” The Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) program is a collaboration between UGM as the Principal Investigator with UI, ITB, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), University of Yangon, Myanmar, and Universiti Sains Malaysia as Partner Investigators. read more

Monday (03/03) Students of Regional Development Master Program, Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada visited the Regional Development Planning Agency of Bantul Regency. A total of 6 students conducted a visit to obtain data in order to study the process of preparing the medium-term development plan of Bantul Regency to fulfill the Regional Development Studio course assignment.

The Head of Bappeda of Bantul Regency received them directly, accompanied by the head of the field and staff. Ari Budi Nugroho, S.T., M.Sc. (Head of Bappeda Bantul Regency) revealed that planning in Bantul Regency consists of development planning and spatial planning. Each is interrelated, in 2025 Bantul is preparing the RPJMD as a development planning document. It is currently in the synchronization stage with the vision and mission of the Regent and Deputy Regent who were just inaugurated in February. Of course, based on the evaluation of development indicators that have been running in the previous 5 years. read more

Students of Regional Development Master Program UGM participated in the 17th International Asian Urbanization Conference (IAUC) 2025 held at Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur, Bali, on January 14-16, 2025 with the theme “Rethinking Sustainable Urban Development” by presenting thesis research and research plans. The host was Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) supported by Asian Urban Research Association (AURA) and Faculty of Geography UGM. Participants consisted of various countries namely Indonesia, South Korea, USA, Romania, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, France and Germany.  Head of Regional Development Master Program, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T who is also the Head of the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies is the Chair of this conference. read more

Head Regional Development Master Program, Faculty of Geography UGM, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. as a speaker at the Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) Program UGM, ACICIS, and Monash University on January 10, 2025 by delivering material on “Urbanization, Smart City, and Cases of Indonesia (IKN and Kali Code)”. The event was attended by students and lecturers from Monash University.

Community Service Team Based on the Application of Appropriate Technology with the theme “Strengthening MSMEs through Digital Branding, Digital Marketing and Community Digital Literacy to Support One Day Round Trip (Excursionist) and MICE (Meeting-Incentive-Convention-Exhibition) Tourism Patterns in Sidoarum Vilage”, held a results presentation seminar at the UGM Center for Innovation and Creativity (GIK) on Tuesday, December 10 2024. This team was chaired by Prof. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T (Chair of the Regional Development Master Program and Chair of PSSAT UGM). The team members consisted of Regional Development Master Program students and PSSAT UGM staff. read more

Seminar and Monitoring activities for the Final Evaluation of Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) 2024 were held on 5-6 November 2024 at Hasanuddin University, Makassar. The activity was opened by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia and continued with parallel monitoring and evaluation activities. In this activity, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Head of Regional Development Master Program participated in RKI research seminars and monitoring and evaluation activities. In this case, Prof. Rini is the main researcher (UGM) while the partner researchers are from UI, ITB, BRIN, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Yangon University, Myanmar. The title of the research presented in the monev is “Creative, Innovative, and Smart Sustainable City Concept for Capital City”. Apart from the monev, there are fieldtrip activities in the Rammang-Rammang Karst Geopark Area and the CPI Area of ​​Makassar City on December 6 2024. Participate in movev and fieldtrip activities Regional Development Master Program alumni, Amandita Ainur Rohmah, S.Si., M.Sc., RKI research assistant. read more

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, the GEO-PW Webinar Series IKN Regional Development Series #5 and Focus Group Discussion were held, with the theme “Creative, Innovative, and Smart Sustainable City Concept for the Capital City”. This activity is part of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI), with a team consisting of UGM, UI, ITB, BRIN, Universiti Sains Malaysia (Malaysia) and University of Yangon (Myanmar).

The event was opened with remarks from Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, S.Si., M.Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Geography UGM, followed by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. as Host and Head of Regional Development Master Program, Master of Geography UGM. read more

On November 26, 2024, Dissemination Event on Public Satisfaction Survey for Yogyakarta City Infrastructure Services in 2024 was held. This activity is a collaboration between the Department of Public Works, Housing, and Settlement Areas (Dinas Pekerjaan Umum, Perumahan, dan Kawasan Permukiman/ DPUPKP) of Yogyakarta City and the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM.

Located at 2nd Floor of CESASS UGM, the activity was opened by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. (Head of Regional Development Master Program and Director of CESASS UGM), as well as the Team Leader of Public Satisfaction Survey for Yogyakarta City Infrastructure Services in 2024. Present as speakers were the Head of DPUPKP, Secretary of DPUPKP and Junior Expert Planner of DPUPKP Yogyakarta City. The event was also attended by CESASS research staff, expert assistants, and surveyors consisting of Regional Developments Master Program students. read more