Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) held a solemn ceremony to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas) 2026 on campus on Friday (May 2). The event served as a moment of reflection and a reaffirmation of the academic community’s commitment to advancing inclusive and impactful education.
Acting as the ceremony inspector, UNY Rector Prof. Sumaryanto delivered the official address of the Indonesian Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto. This year’s National Education Day carries the theme “Strengthening Collective Participation to Realize Quality Education for All.”
In the address, education was emphasized as a central pillar in shaping the nation’s civilization. “Education is the heart of civilization, a space where intellect is nurtured, character is forged, and the future of the nation is determined,” the Rector quoted.
The speech also highlighted major global challenges facing education today, including digital disruption, environmental crises, and shifts in the labor market driven by artificial intelligence. Despite these challenges, education remains a strategic and sustainable solution to address them.
The Minister’s message outlined three key priorities for higher education transformation: expanding inclusive access to ensure no one is left behind, strengthening collaboration between universities and stakeholders to deliver real-world solutions, and advancing research that produces not only publications but also impactful innovations.
During the ceremony, the Rector encouraged the entire academic community to actively contribute to building an adaptive and relevant education ecosystem. Universities, he noted, must serve not only as centers of knowledge but also as drivers of solutions to national challenges.
On the same occasion, UNY presented awards to 2,894 outstanding students across various fields. Among them were Dhimas Satria Wicaksono, first-place winner of the 2025 Student Digital Innovation Competition (reasoning category); Benediktus Praditya Arista Putra, winner of the Ethnic Category (C2) at the 2025 Taipei International Choir Competition and first-place winner in the Mixed Youth Adult Choir category at the 2026 Santa Argela International Choir Festival (arts); Arif Dwi Pangestu, gold medalist in the men’s recurve team event at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025 (sports); and Septiana Nabila Dwi Halisa, first-place winner of the 2025 Abdidaya Student Organization Award (special interest category). These four students received symbolic awards from the Rector.
The ceremony was attended by lecturers, administrative staff, and students, all participating with strong national spirit. It served as a reminder that educating the nation is a shared responsibility across all sectors of society.
Rafi, an outstanding student from the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, described National Education Day as a moment to reflect on the struggle for educational independence in Indonesia. He emphasized that the commemoration represents a shared commitment to improving human resources while humanizing education through inclusive and character-based learning, in line with the philosophy of Tut Wuri Handayani. Rafi himself has achieved national recognition through a university-level competition hosted by UNY.
Meanwhile, Fathan, another outstanding student from the same faculty, viewed the occasion as a tribute to Ki Hajar Dewantara, a pioneer of education in Indonesia. He stressed the importance of using this momentum to raise awareness of education’s significance, foster a strong learning spirit among students, and reflect on the current education system. Fathan is also a recognized achiever, having won a competition at the 2025 UNY Sport Championship.
Through this commemoration, UNY reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable national education development, aligned with efforts to enhance human resource quality and contribute meaningfully to Indonesia’s progress.
