The Directorate General of Higher Education announced the Cluster of Indonesian Higher Education in 2020. Based on the press release, UNY has entered as the 12th university on cluster 1 of Higher Education in Indonesia. The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Margana, M.Hum., M.A. said that this achievement is the result of support, , synergy and collaboration of all parties, including leaders, academicians, and educational staff so that UNY can return to Cluster I as the 12th Best Universities in Indonesia .

UNY planned to organize the fourth graduation ceremony of 2019/2020 academic year on 27 June 2020. Unfortunately, covid-19 pandemic is on the rise and any attempt to hold any physical graduation ceremony will only add the health risk for those participated in the event.  For that reason, UNY has organized online graduation ceremony on 15 August 2020.

At present, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta has 102 study programs, and 72 of them have been accredited, while 39 of them have been internationally accredited for bachelor, master, and doctoral programs. “Early Childhood Education Study Program has significant role on building education basic in the society, both formal and non-formal. That’s why, we fully encourage further future development,” the Rector of UNY said on his welcoming speech on Online Field Assessment of Master Program in Early Childhood Education on 6th August 2020.

The Wacana UNY Journal Team (WUNY) proudly hold the Online Workshop on Teacher Professionalism Improvement through online scientific work on 21 July 2020. The online workshop was moderated by Prof. Dr. Kasiyanto, M.Hum., Professor of Modern Art Studies at the Faculty of Language and Art of UNY.

The identity of Indonesian art and culture is a very important thing, even a necessity. However, what needs to be pointed out is that in the meaning of identity, it is always within the frame of the process of becoming a format, so that it always requires continuous efforts. In the framework of the process of seeking identity, meeting with other identity entities, especially in the context of this global era, is another inevitable necessity. What is noted later is that as far and as complex as any other encounter with one another, it should not be self-destructing.

Drs. Abdul Halim Iskandar, M.Pd as the Village Minister and Chairperson UNY Advisory Council, attended the Dialogue with Representatives of the Village Heads of Gunungkidul and the Visit of the UNY Development Project of the Gunungkidul Campus on Saturday (6/27) afternoon.

As the implementation of community service during covid-19 pandemic, UNY donate protective gears and food packages. “Hundreds of these protective gears were made by UNY and we distributed them evenly in four districts, namely Sleman, Kulonprogo, Bantul, and Gunungkidul, through the heads of respective Health Offices," Prof. Sutrisna said on Monday (27/04) in conjuction with the 56th anniversary of UNY.

Covid-19 pandemic has made several collaborative programs involving international students to be rescheduled and even cancelled. On 19 March 2020 for example, UNY officially closed international teaching practice program in UNY’s partner schools after UPSI request to finish the program earlier due to covid-19 lockdown policy in Malaysia. In addition, BIPA program students from Princeton University were also withdrawn from the program early.

At the age around 5 to 6 years old, children mostly entered group B of Kindergarten. This period is a sensitive time in receiving various stimuli. At the age of 4 to 8 years old, children experience brain tissue cell growth by 80%. Therefore, it is the right time to provide various educational stimuli in helping physical and spiritual growth and development, so that children have readiness to study at elementary school.  To ensure effective learning experience, it is crucial to create and manage a fun class.

To improve learning outcome, it is important to work more on the learning media. A good learning media will help teaching process into a more efficient experience, less time consuming and less cost due to wide range of uses. Such learning media will be fit in with school who applied thematic learning.  Thus, learning media based on pop-up book is worth to consider. Compared with conventional book, pop-up book will give a new experience for students thanks to the 3D feature. Students can be directly involved and participate in the teaching and learning process.