On Monday, October 26, 2026, Sekolah Pascasarjana Universitas Udayana (Udayana University Postgraduate School) celebrated its 34th anniversary at the Sudirman Campus in Denpasar, Bali.

The anniversary brought together the Rector and university leadership, former rectors and directors, professors, lecturers, students, academic partners, and postgraduate education leaders from universities across Indonesia.

This year's theme, “Kolaborasi Lintas Disiplin: Bersinergi, Berinovasi, Maju Bersama” (Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Working in Synergy, Innovating, and Advancing Together), reflected the direction of many discussions throughout the day.

For Upskill Study Program of Lumen Media, attending this annual celebration is particularly meaningful. Since beginning our academic collaboration with Udayana University's Postgraduate School in 2023, we have had the opportunity to work alongside its academics, researchers, and university staff in developing international study programs in Bali.

Three years into this partnership, we continue to appreciate the professionalism, academic integrity, and commitment that have made our cooperation possible. This year's celebration offered another opportunity to understand the institution's achievements, the challenges it is addressing, and the direction it intends to take.

The 34th anniversary was not limited to its official ceremony on October 26. As presented by the organizing committee, activities began several months earlier with an international publication strategy bootcamp in July, an international community service initiative in August, and an international seminar on Organic Farming Systems and Sustainability in September. On October 5–6, the School hosted the Interdisciplinary Exchange Workshop for the Future of All Asian Countries (IEWF-AAC) 2026, bringing together participants from six countries, eight plenary speakers, and 30 young researchers.

The anniversary activities continued on October 25 with a community gathering that included a fun walk, blood donation, free health screenings, and eyeglass distribution, organized in cooperation with Rotary International District 3420. These activities demonstrated how the School's work extends beyond teaching and research to include public engagement, community partnerships, and international academic exchange. 

The official anniversary ceremony featured a traditional Sekar Jagat welcome dance, speeches from university and postgraduate education leaders, the ceremonial cutting of tumpeng, and recognition of academic achievements and contributions to the institution.

Established in 1992, beginning with a postgraduate program in Linguistics, Udayana University's postgraduate institution has continued to develop its multidisciplinary academic role.

During the anniversary, Prof. I Nyoman Suprapta Winaya, S.T., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., Director of Sekolah Pascasarjana, presented the School's 2026 performance report, outlining academic progress, international cooperation, research contributions, and organizational priorities. According to the presentation, the School currently manages seven study programs, with 405 active students and 1,801 graduates recorded across its postgraduate and professional education programs.

Its academic achievements also include 21 international research publications against a target of 17, while 50% of lecturers have contributed to policy development, exceeding the institution's stated target of 28%.

Community initiatives presented during the report included elderly care activities with Malaysian partners, sustainable local rice cultivation, and community engagement programs in Bali. The figures provided useful insight into the School's progress. Equally important was the willingness to present its performance openly, including areas where further institutional development is needed.

One of the Director's priorities was expanding the international reach of postgraduate education. The School reported 14 inbound participants, comprising four international students and ten internship participants, alongside eight outbound academic activities. Its international cooperation includes academic and research connections with institutions and organizations in Japan, South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, and the United States.

Hosting IEWF-AAC 2026 was another example of this international direction, creating opportunities for researchers to exchange knowledge across disciplines and national borders. For Upskill Study Program, this is particularly relevant to the work we share with Udayana University. Through our international study programs, we have seen how academic partnerships can bring students into direct contact with lecturers, researchers, practitioners, and communities whose expertise is rooted in Bali.

Internationalization is not measured only by the number of visiting students or cooperation agreements. It also depends on what students learn, the quality of academic exchange, and whether relationships between institutions continue to develop beyond a single program.

An important part of the Director's presentation addressed the organizational challenges faced by postgraduate schools in Indonesia. One issue was the administrative assignment of lecturers, particularly those who teach across different faculties and postgraduate programs. The Director discussed the possibility of recognizing lecturers through both their home faculties and functional assignments within the Postgraduate School. The proposal aims to support academic staffing, accreditation requirements, and fair recognition of teaching and research contributions.

The presentation also examined examples from other Indonesian universities, including Universitas Gadjah Mada, IPB University, Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, and Universitas Hasanuddin.

The intention was to learn from different organizational approaches while identifying arrangements appropriate for Udayana University. These matters were also relevant to the meeting of FORPIMPAS Indonesia, the national forum of postgraduate education leaders, held alongside the anniversary celebration.

For us as an academic partner, the openness of these discussions was particularly valuable. Institutional progress requires more than presenting achievements. It also requires acknowledging challenges, considering different perspectives, and making careful decisions about what needs to improve.

One of the most significant messages of the day came from Prof. Ir. I Ketut Sudarsana, S.T., Ph.D., Rector of Universitas Udayana. In his address, the Rector emphasized that Indonesian universities should increasingly view one another as collaborators rather than competitors.

He encouraged universities to share their academic strengths, research expertise, and resources to improve the collective standing of Indonesian higher education internationally. His message was especially relevant to postgraduate education, where interdisciplinary cooperation is essential.

The Rector explained that many problems experienced by communities cannot be understood or addressed through one academic discipline alone. Environmental issues, healthcare, sustainability, and economic development require contributions from different areas of knowledge. This creates an important opportunity for postgraduate schools to develop study programs and research initiatives that bring different disciplines together.

Another point concerned the responsibility of universities when establishing new academic programs. The Rector emphasized that opening a study program must involve careful consideration of academic demand, long-term sustainability, financial feasibility, and the future opportunities available to graduates. Universities, he argued, must consider not only whether students will enroll, but also whether their education will prepare them to contribute meaningfully to society and professional life.

His remarks also addressed Udayana University's international visibility. Although Bali is internationally recognized as a destination, the University still has considerable opportunities to strengthen its global academic and research presence. For this reason, international partnerships, academic exchanges, and research collaboration remain important areas for development. The anniversary took place during an important institutional transition. In 2026, Universitas Udayana formally entered a new phase as a Perguruan Tinggi Negeri Badan Hukum (PTN-BH), a state university with greater legal and institutional autonomy. This transition brings opportunities to strengthen university governance, academic development, partnerships, and long-term institutional planning.

The Rector emphasized that while Udayana can learn from other universities, its institutional arrangements must respond to its own circumstances, strengths, and responsibilities. Sekolah Pascasarjana will continue to play an important role in multidisciplinary postgraduate education, with opportunities to develop academic programs that respond to emerging needs in research, industry, and society. The direction presented was ambitious, but it was also grounded in practical considerations: academic quality, sustainable program management, responsible governance, and stronger cooperation between faculties and institutions.

For our team at Upskill Study Program of Lumen Media, this year's anniversary offered a valuable perspective on the institution with which we have worked since 2023. Our cooperation has involved the development and delivery of international academic programs, including the Tropical Coastal Ecology and Community-Based Management semester program and the Sustainable Development and Ecotourism summer course. Through this work, we have come to appreciate not only the academic expertise of the lecturers, but also the professionalism and reliability of the people responsible for supporting these programs.

Behind every successful academic program are many individuals whose contributions are not always visible: program coordinators, administrative staff, researchers, lecturers, field partners, and university leaders who make time to discuss, plan, evaluate, and improve. We also recognize that maintaining a meaningful university partnership involves ongoing communication, mutual responsibility, and a willingness to continue learning together.

The Rector's emphasis on collaboration, responsible academic development, and greater international participation closely reflects the values we hope to continue supporting through our own work. Being part of this period of institutional development is something we value greatly. We admire the School's commitment to maintaining academic standards while being open about the work still ahead.