Gratitude can sound like a cliché idea, the sort of advice printed on a mug or a motivational poster. Yet over the past two decades, it has become one of the most studied topics in positive psychology, and the findings are surprisingly strong. Far from being just a pleasant sentiment, gratitude appears to measurably shape our mood, our relationships, and even our physical health.
On 5-6 February 2026, the Cross Cultural Understanding (CCU) Orientation and Welcome Event was held by the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event was organized to welcome incoming exchange students for the even semester of the 2025/2026 academic year and to support their academic and cultural adjustment in Yogyakarta.
In total, the program welcomed ten exchange students from various partner universities, including the University of Groningen, Saxion University, the University of Birmingham, Warwick University, and several others. Through a combination of academic briefings and cultural activities, CCU aimed to introduce Indonesian culture, particularly the local context of Yogyakarta, so that students could minimize culture shock and adapt comfortably during their study period.
On November 29, 2024, students of the course Psychology of Emotion went on a field study at Savasana Coffee and Event Space in Bantul. The field study was a fruitful discussion on mindfulness-based therapy techniques presented by Annisa Poedji Pratiwi, M.Psi., Psikolog from Charisma Consulting. The session, which took place from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, was centered on how mindfulness may be incorporated into mental health and emotional control.
With a focus on how mindfulness treatment can promote emotional balance and enhance general mental health, Pratiwi’s experience led participants through important ideas and techniques. Setting the tone for a thoughtful and active learning environment, the session started with an enlightening evaluation of the participants’ emotional states.
On September 2nd, 2024, forty-eight students from the IUP Psychology of Character Education and Development class attended a guest lecture conducted by Mr. Anindito Aditomo, S.Psi., M.Phil., Ph.D. He serves as the head of the Agency for Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. Additionally, Mr. Aditomo is an alumnus of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 2003.