The Graduation Ceremony Period II 2026 became an unforgettable moment for Asma Ningrum Abdurrahman, who was awarded the Best IUP Student Publication Manuscript. When her name was announced, she was genuinely surprised. She shared that she did not expect it at all, especially knowing that many of her peers had also produced outstanding theses. For Asma, the recognition feels both humbling and meaningful. She hopes her work can now reach more readers and help raise awareness of political psychology, a field she believes is still underdiscussed despite its relevance to today’s political climate.

Heavy rainfall in November 2025 triggered widespread floods and landslides across Aceh Province, affecting thousands of families. Schools were suspended, infrastructure was damaged, and access to clean water and healthcare became limited. Beyond the physical destruction, the disaster also left significant psychological and social impacts on communities.

Disaster Response and Field Experience

During the lecture, Al Fadhil shared firsthand experiences from emergency response efforts, including distributing food, clean water, and medicine to isolated areas such as Aceh Tamiang. With damaged roads and limited access, some aid had to be delivered by sea before continuing by land. Power outages, weak communication networks, and limited health facilities made the situation even more challenging.

The session also introduced the cluster approach in disaster management, where sectors such as shelter, health, water and sanitation, protection, and psychosocial support coordinate under a structured system. Students learned that effective humanitarian response relies on collaboration between government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and community actors.

Rapid needs assessment was another key topic. By combining interviews with local leaders, health workers, and vulnerable groups with field observations and official reports, humanitarian teams can identify urgent priorities such as clean water, medical services, shelter, and psychosocial support.

Integrating Mobile Clinics and Psychoeducation

A highlight of the lecture was the integration of mobile health services with structured psychoeducation programmes. The mobile clinic model brings essential healthcare directly to evacuation sites and remote villages. Services include medical consultations, treatment of common illnesses, maternal and child health care, and distribution of essential medicines. By reducing access barriers, the programme ensures timely and equitable care.

Alongside medical services, psychoeducation sessions are conducted for children, women, and caregivers. These sessions focus on understanding stress reactions, coping with trauma, parenting during crisis situations, and practicing self-care. Safe spaces and child-friendly activities help restore a sense of safety and normalcy, especially for children who are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress.

For students of Community Empowerment and Psychoeducation, the lecture served as a reminder that empowerment is about providing material assistance, strengthening resilience, and upholding human dignity. By connecting classroom concepts with real humanitarian practice, the session helped deepen students’ understanding of the important role psychology plays in disaster response and community recovery.

Writer: Thessalonica Faith Hill Joseph Kurnia

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.

For many students, learning is usually conducted inside the classroom. But for Radya Nasywa Zahira, joining the SMI Youth Exchange Singapore–Malaysia–Thailand opened the door to lessons that stretched across borders, cultures, and new experiences.

The SMI Youth Exchange is a program that brings together selected individuals to learn about diplomacy, education, and culture across three countries. Radya was chosen as a fully funded delegate for Batch 10, and for her, the program was an opportunity to gain real international exposure. She shared that it was not only about cultural exploration but also academic visits and meaningful discussions on global issues like the Sustainable Development Goals.

In August 2025, we joined 27 fellow academics from universities across Indonesia in a short course on Strengthening the Higher Education System in Indonesia (SHESI), delivered through the Australia Awards Indonesia program. The Crawford School of Public Policy hosted the course at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, and gave us the opportunity to engage with policymakers and universities.

In Canberra, we visited the Department of Education and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), gaining insights into national policy and regulations. In Victoria, we visited leading universities, including the University of Melbourne, RMIT, and Deakin, as well as Study Melbourne, the government body supporting international students. These experiences offered a comprehensive view of how Australia manages internationalisation across policy, governance, and practice.