East Kalimantan, Febuary 8–14, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) continues to be committed to fostering student involvement in research as part of its mission to promote academic excellence and evidence-based policy development. Through its various research initiatives, the center provides students with opportunities to participate directly in fieldwork, data collection, analysis, and research dissemination.
By engaging students in ongoing projects, CESASS seeks to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world research experience. This approach not only enhances students’ research competencies but also equips them with practical skills that are essential for their future academic and professional careers.
Most recently, CESASS involved Baharudin, a graduate student from the Graduate School, UGM in a research project on socio-cultural resilience in Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara (IKN). The study examines how communities respond and adapt to the social and cultural transformations associated with the development of the new capital. It also explores factors that contribute to strengthening community resilience and social cohesion amid rapid change.
By taking part in the study, he has had the opportunity to deepen his understanding of socio-cultural resilience and contribute to research addressing contemporary national challenges. Student researchers participated in various stages of the project, gaining firsthand experience in conducting research on issues of national significance.
Through such initiatives, CESASS continues to support the development of young researchers and encourage meaningful student participation in addressing contemporary social challenges. The center remains dedicated to creating collaborative research opportunities that generate knowledge, inform policy, and contribute to sustainable development in Indonesia.
CESASS expects that this experience will encourage him to further pursue and develop his own research focus, contributing new insights to the field in the years ahead.