Yogyakarta, April 10th, 2025 – The UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (EPA) Study Program again held Phase II Monitoring and Evaluation (Monev) activities for students participating in the Merdeka Learning Campus Merdeka (MBKM) Internship scheme. The activity on Thursday, April 10, 2025, online through the Zoom Meeting started at 13.00 WIB and was attended by MBKM participating students, MBKM supervisors, and representatives from internship partners spread across various agencies and companies.

This Monev activity aims to monitor how students have progressed in implementing internship activities lasting more than one month. Each student presented the progress of the activities they participated in, their learning achievements, and the challenges they faced while in the field. This reflects a real effort to improve the quality of education and work skills of the younger generation while encouraging inclusive and sustainable development of the agricultural sector. Students have generally adapted well, from being actively involved in agency/partner activities to compiling academic documents such as Pre KRS and activity logbooks.

Some examples can be seen in the internship students at the Agriculture and Food Security Office of Yogyakarta Special Region who have been placed in fields such as the Food Crops Division, the BP3M FTP Division, and the Seed Production and Quality Monitoring and Control Division. Students have contributed to various activities such as inputting data on harvest prices, yields, land area, Planted Added Area (LTT), Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (LP2B), and carrying out seed inspection activities. In addition, students also conducted field visits to Turi and Kulonprogo for RJIT (Tertiary Irrigation Network Plan) activities. This activity also strengthened students’ understanding of the importance of food security and efficient water resource management.

Meanwhile, students who interned at PT Natural Nusantara (NASA) Yogyakarta had the valuable opportunity to be involved in the Creative Digital Marketing division for agricultural product promotion activities. Students develop their skills in shooting pictures and videos, learn how to use the tools to make videos and compose visual narratives by product characteristics. Not only that, students also had the opportunity to visit PT NASA’s showroom in the form of a greenhouse and goat farm. This interaction enriched students’ understanding of technological innovation and entrepreneurship based on environmentally friendly agriculture.

On the other hand, students assigned to BULOG Yogyakarta Special Region were involved in many rice distribution monitoring activities, such as visiting milling partners, surveying BULOG-assisted partners, and conducting market operations.
One of the students was even involved in warehouse visits to support the smooth running of the SPHP (Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices) program, which is part of BULOG’s mission to maintain national food security. This contribution also strengthens a fair and equitable food logistics and distribution system.

The Monev results show that students are not just “interning” but are starting to build a critical understanding of the existing system in the field. Some have even begun to develop case studies or final report topics that will be converted into academic grades. Students interning at BULOG, for example, are creating a rice supply chain analysis to support food distribution efficiency. By doing so, students participate in building a resilient and sustainable food system.

Partner participation is also an essential element in the success of this program. Almost all partners who attended the Monev expressed support and appreciation for the enthusiasm and contribution of students. They provide feedback on student performance and open opportunities for further discussion to make students part of the solution to real problems in the agriculture and food sector. This collaboration is a real example of a partnership that supports sustainable development and improves community welfare. Through this activity, the EPA UGM Study Program shows its commitment to continuing to assist students in bridging between theory in the classroom and real practice in the world of work.

Author:Mirda Mutiara Eva
Website Admin of Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM

Yogyakarta, February 11, 2025 – The Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (EPA) Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada carried out Practicum Assistant Coaching Squad activities at the Sosek Building, Faculty of Agriculture. This activity aims to provide debriefing for 71 practicum assistants in charge of 9 practicum courses for the EPA Study Program in the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year.

The event was led by Asih Kusumaningsih, S.P., M.Sc., as the Practicum Coordinator of the EPA Program for the Even Semester 2024/2025. In this coaching session, practicum assistants were provided with various necessary materials that support the smooth implementation of the practicum, starting from the introduction of the EPA Study Program practicum, the formation of assistant structures, and an explanation of the flow of practicum implementation.

With this coaching, it is hoped that practicum assistants can better carry out their duties and provide quality learning experiences for students. In addition, this activity is also the first step in building superior human resources with good communication, leadership, and management skills for use in various professional fields.

This activity shows the commitment of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program to improving the quality of practicum learning and ensuring that students get the best learning experience. Hopefully, this coaching can benefit all participants and support the success of the practicum this semester! 🚀📚

Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM

Yogyakarta, February 7, 2025 – The Department of Agricultural Social Economics (Sosek) of Gadjah Mada University carried out the Debriefing and Deployment of Independent Students Learning Campus Merdeka (MBKM) for students of the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (EPA) Study Program and Agricultural Extension and Communication (PKP) class of 2022. The event, which took place at the Sosek Building, Faculty of Agriculture, aims to equip students with essential knowledge and skills before they go directly into the world of work through the MBKM program.

Debriefing by resource persons
In this activity, students received a briefing from Dian Fithriwati Darusmin, S.Psi., M.Psi., an industrial and organizational psychologist who presented material “Work Ethics in Work Institutions”. This material focuses on professional attitudes in the work environment, manners and effective communication in the workplace, self-management in facing the challenges of the world of work, and discipline and responsibility as a representation of academic institutions. Students are given an understanding of the importance of maintaining attitudes and ethics in the world of work, especially in adapting to organizational culture and building good professional relationships.

MBKM Student Deployment
In the even semester of academic year 2024/2025, 85 Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program students were officially deployed to various institutions and partner companies of the EPA Study Program. The students will undergo hands-on learning experiences in 22 institutions and companies engaged in various sectors of agribusiness, food security, and agricultural economics.

Through this MBKM program, students are expected to improve their practical competencies in their scientific fields and understand the challenges and dynamics of the world of work directly. In addition, students can build professional networks with industry practitioners and contribute to developing innovative and sustainable agribusiness.
With the implementation of this activity, it is hoped that students can apply the knowledge they have learned in college to the real world of work. Happy new experience, EPA students! 🚀🎓

Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM

Yogyakarta, January 8, 2025 – The Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), carried out the Socialization of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Program for Ekonomi Pertanian dan Agribisnis (EPA) Study Program students class of 2022. This activity was conducted online through a Zoom Meeting attended by EPA Study Program lecturers and 2022 EPA Study Program students. The socialization aims to provide direction and information regarding the implementation of MBKM in the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. Some things discussed were the introduction of various MBKM programs offered and can be selected by students, the flow and conditions of MBKM implementation, especially for the type of MBKM Program Partners of EPA Study Program, then ended with a question and answer session by enthusiastic participants. The dynamic discussion reflected the great interest of students in this program.

The socialization is expected to help students understand and prepare to join the MBKM program. Through this MBKM program, students can gain direct experience in the world of work relevant to agribusiness, broaden their horizons about the operations of MBKM companies or agencies, and develop innovation and problem-solving skills. The MBKM program supports the improvement of quality education. It prepares students to become a competent and innovative workforce so that they can get decent jobs and are expected to contribute to economic growth. The cooperation carried out by the EPA Study Program for implementing MBKM also strengthens partnerships to achieve the goal of sustainable agribusiness development.

Author : Aprilia Dwi Hastuti and Mila Amalia Utami
Admin of the Website for the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM

Students of the 2022 Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program conducted an Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum in Gunung Kidul Regency on November 1-4, 2024. The activity aims to provide students with information on the socio-economic conditions of farmers in Gunungkidul Regency through surveys and direct interviews with farmers.

The Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum has a series of activities that allow students to have reliable academic abilities. After conducting field practicums by interviewing farmers, students then write the results of their studies in the form of a scientific report containing the general conditions of the area, characteristics of respondents, analysis of social conditions, analysis of costs, income, profits of farming businesses and the level of farmer welfare. This is expected to provide students with an overview of the portrait of farming businesses in Gunung Kidul Regency and the conditions of farmers’ households. To facilitate the implementation of the practicum, students are accompanied by a practicum assistant and a supervisor. The series of practicum activities are closed with an exam with a lecturer in the form of a presentation of the results of the analysis.

Watch a clip of the excitement of the 2024 Agricultural Socio-Economic Assessment Practicum HERE

With the spirit of international collaboration, the EPA Study Program implements case-based learning in the agribusiness management course. The implementation of case-based learning is carried out to prepare EPA Study Program students to face global challenges. The class involves students from three countries, namely Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. They succeeded in formulating innovative solutions to actual problems in the agribusiness sector.

The activity, which was held on November 26, 2024, carried two main themes, namely production risk management and human resource management. Students were divided into two large groups to explore each theme. By using a case-based learning approach, they were required to analyze real cases in the agribusiness industry, formulate problems, and design effective solutions from three countries, namely Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.

Each presentation was followed by an in-depth discussion. Students from various countries exchanged ideas and provided input on the ideas that had been presented. Differences in origin and cultural background are a strength in producing innovative and comprehensive solutions.

This case-based learning activity is a manifestation of the EPA Study Program’s commitment to supporting sustainable development goals, especially the fourth point, namely quality education. This activity not only increases students’ knowledge of current issues in the agribusiness sector but also trains them to think critically, creatively, and collaboratively.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program held a guest lecture on agribusiness management with the topic of neuroscience applications in neuromarketing. The resource person in this guest lecture was Bambang Iman Santoso, a neuro-enthusiast and Co-Founder of the Neuronesia Learning Center (NLC) at PT Neuronesia Neurosains Indonesia. The application of neuroscience in marketing is one of the important sciences that should be studied by an agricultural marketer because this science can perfect existing marketing science.

Neuromarketing is a science that studies the brain’s response to advertising and branding, and adjusting marketing messages based on feedback to get a better response. Neuromarketing not only pays attention to how marketing messages reach the recipient but also considers the recipient’s response and how the recipient’s brain works to get feedback on the marketing process that has been carried out. Mr. Bambang explained the importance of neuromarketing in agribusiness based on scientific articles from Schukat et al. (2021) and Rabu et al. (2022). Neuromarketing is important for the agribusiness sector because it can provide various benefits such as:

1. Understanding consumer preferences more deeply
2. Increasing the effectiveness of visuals and packaging
3. Building loyalty through emotions
4. Minimizing the risk of new product failure
5. Optimizing pricing and promotional offers
6. Increasing the effectiveness of marketing strategies
7. Predicting purchasing decisions
8. Increasing product development and appeal
9. Addressing global health challenges
10. Expanding social acceptance
11. Sustainability and brand loyalty
12. Competitive advantage in niche markets

Mr. Bambang added that the brain has a tendency to like something new (novelty), but also dislikes something that is too new. In this case, marketers can create products that satisfy consumers by considering the character of the brain.

This guest lecture on neuromarketing is one of the new things for the UGM Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program. The guest lecture is expected to improve the quality of EPA Study Program graduates. The implementation of this guest lecture is a form of contribution from the EPA Study Program to the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially point 4, namely quality education.

Hello #SobatEPA!

Do you know about the Fast Track Program? The Fast Track Program is an accelerated study program for undergraduate students (S1) to be able to continue to the master’s level (S2) so that they can complete their undergraduate (S1) and master’s (S2) studies in just 5 years! Interesting, isn’t it?

The Fast Track Program is open to all students of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture who are interested in continuing their studies in the master’s program at the UGM Faculty of Agriculture. There are two Master’s Programs in the UGM Department of Agricultural Socioeconomics, namely a Master of Agricultural Economics and a Master of Agribusiness Management.

The existence of this Fast Track Program is an effort to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 4, namely quality education.

For #SobatEPA who are interested in participating in the Fast Track Program, let’s look at the terms and conditions for registering for the Fast Track program via HERE then register yourself via Registration for Fast Track Genap 2024