Ninety students from the German Language Education program (Pendidikan Bahasa Jerman) at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) conducted their Final Semester Exam (UAS) in an unconventional, outdoor format at the iconic Prambanan Temple complex on 22 November 2025. The exam, for the Regionale Reiseleitung course, was part of a project-based learning initiative which integrates case studies and real-world communication skills beyond the classroom.

Prior to the outdoor exam, students prepared intensively through assignments. They drafted academic papers in German and delivered both individual and group presentations. On 19 November, they drew exam topics by lot in the Cine Club room at UNY’s Faculty of Language, Arts, and Culture (FBSB), ensuring each student had a unique subject to explore.

For the assessment, students were divided into three large groups, each supervised by their lecturers: Prof. Dr. Sulis Triyono, Dr. Sudarmaji, and Dr. Phil. Aditya Rikfanto. The evaluation committee also included three master’s students from Münster University, Germany — Martina Kück, Svenja Grewing, and Maria Haget — who contributed as external examiners.

The Münster students praised the relaxed yet professional atmosphere of the exam. They noted that the majestic setting of Prambanan helped reduce tension, allowing examinees to speak confidently. Students presented on topics related to tourism in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, evaluated on mastery of subject matter, grammar accuracy, sentence structure, fluency, and communicative competence.

Maria Haget highlighted the high standard of the UNY students’ performance, commending their structured delivery, rich details, strong grammatical control, and clear pronunciation. Several students even enhanced their presentations with visual aids, demonstrating motivation and a professional mindset.

After the exam, participants explored the Prambanan Temple complex, using the opportunity to practice spoken German with international tourists — a real-world application of their oral communication skills. The group departed together from the Student Center.

One Münster student, Svenja Grewing, decided to stay longer in Prambanan to further explore the cultural heritage site, reflecting the deep impression it made on her.

This outdoor exam format represents a valuable experiential learning opportunity for the UNY students, enabling them to apply their German language proficiency in real-world settings and strengthening the academic collaboration between Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and Münster University.