On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Karangmalang Education Forum (KEF), organized by the Central Leadership Council of the *Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta Alumni Association (DPP IKA UNY), served as a strategic discussion space to respond to the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education under the theme “AI and Improving Education Quality for All.” The hybrid forum took place at the Ballroom of the IKA UNY Building and was attended both in person and online via Zoom.

The forum was officially opened by Prof. Sumaryanto (Rector of UNY), who emphasized the importance of collaboration between universities, alumni, and education stakeholders in addressing digital transformation. He noted that AI should be used to strengthen teaching and learning quality, expand access to education, and uphold humanistic educational values.

The event featured prominent national figures and academics concerned with educational transformation in the digital era, including Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu’ti, M.Ed. (Minister of Primary and Secondary Education), who in his keynote speech outlined national policy directions for AI use that is inclusive, adaptive, and equitable. He stressed that AI must support teachers and broaden educational opportunities, not replace educators.

Other speakers included experts discussing the culture of learning in the AI era and the limits of AI’s ability compared to human educators’ roles in character, empathy, and moral development. The forum attracted strong participation — over 800 attendees in person and 340 online, including teachers, students, alumni, education activists, and the wider public.