UNY held a solemn ceremony to commemorate National Education Day (Hardiknas) 2026 on campus on Friday (May 2). The ceremony served as a moment of reflection as well as a reaffirmation of the academic community’s commitment to realizing inclusive and impactful education for society.

Acting as the ceremony inspector, UNY Rector Prof. Sumaryanto delivered the official address of the Indonesian Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto. In the speech, it was emphasized that this year’s Hardiknas theme is “Strengthening Universal Participation to Realize Quality Education for All.”

The Rector stated that education plays a central role in shaping the nation’s civilization. “Education is the heart of civilization, a space where intellect is formed, character is forged, and the future of the nation is determined,” he quoted during the ceremony.

The speech also highlighted various global challenges faced by the education sector, ranging from digital disruption and environmental crises to changes in the labor market caused by artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, education remains a strategic and sustainable solution to address these challenges.

The Minister’s address emphasized three main priorities in higher education transformation. First, expanding inclusive access to education so that no citizen is left behind. Second, strengthening collaboration between universities and various stakeholders to generate practical solutions for society. Third, advancing research that not only produces publications but also innovations with direct impact on the nation.

On the occasion, the UNY Rector also encouraged all members of the academic community to actively contribute to building an adaptive and relevant educational ecosystem that meets the demands of the times. Universities are expected not only to become centers of knowledge development but also drivers of solutions to national challenges.

At the same event, UNY presented awards to 2,894 outstanding students representing various fields of achievement. Among the award recipients were: Dhimas Satria Wicaksono, First Place Winner of the 2025 Student Digital Innovation Competition (LIDM) in the reasoning category;, Benediktus Praditya Arista Putra, Winner of the Ethnic Category (C2) at the 2025 Taipei International Choir Competition in Taiwan and First Place Winner in the Mixed Youth Adult Choir category at the 2026 Santa Argela International Choir Festival;, Arif Dwi Pangestu, Gold Medalist in the Men’s Recurve Team event at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025;, and Septiana Nabila Dwi Halisa, First Place Winner of the 2025 Abdidaya ORMAWA competition in the Student Organization category.

These students, who achieved accomplishments at national and international levels, received symbolic awards directly from the Rector. The Hardiknas ceremony at UNY was attended by lecturers, education staff, and students with a strong spirit of nationalism. The event served as a reminder that the responsibility of educating the nation is a shared duty of all elements of society.

According to Rafi, one of the outstanding students from the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, National Education Day is a reflection of the struggle to liberate education in Indonesia. He viewed the commemoration as a shared commitment to continuously improve the quality of human resources and as a momentum to humanize humanity through inclusive and character-based education, in line with the philosophy of Tut Wuri Handayani. Rafi himself achieved distinction by winning a national-level university ultrasound competition organized by UNY.

Meanwhile, Fathan, another high-achieving student from the same faculty, interpreted National Education Day as a form of appreciation for the contributions of Ki Hajar Dewantara, the pioneer of Indonesian education. He also emphasized the importance of this momentum in increasing awareness of the value of education, fostering students’ enthusiasm for learning, and serving as an opportunity for reflection and evaluation of the existing education system. Fathan achieved success by winning the 2025 UNY Sport Championship.

Through this commemoration, UNY reaffirmed its commitment to supporting sustainable national education development, in line with efforts to improve the quality of human resources and contribute meaningfully to Indonesia’s progress.