A group of students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) has once again made a mark on the national stage through its community empowerment initiatives. The Program Penguatan Kapasitas Organisasi Kemahasiswaan (PPK Ormawa) team from the MIPA Debate Club (MDC) of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at UNY won the Silver Award (Best Second Place) in the category “Teams with Outcomes That Can Be Adopted Nationally” at the Abdidaya Ormawa 2025 national competition, held at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang.

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) held a briefing and send-off for hundreds of students participating in the Community Service Program (KKN) and/or Educational Practice (PK) for the Even Semester of Academic Year 2025/2026 at Gedung Imam Barnadib. The event marked the official start of their community engagement and field learning — a manifestation of the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi (three pillars of higher education: education, research, and community service).

On Saturday, January 10, 2026, 110 students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) along with students from partner universities were deployed in the Collaborative Humanitarian Community Service Program (KKN Kemanusiaan) in Aceh Tamiang Regency. The send-off ceremony at the Manyak Payed Subdistrict Office marked the official start of their service to help support communities in recovery after floods and landslides.

The severe flooding in Aceh at the end of November 2025 became the most difficult experience in the life of Dr. Nurdin, an alumnus of the Doctoral Program in Educational Research and Evaluation at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), who witnessed his hometown in Peureulak, East Aceh Regency turn into a sea of water and mud after days of nonstop rain.

Continuing the agenda after the opening of the Collaborative Humanitarian KKN, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) took further real action in response to the post-flood situation in Aceh. On Friday afternoon (9 January 2026), the UNY team spread out to various locations in East Aceh Regency and Langsa City to distribute donations, provide free health services, and hand over financial assistance to UNY alumni and students affected by the floods.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) officially sent off students participating in the Humanitarian Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata Kemanusiaan) for the Even Semester of Academic Year 2025/2026, ahead of their deployment to Aceh Province. The send-off and briefing ceremony was held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, in the Main Meeting Room of the UNY Rectorate, as final preparation before the students began service on January 8, 2026.

Four delegates from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) conducted an official visit to Yunnan Minzu University (YMU) in China from 30 November to 4 December 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen academic and cultural cooperation between the two universities and to collect alumni tracer study data from UNY graduates residing at YMU.

On December 21, 2025, Sobat Bumi UNY — a student environmental community from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) — carried out a mangrove planting activity at Baros Beach in Bantul Regency. The event was part of UNY’s commitment to preserving coastal ecosystems and raising environmental awareness among students and the wider public.

About 60 participants took part in the mangrove planting initiative, including UNY students, high school students, members of the 4K Yogyakarta community, Relawan Gesit Yogyakarta, Komunitas Mangrove Baros, and volunteers from various universities.

Students participating in the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) program at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), assigned to Dusun Ngodolendo, Ringinanom Village, Parakan District, Temanggung Regency, conducted a socialization activity titled “Getting to Know Healthy Gluten-Free Food for Families.” The event aimed to increase community knowledge about healthy dietary patterns and to encourage the use of local food ingredients that are safer and healthier for families.

Students from the Biology Education Study Program at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) handed over biology learning media to four partner schools: SMAN 1 Seyegan, SMAN 1 Pengasih, SMA Gama, and Pondok Pesantren Ibnul Qoyyim Putri. This activity was part of the implementation of the Biology Learning Media course project and represents UNY’s contribution to improving the quality of learning in schools.