Bandung, September 22, 2025 –  Participation in national-level competitions represents a tangible step toward self-development and a contribution to sustainable development goals. One such platform is the Olimpiade Pelajar Nasional 2025 (National Student Olympiad 2025), a multi-level competition open to students from elementary to university levels, covering a wide range of disciplines. The event was held online on September 21, 2025, providing a space for university students to take part in the Language Olympiad, which tests participants’ literacy skills and critical thinking abilities.

Melia Dwi Tamala, a 2023 student of the Primary School Teacher Education (PGSD) Study Program at UPI Sumedang Campus, achieved an outstanding accomplishment by winning the title of Absolute Winner (1st Place) and earning a Gold Medal in the Indonesian Language category, along with a Silver Medal in the English Language category at the university level.

Her achievements add to a series of earlier recognitions: on August 17, 2025, she won a Silver Medal in English at the National Grand Science Olympiad, and on August 24, 2025, she earned Gold Medals in both English and Indonesian at the National Student Olympiad – Independence Day 2025.

Participation in these Olympiads supports the realization of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, as such competitions enhance students’ literacy, critical thinking, and analytical skills through the comprehension of complex texts.

The Head of the PGSD Study Program at UPI Sumedang Campus expressed high appreciation for Melia’s achievements, recognizing her as a contributor to the university’s Key Performance Indicators (IKU). “Melia’s success serves as a great motivation not only for herself to pursue even higher achievements at the international level but also for other students to follow in her footsteps,” the statement read. “We hope this accomplishment will strengthen PGSD’s reputation as a program with outstanding student achievements.” (Contributor)

Bandung, September 17, 2025 – The “GREAT Conference 2025: Greening TVET for a Sustainable Future” marked the grand finale of the GREAT Summer Program 2025 at the Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education (FPTI), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). The event served as a platform for students from nine Asian countries to showcase their best collaborative works.

Chair of the GREAT Summer Program 2025, Dr. Mustika Nuramalia Handayani, emphasized that the GREAT Conference was not merely a competition, but also a space for collaboration and inspiration. “Through their projects, students demonstrate not only creativity but also a real commitment to shaping a greener and more sustainable future for TVET,” she stated.

During the conference, participants presented innovative papers and posters under the theme “Greening TVET”. Each project was developed collaboratively by mixed teams consisting of students from different participating countries. Since the online sessions began, the groups had been tasked with developing cross-country collaborative project ideas, guided by FPTI lecturers serving as coaches. This process offered students not only academic enrichment but also hands-on experience in international collaboration and multidisciplinary teamwork.

One of the judges expressed admiration for the participants’ presentations, stating, “We were impressed by the students’ creativity and analytical depth. They were able to propose innovative and relevant solutions to support the sustainable transformation of TVET.”

The GREAT Conference 2025 concluded with the announcement of the winners as follows:

• Paper Category
  • 1st Place (Best Paper): Empowering Youth: Educating Through Sustainability & Innovation in AI – Group 1
  • 2nd Place: Strengthening Green Energy Initiatives in Indonesian TVET Institutions to Support the Sustainable Development Goals – Group 9
  • 3rd Place: Raising Environmental Awareness Through Digital Campaigns in TVET – Group 10
• Poster Category
  • 1st Place (Best Poster): Internet of Things in Action: A Systematic Literature Review Supporting Green Campus Implementation in Southeast Asian Universities – Group 2
  • 2nd Place: Empowering Vocational Senior High Schools Through AI-Enhanced Digital Learning: Building a Future-Ready Workforce – Group 5
  • 3rd Place: Integration of SDG 4 in Higher Education Curricula as a Comprehensive Strategy for Achieving the SDGs – Group 7

The announcement of winners marked the closing of the GREAT Summer Program 2025, which successfully strengthened international academic networks and reaffirmed FPTI UPI’s role in cultivating a creative, competitive, and globally oriented generation of vocational learners. The event also underscored UPI’s ongoing commitment to promoting regional collaboration for green and sustainable TVET education. (Contributor)

Bandung, September 12, 2025 – Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), through its Business Incubator Division, successfully held the Biznest Bootcamp Edupreneur 2025 from September 10–12, 2025, at the LPPM UPI Building. Initiated by the Biznest X Eduhub Committee, the program brought together hundreds of students from various faculties who shared a passion and vision for entrepreneurship.

The opening ceremony was graced by UPI leadership, including Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Business, Prof. Dr. phil. Yudi Sukmayadi, M.Pd.; Director of Business, Dr. Ida Farida Adi Prawira, S.E., M.Si., CFP.; Director of Innovation, Downstreaming, and Science & Tech Park, Prof. Dr. Ida Kaniawati, M.Si.; and Director of Student Affairs and Alumni, Prof. Dr. Hj. Siti Nurbayani Kusumaningsih, M.Si. Their presence underscored UPI’s strong commitment to developing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus.

In his remarks, Prof. Yudi emphasized that the Biznest Bootcamp Edupreneur is more than just a business idea competition—it serves as a practical learning platform for students. Echoing this, Prof. Siti Nurbayani described the program as a manifestation of UPI’s commitment to preparing students who excel not only academically but also in economic independence. Meanwhile, Prof. Ida highlighted the importance of collaboration among students, mentors, and industry partners to strengthen the competitiveness of student enterprises.

The first day featured a session led by the Wadhwani Foundation, an international organization focusing on entrepreneurship through technology and innovation. Participants were introduced to the Wadhwani Entrepreneur platform for digital learning and engaged in sessions to develop market-oriented ideas and solutions. The following days included workshops on marketing and sales strategies, business growth, and financial planning simulations, culminating in pitching practice sessions where participants presented their business prototypes.

The program concluded with an Awarding Session on September 12, 2025, at the LPPM UPI Auditorium. A total of 15 top-performing startup teams received funding across several categories, including Best Innovation, Best Education Impact, and Best Presentation. Dr. Sulastri, S.Pd., M.Stat., as the event chair, expressed her hope that the program would serve as valuable preparation for students entering the dynamic world of business. “In entrepreneurship, success often comes through trials and setbacks. Through this bootcamp, we hope to see the rise of young entrepreneurs ready to contribute to an innovation-driven economy,” she said.

The Biznest Edupreneur Academy 2025 officially concluded at 5:16 p.m., marked by the announcement that funded teams would proceed to a monitoring and mentoring phase as a follow-up. With over 140 student finalists, the event reaffirmed UPI’s dedication to cultivating a generation of innovative, impactful, and competitive young entrepreneurs. (Contributor)

Bekasi, September 11, 2025 – Another proud achievement has been made by students of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). The AMEA Team (Alliance of Mechanical, Electrical, and Agriculture) from the Mechanical Engineering Education Study Program won third place in the National Technology Innovation Competition 2025, organized by the Bekasi Center for Vocational and Productivity Training (BBPVP) on September 10–11, 2025.

Supervised by Qori Zulia Rahma, M.T., the team presented an innovative creation titled “IoT-Based Coffee Roasting Machine.” The innovation received high praise for integrating automation technology with the growing needs of Indonesia’s post-harvest coffee industry. The machine was designed to help coffee farmers carry out the roasting process more efficiently and precisely. Equipped with temperature sensors and an internet-based control system, the roasting process can be monitored in real time through digital devices, ensuring consistent roast quality and enhancing the competitiveness of coffee products among farmers and MSMEs.

The success of TEAM AMEA highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together expertise from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and agriculture. The team members include:

1. Giyan Heriansyah – Mechanical Engineering Education (PTM)
2. Bayu Prasetyo – Mechanical Engineering Education (PTM)
3. Danishwara Ardyansyach Riyadi – Electrical Engineering (TE)
4. Muhammad Zaki Alghifari – Mechanical Engineering Education (PTM)
5. Muhamad Husen – Electrical Engineering (TE)
6. Faris Setyawan Ramadhan – Mechanical Engineering Education (PTM)
7. Abu Dzar Ash Shiddiqie – Mechanical Engineering Education (PTM)

Their synergy successfully produced an applicative and socially relevant innovation that addresses community needs.

The competition brought together dozens of student and innovator teams from across Indonesia, who presented and demonstrated their creations before a panel of judges comprising academics, industry practitioners, and technology experts. The AMEA team impressed the judges with their concept, design, and live demonstration of the IoT-based coffee roaster. Evaluation criteria included creativity, usefulness, innovation level, and implementation potential.

“This achievement proves that Indonesian students have strong capabilities in technological innovation,” said Qori Zulia Rahma, M.T., the team’s supervisor. She expressed pride and optimism that the project would continue to evolve for real-world application among Indonesian coffee farmers. Following their success, the AMEA Team plans to further develop the roaster by improving energy efficiency, mechanical design, and intelligent control integration. They also plan to pursue collaboration with industry and research institutions to support technology downstreaming, ensuring the innovation delivers tangible benefits beyond the competition stage.

The AMEA Team’s success at the National Technology Innovation Competition 2025 is a source of pride for the Mechanical Engineering Education Study Program, UPI, and a testament to how cross-disciplinary collaboration and youthful creativity can produce innovations that contribute meaningfully to national development. (Contributor)

Bandung, September 9, 2025 – The Communication Science Program at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) welcomed Prof. Theresa Catalano from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA, as an Adjunct Professor for the year 2025. Prof. Catalano is an expert in second language education, applied linguistics, and critical discourse analysis, with research interests focusing on migration, social justice, and multimodal literacy.

Her visit began on Monday, September 8, 2025, with a public lecture titled “Introduction to Critical Media Studies” held at the FPIPS Auditorium, 6th floor, and attended by more than 300 students across different academic years. The enthusiasm of the participants inspired Prof. Catalano to emphasize the importance of critical media literacy in the digital era.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, she continued her activities with a workshop titled “The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research: Publishing in International Journals for Social Science and Humanities.” The session, which was attended by FPIPS faculty members, offered valuable insights into international publication strategies and the challenges faced by academics in the global research landscape.

Prof. Catalano’s visit was made possible through the Fulbright Specialist Program Award from the U.S. Government, which supported her academic collaboration with UPI’s Communication Science Program. The initiative reflects a commitment to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, fostering cross-national academic cooperation in research, teaching, and joint publications between Indonesia and the United States.

During her stay, Prof. Catalano also taught courses in Media and Social Change and Introduction to Communication Studies. “I am delighted to teach UPI students who are active, curious, and highly engaged,” she remarked. Her presence is expected to strengthen the academic capacity of both lecturers and students while opening new opportunities for global research collaboration. (Contributor)