8 female students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), representing the Faculties of Biology, Psychology, Engineering, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Philosophy, Economics and Business, Law, and Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FKKMK), participated in the prestigious 2025 Sookmyung UNESCO UNITWIN Advanced Workshop held at Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea, from 10–14 November 2025.
This activity is a continuation of the long-standing strategic partnership between the Directorate of Academic Studies and Innovation (DKIA) UGM and the Asia Pacific Women’s Information Network Center (APWINC) of Sookmyung Women’s University, which has been running for more than five years. The program is supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and UNESCO, with a primary focus on empowering women through digital education and entrepreneurship.
Prior to the workshop, participants completed an online training program titled Women in Digital and Entrepreneurship Training (WiDE), conducted from 24 June to 7 July 2025. The training utilized a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, encouraging participants to address real-world challenges through teamwork and innovation.
Two best-performing groups from the WiDE training—each consisting of four students specializing in Digital and Entrepreneurship tracks—were selected to represent UGM in the Advanced Workshop in Seoul. They joined participants from six partner universities: the National University of Laos (NUoL), Souphanouvong University (SU), Udayana University (UNUD), Indonesia University of Education (UPI), Quy Nhon University (QNU) in Vietnam, and the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) in Cambodia.
The workshop gathered a total of 55 trainees, accompanied by 7 university staff members, along with 6 researchers from APWINC and students from Sookmyung Women’s University. The Advanced Workshop aimed to foster cross-cultural and cross-institutional collaboration through team-based project learning, while strengthening the network among partner universities in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Digital Training Track focused on enhancing practical skills in data visualization and analysis using Python, as well as strengthening digital technology competencies through foundational and applied learning. The Entrepreneurship Training Track provided intensive training in developing product prototypes (Minimum Viable Product/MVP) using UX/UI design-based tools. This activity served not only as a learning platform but also as a space to build solidarity and nurture the spirit of women’s empowerment across the Asia-Pacific region.
UGM’s delegates demonstrated strong collaboration and innovation while completing multidisciplinary projects alongside peers from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and South Korea. Through this experience, the participants are expected to become change agents in the fields of digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and to carry forward the spirit of women’s empowerment within their respective communities.