The Summer School 2026 series organized by the MBA Program of FEB UGM (Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada) has officially concluded in Jakarta. The event, held from July 13 to 17, 2026, was attended by 28 students from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, representing various fields of study. The program previously took place in Yogyakarta, before continuing with field visits and a final presentation session in Jakarta.
Over the school of 5 days, the students were introduced to two important sides of Indonesia: religious tolerance and the dynamics of its industrial and business world. The visit began with a trip to Istiqlal Mosque and Jakarta Cathedral Church. They were also taken through the Tunnel of Friendship, a tunnel connecting the two adjacent houses of worship, allowing them to see firsthand how interfaith harmony is fostered there.
From there, the group continued their visit to the Embassy of Belgium in Jakarta, where the students met with the diplomatic ambassador of their home country while deepening their understanding of Indonesia-Belgium bilateral relations.
The students then explored the business side of Indonesia by visiting several companies, including PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), Tempo Media, and YCAB Foundation. To broaden their industry knowledge, they also visited PT Pupuk Kujang and PT Puratos Indonesia.
Through these visits, the students gained firsthand insight into public transportation transformation and management, the media industry, business and geopolitical issues, empowerment of UMKM partners, the fertilizer and agriculture sector, and the supply of raw materials for large-scale bakery and patisserie industries of the highest quality, particularly in Jakarta.
The students had previously mapped several issues, conducted observations, direct interviews with correspondents, drawn conclusions, and presented their findings. The topics covered the sustainability challenges of rice production, the economic impact of natural disasters, the effect of platform differences on the quality of gig workers, social media and its impact on the lifestyle economy, the role of Indonesia’s nickel industry, and Jakarta’s subsidence problem.
“It was a very nice experience. We had a lecture about diversity, and it was an interesting, really wonderful experience.”, – Emma Boydens
“We enjoyed every single moment, we learned a lot about the culture, history, traditions like food, and all in all an amazing experience.”
The students expressed their enthusiasm at having gained a closer understanding of Indonesian culture and values. Beyond the academic aspects, they also shared how much they enjoyed the local cuisine and the distinctive atmosphere they experienced during their time in Indonesia.
This program represents one of the efforts to strengthen the collaborative relationship between the MBA Program of FEB UGM and the University of Antwerp. With the conclusion of the Summer School 2026, the students are expected to bring new knowledge and experience back with them to their home country.
Humas: Suci Hapsari
Editor: Alfian Rama Aditya
