Fifty-seven students from eight universities in nine countries joined the Global Summer Week (GSW) at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UGM. They will learn about sustainable and inclusive business models for two weeks, from July 14 to 25, 2025.
The summer course program with the theme “Innovative Business Models for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future” is organized through collaboration between FEB UGM, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and the University of Canterbury (UC), New Zealand. Some of the students participating in GSW 2025 are from the University of Canterbury, Copenhagen Business School, the University of Brunei Darussalam, the University of Glasgow, Kyoto University, Nanyang Technological University, the University of Sussex, Gadjah Mada University, and Surabaya State University.
Dean of FEB UGM, Prof. Didi Achjari, said that Global Summer Week is an annual summer flagship program at FEB UGM. This program is more than just academic activities, but also a space for meaningful dialogue, cultural exchange, and collaborative learning. This year’s theme, “Innovative Business Models for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future,” reflects a shared concern for global challenges such as inequality, environmental degradation, and the urgent need for responsible innovation.
“Over the next two weeks, you will engage in joint exploration and problem solving, seeking solutions that are theoretically sound and practically relevant. We will reflect on how business can catalyze social good and environmental preservation,” he explained on Monday (14/07/2025) in the Function Hall of the FEB UGM Learning Center Building.
Didi also emphasized FEB UGM’s commitment to international education as a foundation in shaping future leaders who are not only scientifically proficient but also have social responsibility and a global perspective.
“We believe that international education plays an important role in shaping future leaders who are not only competent, but also socially responsible, empathetic, and globally minded,” he said.
He hopes that the participants will gain new experiences during GSW 2025. The program is expected to be an intellectually enriching, personally meaningful, and culturally unforgettable experience.
“Hopefully, the experience of participating in GSW 2025 will be fun, meaningful, and provide useful results for all of us,” he concluded.
In this activity, students will participate in various activities, including Expert-led Talks & Discussions, which are learning sessions with industry experts and practitioners. This session presents an alumnus of FEB UGM who is also a public figure, Anies Rasyid Baswedan, who delivered a presentation on sustainable business models. GSW participants will also attend learning sessions related to Creating Social Business Opportunities, Circular and Collaborative Economy, and Innovation, Technology, and Practical Skills. Participants will also participate in a Design Thinking workshop, which focuses on applying and refining solutions based on the design thinking approach to address complex social problems. Expert-led Talks & Discussions also present several speakers, namely Dr. Catherine Wu (NTU), Prof. Liu Lerwen (NTU), Dr. Nadeera Ranabahu (University of Canterbury), Veronica Colondam (YCAB), Eddiwan Danusaputra (BNI Venture), Ridzky Novasandro (Kopi Calf), Prof. Nurul Indarti (FEB UGM), and Dr. Rimawan Pradiptyo (FEB UGM).
GSW participants will also participate in the Business Immersion & Summer Project, which is a vehicle for implementing knowledge in social entrepreneurship projects and cultural activities. The two-week summer program is worth three credits (5 ECTS) per activity.
Report by: Kurina Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
