The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM) held a discussion and orientation session for students affected by natural disasters in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. The event took place on Monday (December 22, 2025) in Room 3.1.2 of the UGM Faculty of Law, with 20 FH UGM students invited who were directly or indirectly affected by the disasters in their home regions. The discussion was led by the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Law, Dahliana Hasan, S.H., M.Tax., Ph.D., and attended by the Head of the UGM Faculty of Law Administrative Office, Teguh Rismanto; the Chair of the Academic and Student Affairs Working Group, Damari Pranowo; and the Chair of the Financial and General Administration Working Group, Fransisca Irmawati. The purpose of this meeting was to hear firsthand about the students’ circumstances, identify urgent needs, and formulate forms of academic and social support that the faculty can provide.
During the forum, the students described the various challenges they were facing. Some students experienced direct impacts such as damage to their homes, disrupted access to their communities, post-disaster mud, and crop failures that affected their families’ livelihoods. Other students were not directly affected but faced rising prices for basic necessities, difficulties selling their harvests, high transportation costs, and challenges securing accommodation to return to their home regions. There were also students and alumni who postponed their return due to isolated access and financial constraints.
In response to these circumstances, the UGM Faculty of Law has established a number of support policies, including a waiver of the Single Tuition Fee (UKT) for the upcoming semester—which will be reviewed based on students’ evolving circumstances—proportional UKT reductions, assistance with accommodation costs, and financial aid of a specific amount for students’ families, distributed through the students themselves. For students receiving scholarships, including those from LPDP and KIP-K, the faculty is also providing special attention through an additional assistance program designed to alleviate the burden on affected families.
This policy reflects the Faculty of Law at UGM’s commitment to ensuring the continuity of students’ studies amid an emergency situation, while also reaffirming the role of higher education institutions as safe and inclusive spaces for the academic community. This measure is not merely administrative in nature; it also places empathy, solidarity, and social justice at the foundation of policy-making.
From the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this initiative directly contributes to SDG 4 on quality education by ensuring inclusive and sustainable access to higher education for students affected by disasters. The financial and academic support provided is also aligned with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as it helps prevent students and their families from falling into economic vulnerability due to disasters. Furthermore, a responsive and equitable institutional approach reflects support for SDG 16 regarding the strengthening of inclusive, accountable institutions focused on protecting citizens’ rights.
Through this forum, the UGM Faculty of Law reaffirms its commitment to remain present and accountable in supporting students—not only in academic matters but also in facing social and humanitarian challenges. This approach is expected to strengthen students’ resilience, ensure the continuity of education, and reinforce the values of humanity and social justice within the university community.
