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Getting to Know the Academic Atmosphere at Universitas Santa Dharma's Graduate Program Through the Open House 2026

27/04/2026 WIB

YOGYAKARTA – The Graduate Program of Universitas Sanata Dharma (USD) successfully hosted an Open House on Friday, April 17, 2026. Held in the Raja Manggala Conference Room on the 3rd floor of the Manasa Graha Building, the event provided a great opportunity for prospective students to dive deeper into the academic environment of the Graduate Program.

The event was attended by enthusiastic prospective applicants. Interestingly, the participants were not only USD alumni; the event also attracted graduates from other well-known universities, such as ISI Surakarta, Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW), and UIN Sunan Kalijaga.



The activities officially began with a warm welcome from Prof. Paulus Sarwoto, Ph.D., followed by a brief presentation on the study programs offered by USD's Graduate Program. The Heads of the Master's in English Language Studies, Master's in Cultural Studies, and Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies took turns explaining the curriculum, classroom atmosphere, and career prospects for their graduates.

In addition to introducing the programs, the event also introduced the lecturers for each course. The presence of these academics gave prospective students confidence in the quality of guidance they will receive.

Sharing and Inspiration from Alumni
During the talk show session, the atmosphere became much warmer and more inspiring. Three alumni from different degree levels shared their real-world experiences studying at USD's Graduate Program. They were:

- Dr. Bambang Witjaksono, M.Sn. – Alumnus of the Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies, lecturer at FSRD ISI Yogyakarta, and Head Curator of ARTJog.
- Dr. Nur Imroatus Sholikhah, M.Hum. – Alumna of the Master's in Cultural Studies and Director of PT. Neteraa Indonesia.
- Dangin, S.Pd., M.Hum. – Alumnus of the Master's in English Language Studies and Head of the Undergraduate English Education Program at Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta.

Mr. Bambang shared that the knowledge he gained in Cultural Studies serves as a powerful tool to analyze things more deeply—an analytical approach that is rarely taught but highly practical in the real world.

Meanwhile, for Ms. Iim (Dr. Nur Imroatus's nickname), the most interesting part of Cultural Studies was the close, equal relationship between lecturers and students. She noted that this egalitarian environment is a great starting point for critical thinking, making it much easier to imagine and apply critical concepts.

Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Dangin added that the goal of the Master's in English Language Studies is not just to push students to graduate quickly. Instead, students are embraced by the lecturers, who provide clear guidance and help map out their ideas.



Interactive Discussion and Closing
An interactive discussion covered a variety of topics, ranging from the registration process and scholarship opportunities to research focuses. The participants' enthusiasm was obvious during the Q&A session, especially when the MC announced free registration forms for attendees and a 50% tuition discount for prospective students who are USD alumni.

At the end of the event, the alumni speakers left a reassuring message for those interested in joining the Graduate Program: don't be afraid, and trust that studying here will provide many new and unique experiences. They also emphasized that graduates from these programs are highly sought after across various cross-disciplinary fields.

The event closed with the handing out of souvenirs to the speakers as a token of appreciation, followed by a group photo with the postgraduate directors, lecturers, alumni, and all participants. Through this Open House, prospective applicants hopefully gained a complete picture to help them take their next academic step at Universitas Sanata Dharma's Graduate Program.

(DA)

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