DIY Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Officially Launches Kejogjaan Education, UNU Jogja Ready to Implement It in Higher Education

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X officially launched Kejogjaan Education (Pendidikan Khas Kejogjaan/PKJ) as a course to be offered at higher education institutions across DIY on Thursday, August 20. The launch, attended by representatives of higher education institutions under the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) Region V, marked an effort to strengthen value-based education and local wisdom in higher education.

Kejogjaan Education (PKJ) is a character education program that integrates noble values from the Yogyakarta Palace, Pakualaman Duchy, Taman Siswa, Nahdlatul Ulama, and Muhammadiyah. These values are enriched with a modern educational approach that is inclusive and collaborative.

In his speech, Sri Sultan said that Kejogjaan Education is a concept developed to ensure that progress remains oriented toward the preservation of the earth, justice, and human well-being. He emphasized that PKJ is not a concept that contradicts the advancement of science and technology.

Sri Sultan explained that introducing Kejogjaan Education at the higher education level does not mean that Yogyakarta is closing itself off from global developments. Instead, local values are expected to become a source of innovation that strengthens Yogyakarta's contribution to the national higher education system.

“Kejogjaan Education is not merely a course for the sake of formality. PKJ is an effort to shorten the distance between knowledge and its application in the real world,” he said.

In line with this, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia Prof. Brian Yulianto said that, throughout the history of Indonesian education, Yogyakarta has held a special position for producing many thinkers, scientists, leaders, and young people who have contributed to the nation.

According to Brian, Yogyakarta's values, such as Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana, Sawiji, Greget, Sengguh, Ora Mingkuh, and the spirit of Golong Gilig, teach perseverance, character, and dedication, which remain relevant to shaping students' character.

“Yogyakarta's Javanese philosophical values are highly relevant as a foundation for higher education institutions, which have the responsibility to produce human resources who excel in science and technology while also possessing character, integrity, social awareness, and an understanding of their cultural roots,” he said.

He expressed hope that the integration of Kejogjaan values into learning would not stop at providing knowledge but would become a learning experience that shapes students' ways of thinking and acting.

Lecturer of Pancasila and Civic Education in the Elementary School Teacher Education (PGSD) Study Program at UNU Jogja, Sutiyono, M.Pd., welcomed the implementation of Kejogjaan Education. He said PKJ is an important step toward revitalizing Yogyakarta's local wisdom in everyday life, particularly within the university environment.

“Cultural values such as politeness, unggah-ungguh, etiquette, and ngajeni within Kejogjaan values are important elements in building a character-based educational ecosystem, particularly for students,” he said.

Meanwhile, Director of Academic Governance at UNU Jogja, Dr. Taufan Jannata, M.Pd., AIFO., said that UNU Jogja is ready to implement the PKJ mandate on campus.

He expressed hope that the implementation of Kejogjaan Education at UNU Jogja would serve as a bridge between preserving local culture, strengthening students' character, and addressing the needs of education in the global era.

“The implementation of Kejogjaan Education in higher education is expected not only to introduce cultural values to students but also to encourage them to embody these values in their academic and social lives,” he said.*

Contributor: Sutiyono, Elementary School Teacher Education (PGSD) Study Program, UNU Jogja

Editor: Latifah