GENIUS 2025: Welcoming UNU Jogja’s New Students with Self-Discovery, Spirituality, and Future-Ready Soft Skills

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Nahdlatul Ulama University (UNU) Jogja is once again holding its annual program GENIUS 2025 (Gebyar Orientasi dan Tunjuk Ekspresi) on September 22–25. Carrying the theme “Learn the Future: Discover Yourself, Create Your Future”, the program is expected to become a significant moment for new students to set their intentions, recognize their potential, and design a more directed future.

Unlike common student orientations often marked by ceremonies, celebrations, and parades of introductions, GENIUS is designed to be more substantial. The program positions new students not merely as passive participants but as active subjects in building their own Student Journey. The core of this program is the preparation of an Individual Development Plan (IDP) using the IGROW framework—Intention, Goal, Reality, Options, Will. Through this framework, new students are guided to write down their noble intentions, set annual goals for their four years of study, identify their current conditions, explore development options, and formulate personal commitments along with the support systems that will accompany their academic journey.

Nurhadi, Director of Student Employability & Entrepreneurship at UNU Jogja, emphasized the importance of this approach. “GENIUS is not just a campus introduction, but a momentum for new students to write the map of their life journey. With an IDP, they have a compass to guide them through the next four years—not only to survive but also to thrive,” he said.

Over four days, new students will go through a series of activities that combine reflection, games, discussions, and concrete actions. On the first day, they are invited to write their Intention and annual Goals and to map their initial condition (Reality Year 1). The main focus of the first year is mastering basic soft skills such as adaptation, emotional management, teamwork, leadership, problem solving, and time management. The second day features interactive games designed to train these skills while strengthening self-understanding through reflection. From these outcomes, students are directed to draft Options or steps for development to be carried out in the first year.

The third day serves as the highlight of the program with student involvement in community service through a village clean-up around the campus. This activity not only instills social awareness but also serves as material for reflection to write down their Will or personal commitment, as well as to identify who will become their support system throughout their academic journey. In addition, the program includes Islamic classical text studies (kajian kitab kuning) with scholars and professors to strengthen spirituality, and a talk show introducing the academic system—from course registration (KRS), academic information system (SIAKAD), learning management system (LMS), to thesis mechanisms at both university and faculty levels. Students will also be introduced to the Ethics Council, the Task Force for the Prevention of Sexual Violence (PPKS), and various research centers ready to support their academic journey.

As the closing activity, new students are invited to join the Student Club & Organization Expo, a platform showcasing various student activity units. Through this expo, they are encouraged to find communities that align with their interests and talents so they can develop not only academically but also in organizational and creative fields.

According to Nurhadi, many new students enter university life without a clear direction, which often leaves them overwhelmed in the first year. GENIUS seeks to address this challenge systematically. “With the IGROW-based IDP, new students have a strong foundation. They know what they want to achieve each year, the gaps they need to bridge, and who can support them. GENIUS gives them direction—not just a fleeting experience,” he stressed.

The committee also reminded students to prepare personal items such as prayer tools, stationery, tumblers, jackets, and basic medicines to comfortably follow the entire program.

With the spirit of “Learn the Future: Discover Yourself, Create Your Future”, GENIUS 2025 is expected not only to serve as a gateway for new students into university life but also as an essential foundation for their four-year journey ahead. The program marks UNU Jogja’s first step in shaping a generation that is not only knowledgeable but also of strong character, visionary, and ready to contribute to society. [Latifah]