The Doctoral Program in Physics, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a Workshop on Motivation and Resilience for Doctoral Physics Students on Thursday, 11 December 2025. The event was held at Grand Zuri Malioboro Hotel, Yogyakarta, from 08:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. (WIB).
The workshop aimed to strengthen students’ motivation, build academic resilience, and provide a reflective and discussion platform for doctoral students in Physics in addressing the challenges of doctoral study and research. In addition, the event served as a forum for academic evaluation and experience sharing among students, lecturers, and alumni.
The program commenced with participant registration, followed by a presentation from the Doctoral Program in Physics outlining policy directions, the learning system, and academic support mechanisms for doctoral students. The main session of the event was the Workshop on Academic Motivation and Resilience, delivered by Dr. Eng. Ir. Sunu Wibirama, S.T., M.Eng., IPM. In this session, participants gained insights into the importance of managing motivation, strategies for maintaining mental resilience, and the development of adaptive attitudes throughout the doctoral journey.
Following the workshop session, the agenda continued with Student Monitoring and Evaluation (Monev), conducted in a gradual and individual manner. Each student presented the progress of their studies and dissertation research, followed by feedback and recommendations from their promoter and co-promoter. This session was carried out in two phases, before and after the break (ISHOMA), to ensure an effective and thorough evaluation process.
In the afternoon session, the event featured an Alumni Sharing Session with Dr. Rizky Aflaha, S.Si. and Dr. Fitri Puspastari, S.Si., M.Sc. The alumni shared their experiences during doctoral studies as well as strategies for overcoming academic and research challenges. Dr. Rizky Aflaha is recognized as the youngest and fastest graduate of the Doctoral Program in Physics at UGM, achieving a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.00, making his journey a strong source of inspiration and motivation for current doctoral students.
The series of activities continued with a “5 Minutes Speech” session, in which several students were given the opportunity to present brief ideas, experiences, and reflections on their doctoral study journeys. This session served as a platform to enhance academic communication skills while fostering a sense of collegiality among students.
The workshop concluded with a closing session summarizing the entire program. The event was supported by UGM Physics, FMIPA UGM, and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). Through this workshop, it is expected that doctoral students of the Physics Program at UGM will develop stronger motivation, greater resilience in navigating the dynamics of doctoral studies, and enhanced academic and mental readiness to complete their studies with excellence.
