Yogyakarta, July 2, 2025 — A rigid bureaucratic culture often poses a significant challenge to fostering innovation within State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). A recent study by a team of academics from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) reveals that authentic leadership and psychological empowerment are essential drivers of innovation within Indonesia’s SOEs.

The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through its Center for Public Mental Health (CPMH) team, has once again received international recognition with the successful awarding of funding for the proposal “Religion and Healing: Collaborative and Participatory Methodologies (RHEAL)” from the Horizon Europe Framework under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges scheme. The RHEAL program focuses on developing cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approaches to healing in the field of mental health.

Yogyakarta, April 24, 2025 — An article titled “Understanding Work Engagement in Public Administration: A Comprehensive Bibliometric and Systematic Review of the Past Decade”, authored by Iqbal Saffariz Santosa, Erwan Agus Purwanto, Sumaryono, and Puguh Prasetya Utomo, has been published in Social Sciences and Humanities Open, Volume 11 (2025), Article Number 101479. This journal is indexed in Scopus (Q1), with a 2023 SJR of 0.691 and an Impact Score of 4.2.

Yogyakarta, April 23, 2025 — An article titled “The Hygiene Hypothesis of Crime: Examining the Link Between Disgust-Related Diseases and Crime Incidence” by Samudera F. Jamaluddin has been published in Acta Psychologica, Volume 256, article number 105013. This journal is indexed in Scopus with a Best Quartile (Q1), an SJR score of 0.854 (2024), and an Impact Factor (IF) of 2.1.

The program focused on drafting manuscripts from prior research titled “Culture and Morality: A Comparison of Moral Endorsements and the Formation of Moral Intentions in Australia and Indonesia.” In addition, plans for collaborative research were developed with universities and institutions across various countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United States, and Europe. This research aims to map moral judgments and moral endorsements among adults in different cultures, representing both Western and Eastern perspectives. Understanding the endorsement of moral values is crucial for comprehending societal differences regarding what is considered right and wrong. For example, some societies view LGBT issues as merely variations and not something inherently bad, while others strongly oppose LGBT and seek its eradication from society. Such differences are expected to become increasingly diverse and intense in the future, necessitating anticipatory measures to prevent conflicts that could disrupt societal harmony at both national and global levels.

This research is expected to provide insights into the shifting moral values in society over time. Understanding these changes is particularly important for analyzing societal transformation patterns, especially among adults. Moving forward, the research design will be expanded to include adolescents and children in Indonesia to fully comprehend the developmental patterns of moral values in the country. This knowledge will make a meaningful contribution to efforts aimed at enhancing socio-cultural resilience.

Furthermore, through planned research collaborations, the publication of future research findings is expected to have a positive impact on a broader audience, fostering partnerships among various stakeholders and strengthening the institution’s position both nationally and globally. As such, this program supports the achievement of SDG No. 16 (“Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”) and SDG No. 17 (“Partnerships for the Goals”).

The discussion in the Auditorium of the UGM Center for Environmental Studies was motivated by the lack of representation of inclusiveness in the creative world. This gives rise to society’s view of disabled people as individuals with shortcomings that must be corrected.

“This activity is intended as a solution in providing education at the intersection of understanding ableism and the creative industry,” explained Janur Kesumadadi (2022), Deputy Head of the UGM LM Psychology Strategic Studies Department, Monday (27/5).

This discussion includes a presentation of material and questions and answers involving participants directly. One of the interesting points is the question regarding the existence of dark jokes in the creative industry. Senoaji explained that producers often use certain formulas to make blockbuster films based on algorithm analysis. Dark jokes have become popular because they are in great demand by the public, so there is a high demand for them. This public enthusiasm is what makes the existence of dark jokes continue. “Films do provide experiences, but they don’t always provide good experiences for everyone,” said Senoaji.

Elga added that dark jokes could be an intellectual exercise for film watchers to criticize. Not only do films contain dark jokes, but all films receive comments to advance inclusion. He also emphasized the importance of considering the views of discredited parties, especially in the modern creative industry.

“Persons with disabilities are starting to be shown with good character, bringing a positive atmosphere and resilience as is present in several K-Dramas,” said Elga.

Today’s creative industry is not only entertainment but also functions as an educational medium. Through this discussion, it is hoped that society will become more sensitive to micro issues that still exist in everyday life.

The success of the Ngariung 2024 event cannot be separated from the assistance and support of the Faculty of Psychology UGM, PT Komatsu Indonesia, and Arsana Ecosystem. This shows the importance of cooperation between various parties in supporting activities that promote social understanding and awareness.

Source: Department of Strategic Studies LM Psychology UGM

Editor: Erna