Once again! After achieving recognition in 3 categories in WURI 2024, Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again succeeded in securing 3 categories in the Top 100 of WURI – The World University Ranking for Innovation 2025. The latest categories were announced through the official WURI 2025 website.
The journey of the Faculty of Dentistry UGM (FKG UGM) on the global stage of innovation (WURI) began in 2024, when for the first time, the faculty joined the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI). To everyone’s surprise, FKG UGM made a remarkable debut by breaking into the global Top 100 in three categories at once, competing among the world’s leading universities.
One year later, in 2025, the spirit of innovation continued to flourish as FKG UGM once again proved its excellence by earning recognition in three new categories. Within just two years, FKG UGM has achieved international recognition in six different categories—an accomplishment that is not only a source of pride but also solidifies its position in global innovation.
In its first participation in 2024, FKG UGM recorded achievements in three areas:
- World Ranking #6 Entrepreneurial Spirit , Through the Ge-Pro program, FKG UGM outperformed prestigious institutions such as Harvard University (World Ranking #12) and Oxford University (World Ranking #13), securing 6th place among the Top 100 global universities in the entrepreneurial spirit category. This achievement reflects the faculty’s success in preparing its graduates to become innovative and solution-oriented professionals.
- World Ranking #9 Social Responsibility, With the Cleft Lip and Palate (CLP) program, FKG UGM ranked 9th globally, surpassing New York University (World Ranking #12) in the social responsibility category. This recognition highlights the significant role of the faculty in society through education and dental healthcare services.
- World Ranking #27 Student Mobility and Openness, The Summer Course Program of FKG UGM ranked 27th out of 100 universities in student mobility and openness, ahead of Tokyo International University (World Ranking #38). This achievement demonstrates the faculty’s success in building international networks and providing global exposure for its students.
In 2025, FKG UGM earned recognition in three more categories in WURI 2025, as officially announced on the WURI website:
- World Ranking #8 Industrial Applications
Gama-CHA: Revolutionizing Regenerative Medicine with Biomaterial Innovation
Gama-CHA is a product of PT Swayasa Prakarsa, initiated by Prof. drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D. and her team. It is Indonesia’s first bone graft with a structure identical to human bone and certified halal. This bone substitute, bone filler, or graft is primarily used in dental implants, as well as to replace bone structure lost due to trauma, tumors, or congenital abnormalities. Gama-CHA functions to maintain bone defect spaces, substitute for lost extracellular matrices with identical chemical composition, and stimulate new bone growth. Its safety is guaranteed, having met all distribution requirements, and it is professionally manufactured under standardized CPAKB (Good Medical Device Manufacturing Practices). Laboratory research and clinical trials have proven that Gama-CHA accelerates bone regeneration. - World Ranking #25 Culture/Values.
Nguri-Uri Budaya: Preserving Javanese Heritage Through Academic Collaboration
Given UGM’s location in Yogyakarta, FKG UGM integrates and preserves Javanese culture through academic collaboration and learning interactions. The “Nguri-Uri Budaya” program aims to embed Javanese cultural values within UGM’s academic framework. One of its main traditions is wearing Batik every Kamis Pon (Javanese Thursday) as a shared commitment to honor and preserve cultural identity. Beyond being symbolic, this practice instills local wisdom and cultural understanding among students, lecturers, and staff.
The program also includes playing the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya daily at 10:00 a.m., reinforcing national pride among youth. Combined with local attire, this strengthens students’ appreciation of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage. The initiative also explores entrepreneurship opportunities by promoting Batik as a cultural business venture, directly supporting the local economy and cultural preservation. Ultimately, the program is designed to cultivate deeper cultural understanding, particularly of Batik, through interdisciplinary collaboration and to encourage integration of local values into both teaching and professional practice. - World Ranking #29 Technology Development & Application
GAMADENTICAL XR (Gadjah Mada Dental Clinical Simulator Extended Reality)
Dentistry, as a major health science field, has high potential to leverage Virtual Reality (VR). Research shows VR is a revolutionary opportunity in dental education. GAMADENTICAL XR, initiated by drg. Nur Rahman Ahmad Seno Aji, MDSc., Sp.Perio (K). and his team, has shown that VR-based simulation allows students to learn faster, practice more procedures, achieve competencies equal to traditional pre-clinical labs, and receive more evaluations via computer—enhancing student-instructor interaction. This innovation makes pre-clinical skill labs more interactive and engaging, ultimately producing highly skilled dental professionals while overcoming traditional limitations. GAMADENTICAL XR is designed to introduce undergraduate and pre-clinical dental students at FKG UGM to various dental treatment procedures.
Author: Andri Wicaksono | Photo: Tri Hartono
