EPIC WORKSHOP 2026, themed “Your Pathway to Forestry Graduate Studies at UGM: Mastering AcEPT & PAPs, Admissions, and Academic Readiness” was organized by the International Forestry Students’ Association Local Committee Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event was held on Friday, 8th May 2026, from 08.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. and was designed to prepare prospective postgraduate students by providing a comprehensive understanding of the admission process, AcEPT (Academic English Proficiency Test), PAPs (Graduate Academic Potential Test), and academic readiness for master’s and doctoral studies at UGM.
The opening session consisted of four main segments and officially commenced at 08.00 a.m. (UTC+7), led by the Master of Ceremonies (MC). The session began with remarks from Project Officer Radityas Pradnya P., who highlighted the event’s objectives and underscored the importance of both academic and administrative preparation for prospective postgraduate students. The following remarks were delivered by a representative of CDC, who expressed appreciation for the organization of the workshop and hoped that the program would bring meaningful benefits to all participants. Subsequently, the Vice Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Forestry UGM also delivered his remarks, emphasizing the significance of participating in the workshop as an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the admission process for master’s (S2) and doctoral (S3) programs. He further explained the importance of AcEPT in supporting academic and professional development, as well as the role of PAPs in preparing students for the continuity of their graduate studies. In closing his remarks, he encouraged all participants to take full advantage of the workshop as an initial step toward pursuing higher education at Gadjah Mada University.
The first session, Master’s Degree Application Process and Doctoral Degree Application Process, was held from 08.20 to 09.20 a.m. and attended by all participants. The session featured presentations by Ir. Emma Soraya, S.Hut., M.For., Ph.D., IPU (on the Master’s Degree Application Process) and Prof. Ir. Eny Faridah, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM (on the Doctoral Degree Application Process). Participants received a comprehensive overview of the graduate admission process at UGM, including administrative requirements, selection procedures, document submission mechanisms, and the final stages of student enrollment. In addition, both speakers highlighted several important technical aspects that prospective applicants should carefully consider to ensure that the registration process proceeds smoothly and in accordance with the established regulations.
From 09.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. (UTC+7), The workshop continued with Session 2, which focused on the AcEPT (Academic English Proficiency Test), presented by Novi Wulandari, M.A. The session provided participants with a comprehensive introduction to the structure and technical aspects of the AcEPT examination, including the test format, the types of questions commonly encountered, and effective strategies for answering them.
In addition, the speaker shared various tips and learning approaches to improve participants’ academic English proficiency in preparation for pursuing graduate studies. To further enrich participants’ understanding, the session also featured an interactive question-and-answer discussion, allowing attendees to consult directly with the speaker on study strategies and preparation techniques for the AcEPT test.
From 01.30 p.m. to 03.30 p.m. WIB, Session 3 on the PAPs (Graduate Academic Potential Test) was conducted with material presented by Lusiana Yashinta Ellysa Putri, S.Psi., M.Sc. The session provided participants with an overview of the PAPs examination, including preparation methods, effective problem-solving strategies, and discussions of sample questions commonly found in the test. Beyond the presentation session, participants were also actively engaged in a live question-and-answer discussion, which enabled them to gain deeper insights into effective approaches to answering PAPs’ questions and preparing for the examination process.
From 03.30 p.m. to 03.50 p.m. (UTC+7), the event continued with an interactive quiz session guided by the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and accompanied by AcEPT speaker Novi Wulandari, M.A. The activity was designed to foster active participant involvement while also evaluating participants’ understanding of the materials delivered throughout the workshop sessions.
Following the quiz session, from 03.50 p.m. to 03.55 p.m. (UTC+7), participants were invited to complete an evaluation form regarding the implementation of the EPIC Workshop & Test. The evaluation aimed to gather feedback and measure participant satisfaction, which would later serve as a reference for improving and developing similar programs.
From 03.55 p.m. to 04.00 p.m. (UTC+7), the EPIC Workshop was officially concluded by the Master of Ceremonies (MC), who expressed appreciation to all speakers, participants, sponsors, and members of the organizing committee for their contributions and support throughout the event. During the closing session, participants were also provided with important information regarding the implementation and administrative procedures of the AcEPT and PAPs examinations. The event concluded with a group photo session as part of the workshop documentation.
Author: Radityas Pradnya Prabawatirta
Editor : Budi Mulyana