Depok-The Media Production study program in the Vocational Education Program at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) is known as a melting pot for young Indonesian creative talent. Through a project-based learning approach and cross-disciplinary collaboration, this study program encourages students to combine culture, technology, and creativity to produce work relevant to the global stage.
The results are evident in the five concentrations—Games, Fashion & Lifestyle, Music, Film, and Toys—demonstrating the results of cross-disciplinary collaboration developed during lectures. From the Game realm, the Ox-Lab team launched Lodaya Conquest, a 2D pixel art educational game with a Reog Ponorogo theme that invites players to explore cultural values through interactive gameplay. In the Fashion & Lifestyle field, the FLUI studio presented the FLUENT and Bayang collections that combine modern design, sustainability issues, and augmented reality technology. The Music concentration through WIRE Studio introduced E-Zine, an interactive digital zine that discusses independent music, pop culture trends, and creative narratives close to the urban lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the Film concentration showcases the documentary Baduy: The Silent Education, a portrait of the Baduy indigenous community, teaching life values through simple yet meaningful educational practices. The film touched international audiences with its universal message. Meanwhile, in the Toys sector, TOBO Studio created Tinka and ToBo, educational modular toys that stimulate children’s creativity through flexible and fun shapes.
(Photo: Various works by Media Production students exhibited at the Osaka World Expo 2025)
These various works were displayed by the delegation from the Media Production study program, along with other study programs, at the Osaka World Expo 2025, which took place at the Indonesian Pavilion on July 21-27, 2025. They impressed with innovative works that combined local culture, modern technology, and creative narratives. In addition to the exhibition, the delegation also participated in an international business forum and conducted academic visits to Osaka University and Kansai University. These various agendas open up opportunities for future collaboration in research and the creative industry.
The Head of the Media Production Study Program, Ngurah Rangga Wiwesa, M.I.Kom., said, “Our students’ participation in the Osaka World Expo 2025 is a concrete example of vocational education’s contribution to innovation-based cultural diplomacy. We are proud to demonstrate that the work of young Indonesians can confidently perform on the global stage.”
(Photo: Delegates from the Media Production study program with other delegates during a campus visit)
Echoing Rangga, the Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, stated that the presence of UI Vocational students at the Osaka World Expo 2025 proves that vocational education is not only capable of producing superior talent in terms of competency, but also capable of elevating national identity and pride at the international level. “We hope that in the future there will be more collaborations that pave the way for students to play a role on the world stage as cultural ambassadors for Indonesia,” Padang said.
The participation of UI Vocational students in the Osaka World Expo 2025 is proof that an interdisciplinary approach in vocational education can produce innovations that are globally relevant, rooted in culture, and impact the future of the world’s creative industries.
