Another proud achievement has been made by a student of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MPWK) Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Elsa, under the supervision of Prof. Bobi, won the 1st Best Presenter (General Participant) and 2nd Best Paper awards at the International Conference on Planning for Equitable and Sustainable Urbanization (ICPEU) 2025, hosted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Universitas Brawijaya on September 3–4, 2025.
In this conference, which focused on urban design innovation and community participation, Elsa presented her paper entitled “Pacu Jawi: Preserving Quality Tourism in Nagari Tuo Pariangan through Responsive and Inclusive Community Participation Principles.” The paper examines Pacu Jawi—a traditional bull race in West Sumatra’s Minangkabau culture—as a cultural attraction with great potential for quality tourism development driven by inclusive community participation.
Adopting a mixed-methods approach, Elsa’s research highlights the paradox within cultural tourism: while Pacu Jawi is highly valued for its authenticity and provides socio-economic benefits, it still faces challenges in intercultural engagement and knowledge transfer mechanisms. The study underscores the importance of inclusive community participation in maintaining the balance between cultural preservation and tourism development.
The paper is also projected to be published in several reputable national and international journals, including Evergreen (Q3, Scopus), Jurnal Pembangunan Wilayah dan Kota (Sinta 2), Journal of Socioeconomics and Development (Sinta 2), among others
ICPEU Poster
. This marks an important step in expanding Indonesia’s academic contribution to global cultural tourism discourse.
This achievement is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through sustainable tourism village development; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by enhancing local economic potential; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through cross-stakeholder collaboration.
Elsa’s success at ICPEU 2025 is expected to inspire other students to actively engage in academic writing, research, and publication. Participation in international academic forums not only broadens networks but also strengthens the role of Indonesian students in addressing global sustainable development challenges.