The Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY) continues to strengthen its standing in the international academic arena. Three of its top lecturers successfully presented research based on local culture at the International Conference on Arts, Education, Psychology, and Social Science: Indonesian Perspectives (ICAEPSS) 2026, held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, on June 26–27.

Beyond presenting scholarly ideas to global researchers, UMBY utilized this event to initiate global research collaborations and conduct benchmarking in preparation for establishing its own Psychology Doctoral Program (S3).

The three academics representing UMBY were Ranni Merli Safitri, M.Si., Ph.D., Dr. Sheilla Varadhila Peristianto, M.Psi., Psychologist, and Nanda Yunika Wulandari, M.Psi., Psychologist.

The UMBY delegation's visit to Australia was designed not merely to fulfill an academic invitation but also as a strategic step in the institution's development.

Reny Yuniasanti, M.Psi., Ph.D., Psychologist, Dean of the UMBY Faculty of Psychology, stated that participation in ICAEPSS 2026 serves as a gateway for ongoing cooperation between UMBY and UNSW.

"The activities undertaken in Australia represent an initial collaborative effort between the UMBY Faculty of Psychology and UNSW. We hope this will lead to new collaborative programs, such as joint research and joint community service initiatives," Reny explained.

Reny added that, alongside the conference agenda, the UMBY team also took the opportunity to visit the University of Adelaide to explore the development of the doctoral program.

"We were warmly received for discussions regarding benchmarking for the establishment of the Psychology Doctoral Program. We hope to visit again next year for more focused and in-depth consultations concerning the program and its curriculum," she continued. Among dozens of presenters from various countries, three UMBY lecturers shared a common research theme: understanding the behavior and psychological dynamics of Indonesians through their own cultural framework, rather than simply borrowing Western theories. Ranni Merli Safitri, Ph.D., focused on adolescent career decision-making models, presenting research titled "An Integrative Model of Adolescents' Career Decision-Making Processes: Trait, Social-Cognitive, and Readiness Perspectives." Her study integrates personality factors (traits), social-cognitive processes, and individual readiness levels to provide a comprehensive model for adolescent career guidance in Indonesia.

Next, Dr. Sheilla Varadhila Peristianto addressed a Javanese culture-based theory of social emotion. Drawing on local wisdom, Sheilla presented research titled "Developing a Javanese Theory of Relational Social Emotion and Problem-Solving." She highlighted the concept of *rasa* (inner feeling/sensibility) in Javanese culture—including *tepa selira* (sensitivity), *rasa rumangsa* (self-awareness/empathy), *mawas diri* (self-reflection), and social harmony—as tools for problem-solving.

This approach captured the attention of international participants. One attendee noted that Sheilla’s research offered a breath of fresh air to the field of psychology, which has long been dominated by Western frameworks.

"We often rely on global psychological theories to explain local behavior. This research takes the opposite approach by utilizing local concepts to understand the local community, resulting in findings that are more culturally grounded and meaningful," remarked a conference participant.

Next, Nanda Yunika Wulandari presented on empathy and helping behavior within collectivist societies. Nanda challenged conventional assumptions through her research titled "Beyond Empathy: Understanding Prosocial Behavior among University Students in a Cultural Context." A survey of 251 university students revealed that, although 84% of respondents exhibited moderate levels of empathy, 58% of them demonstrated very high levels of helping behavior.

These findings demonstrate that in collectivist societies like Indonesia, helping behavior is not solely driven by internal empathy; rather, it is motivated by social norms and customs collectively upheld to maintain harmony.

Initiated by the UNSW Indonesian Community of the School of Education, the conference featured a lineup of key speakers, including Prof. Tony Loughland (Head of the UNSW School of Education), Prof. Claire Annesley (Dean of the UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture), Assoc. Prof. Nicholas Apoifis, and the Indonesian Attaché for Education and Culture, Prof. Yuli Rahmawati.

Ranni Merli Safitri’s participation was particularly notable due to her dual role as both a UNSW alumna and a member of the organizing committee. On the first day, she appeared in the "UNSW Indonesian Alumni Spotlight" session alongside Dr. Wendi Wijarwadi to share insights into the career experiences of Indonesian alumni, while also serving as a moderator for several parallel sessions.

Over the course of two days, the conference addressed a range of strategic issues, spanning digital democracy, infrastructure and the environment, language studies, and digital learning, to mental health and psychological well-being. The entire event concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Andy Gao from the UNSW School of Education.

This achievement demonstrates the commitment of the UMBY Faculty of Psychology to encouraging its academics to engage on the global stage, while simultaneously strengthening the development of indigenous psychology.