Two doctoral students from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), Maria Yuvita Gobay and Diana Sapha, participated in the 2nd International Congress of Finance and Tax held at Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey, from November 8–10, 2024. This prestigious conference brought together academics and practitioners from various countries, including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, to discuss strategic issues in finance, taxation, and sustainable development.
Maria Yuvita Gobay presented her research titled “Women Empowerment Program (PKK) and Women’s Health: A Papua and Eastern Indonesia Case Study.” Her study highlighted the effectiveness of the PKK program in improving women’s health in Papua and Eastern Indonesia. Using data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey East (IFLS East) 2012 and employing a Probit Model approach, her findings revealed that the dasawisma initiative within the PKK program significantly improved women’s health by up to 7.79%. This research supports the achievement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality), focusing on enhancing healthcare access for women in underprivileged areas.
Meanwhile, Diana Sapha delivered her study titled “Health and Education Spending and Aging Population in Indonesia.” Her research explored the challenges posed by an aging population and its impact on health and education budget management at the district and city levels. Using secondary data from 514 districts and cities in Indonesia between 2018 and 2022, Diana underscored both opportunities and risks during Indonesia’s demographic bonus phase. Her findings align with the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), offering policy recommendations for adaptive fiscal strategies to address demographic shifts.
The participation of Maria and Diana in this international conference reflects the dedication of FEB UGM students in addressing strategic global issues. By presenting data-driven research with local perspectives, they not only contribute to solutions for sustainable development challenges but also demonstrate the significant role of Indonesian academics in global scientific discourse. This serves as a reminder that small steps in research can lead to meaningful global changes for a better future.
