Two students from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, have once again brought pride to Indonesia on the international stage through the International Mathematics Competition (IMC) 2026. At the competition, held from 27 July to 3 August 2026 at the American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, Muhammad Hanif won the Bronze Medal, while Fajar Arif Shodiqin received the Honorable Mention award.
Their participation in IMC 2026 was the result of a rigorous selection process. Participants first competed in the National Olympiad in Mathematics and Natural Sciences for Higher Education Students (ONMIPA-PT). Gold, silver, bronze, and honorable mention awardees from ONMIPA-PT were then invited to participate in the national selection process to determine Indonesia’s representatives for IMC 2026.
Through this series of selection stages, five outstanding students were chosen to represent Indonesia at IMC 2026: Fajar Arif Shodiqin and Muhammad Hanif from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Bunayya Dufadilin Haqqi Syabani from Institut Teknologi Bandung, Irfan Hanif Yamashita from Universitas Indonesia, and M. Rival Faiz Faturohman from Universitas Diponegoro.
Before departing for Bulgaria to participate in the competition, the five Indonesian delegates attended an intensive training program held at MM UGM Hotel and the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The program was designed to strengthen their mastery of mathematical concepts while preparing them to compete at the international level.
The extensive preparation and selection process yielded remarkable results. Muhammad Hanif brought home the Bronze Medal, while Fajar Arif Shodiqin earned an Honorable Mention award. These achievements demonstrate the excellence of Indonesian students, particularly those from the Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in the field of mathematics and highlight their competitiveness on the international stage.
These accomplishments are a source of pride not only for Universitas Gadjah Mada but also for Indonesia. It is hoped that this success will inspire other students to continue developing their academic abilities, confidently compete at the international level, and contribute to enhancing the nation’s reputation through achievements in science.
This achievement also supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the enhancement of educational quality and the development of talent in science and mathematics, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration among universities and institutions in preparing Indonesia’s delegates to compete internationally.
Keywords: International Mathematics Competition (IMC) 2026, student achievement, matematika bangga
Author: Iin Nauli Rahmawati
Photo: Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek)