Surabaya's Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office and Wijaya Putra University Provide Leadership Development to Youth
A total of 60 participants, consisting of students from Wijaya Putra University (UWP), Wijaya Putra High School and Vocational High School, Wachid Hasyim High School and Vocational High School, and SMAN 12 Surabaya, participated in the Youth Leadership Development program organized by the Surabaya City Department of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism (Disbudporapar). The program took place over two days, April 23–24, 2026, at the UWP Campus.
With the theme "Youth Leadership Development," the program aimed to develop adaptive, collaborative, and high-integrity leadership traits from an early age. Participants not only received material on organizational management and public communication but also participated in decision-making simulations and youth case studies based on social and cultural issues in Surabaya.
The Head of the Surabaya City Department of Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism, Herry Purwadi, S.Sn., stated in his remarks that the diverse backgrounds of the participants, from high school/vocational high school to university level, were designed to create a cross-generational learning ecosystem. "We want to bridge the synergy between young people at the high school and university levels. They learn together, exchange perspectives, and build leadership networks from an early age. This is a long-term investment for Surabaya," he said.
UWP Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Dr. Esa Wahyu Endarti, M.Si., welcomed this collaboration. "As hosts, we are proud to bring our students together with juniors from Wijaya Putra High School, Wachid Hasyim High School, and SMAN 12 Surabaya. We hope this activity will be the starting point for the emergence of young leaders who are not only academically intelligent but also possess strong leadership qualities," he said.
Calista, a participant from SMAN 12 Surabaya, said she was inspired. "I enjoyed being able to discuss directly with the senior students. They shared their organizational experiences, which really opened my eyes to how to be a leader who listens and nurtures," she said.
Meanwhile, Bayu Tri, a UWP student participant, added that the leadership simulation session was his favorite part. "We were invited to solve real-life problems, from managing youth activities to promoting local tourism. This was very challenging and made us think critically," he said.
With the implementation of this leadership development program, the Surabaya City Culture, Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office is committed to continuing to expand the reach of similar programs to various schools and youth communities throughout the city. This program is also part of Surabaya's preparations for becoming a City of Achieving Youth in 2027.
