Fact Check: UGM Rector Did Not Resign Over Jokowi's Diploma Ruling

Claims circulating on social media alleging that the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Ova Emilia, resigned after admitting that former Indonesian President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) diploma was fake have been debunked. These narratives, which gained traction on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok in early August 2026, suggest Ova stepped down following the Administrative Court's rejection of UGM's appeal.

The Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) did indeed reject UGM's appeal concerning a ruling by the Central Information Commission (KIP). The KIP's March 10, 2026, decision declared that copies of Jokowi's diploma and academic transcripts constitute public information. However, Tempo's fact-check confirms that Professor Ova Emilia has neither resigned nor declared Jokowi's diploma to be fake. As of the article's publication, she continues to serve as the active Rector of UGM.

Evidence of her continued role includes her attendance at the inauguration of the Kalitalang ecotourism area in Klaten Regency, Central Java, on Sunday, August 9, 2026. This ecotourism initiative is a collaborative project involving the Astra Honda Motor Foundation, UGM, and the Klaten Regency Government through the KKN Tematik program.

The dispute over Jokowi's academic documents originated from a request by the civic group Bongkar Ijazah Jokowi (Bonjowi), which questioned the authenticity of the bachelor's degree diploma issued to Jokowi by UGM. The KIP partially granted Bonjowi's claim on March 10, 2026, ruling that seven of the eight requested types of information could be disclosed in part, excluding academic grades and personal data of others. The request for the original diploma document was not granted.