Ahead of the Global Ethics Forum (GEF) 2026 in Bali from October 20–22, 2026, Yayasan Dharma Etika Madani (YADEMA) organized a Workshop on Defining Human Flourishing at Porta Hotel, Yogyakarta on Friday (June 26). This event brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners from various institutions to build a shared understanding of the concept of human flourishing while exploring research collaborations leading up to GEF 2026.
The workshop was attended by representatives from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the Human Flourishing Center, the Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies (CRCS), and Deakin University. In addition, several YADEMA partners also had the opportunity to meet and introduce studies related to human flourishing that are currently being developed.
The founder and Board Member of YADEMA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dicky Sofjan, explained that holding the GEF in Bali is a significant milestone because it is the first time the annual forum will be held outside Geneva, Switzerland. According to him, this momentum is an opportunity for Indonesia to contribute more actively to the development of global discourse on human flourishing.
“Hopefully, we can build collaborations for joint research to look even further, even deeper into Human Flourishing. And our hope is that at the very least, we can have a position paper that we can present to an international audience,” said Dr. Dicky.
In the discussion, participants emphasized that human flourishing cannot be understood merely as happiness. Instead, this concept encompasses various interconnected dimensions of life, such as physical and mental health, meaning and purpose in life, character and virtues, strong social relationships, and economic and material stability. Participants also highlighted the importance of developing indicators relevant to the Indonesian and Asia-Pacific contexts without neglecting international research standards.
The workshop also discussed how the concept of Human Flourishing is understood from various perspectives, including philosophy, psychology, religion, ecology, as well as Indonesian cultural values and local wisdom. These diverse approaches are expected to enrich the development of a Human Flourishing concept relevant to the Indonesian context while contributing to global discourse.
In addition to building conceptual understanding, the workshop generated a number of future collaboration agendas, including the preparation of a position paper, the development of interdisciplinary research, joint academic publications, and the formation of international research networks on human flourishing. Participants also proposed organizing thematic panels and various collaborative activities at the Global Ethics Forum 2026, which will strengthen Indonesia’s contribution to global ethical discourse.
Through this initiative, YADEMA hopes that the concept of human flourishing can further develop as a framework that encourages public policy, research, and collaborative action to create a healthier, more inclusive, sustainable, and dignified society.
The Global Ethics Forum 2026 will be held from October 20–22, 2026, in Bali, bringing together academics, policymakers, religious leaders, business actors, civil society organizations, and youth from various countries to discuss global ethical challenges and solutions towards a future where humans and society genuinely thrive.
Read more about the Workshop on Defining Human Flourishing in the Tribun Jogja coverage here.
