LSPR Students Showcase Project-Based Learning Ecosystem at COMMFEST 2026
More than 500 sixth-semester students from the LSPR Institute of Communication and Business Faculty of Communication presented various communication projects with a tangible impact on society at the LSPR Communication Festival (COMMFEST) 2026, themed ‘Wave of Communication’. Held on 3–4 July 2026 to commemorate the institute’s 34th anniversary, COMMFEST 2026 served as an academic showcase displaying the achievements of Project-Based Learning (PBL), demonstrating how communication education can produce relevant solutions for society, businesses, government, and industry. The event was supported by Danareksa.
For the first time, COMMFEST 2026 was held as a cross-campus collaboration, featuring students from the Communication Science Study Programme, Visual Communication Design Study Programme, and the Distance Learning (PJJ) Communication Science Programme under the Faculty of Communication. Activities took place simultaneously at SMESCO Indonesia for students from the Jakarta and Bekasi campuses, and at the LSPR Bali Campus for PJJ Communication Science students implementing Community Development through a blended learning approach.
This academic showcase presented student works from various specialisations, including Global Digital Public Relations (GDPR), Global Marketing Communication (GMKTC), International Relations & Global Communication (IRGC), Broadcasting, Digital Media & Film (BDMF), Film, Videography & Photography (FVP), and Digital Graphic Design Communication (DGDC). These projects represented the students’ ability to integrate communication strategies, research, media production, creative design, digital content development, and community empowerment through cross-disciplinary approaches.
A key achievement presented at COMMFEST 2026 was the Community Development Project carried out by 21 classes across the Greater Jakarta area and Bali. These programmes were developed in collaboration with communities, local governments, and various other partners, including MSMEs fostered by SMESCO Indonesia, to produce communication programmes that deliver tangible impact to society. All Community Development Projects were designed with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through this approach, students not only mastered communication theory but also learned to design, implement, and evaluate communication programmes capable of addressing community needs sustainably.
By the time of COMMFEST 2026, 89 per cent of the Community Development Projects had been successfully completed by the sixth-semester students. Meanwhile, students from the International Undergraduate Programme (IUP) had already presented their Community Development Project results at an academic forum in Malaysia in early June 2026, as part of strengthening international academic networks and global learning experiences.
As an academic showcase, COMMFEST 2026 became the convergence point for all sixth-semester learning achievements. Various projects previously carried out separately at partner locations were now presented in a collaborative ecosystem that demonstrated the strength of cross-study programmes, cross-specialisations, and cross-campus collaboration. Through this approach, the public, industry partners, government, communities, and the business sector could see comprehensively how communication education at LSPR produces applicable, innovative, and impactful work.
Dr. Sri Ulya Suskarwati, S.E., M.Si., Dean of the Faculty of Communication at LSPR Institute, stated that COMMFEST 2026 is a learning ecosystem and a representation of LSPR’s educational philosophy that positions students as agents of change through communication. ‘COMMFEST 2026 is a tangible manifestation of how Project-Based Learning in the Faculty of Communication produces work that does not stop in the classroom, but emerges as a solution that answers the needs of society. Through collaboration with MSMEs, communities, local governments, and various industry partners, students learn to integrate knowledge, creativity, and social awareness in every project they undertake. This academic showcase demonstrates that the learning process in the Faculty of Communication not only builds academic competence but also produces graduates who are adaptive, collaborative, globally competitive, and capable of making a real impact on society.’
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of COMMFEST 2026, Salsabila Andi Akil, M.I.Kom., explained that this year’s event marks a new milestone in the implementation of COMMFEST. ‘Previously, Community Development Projects were carried out by each class at different partner locations. This year is the first momentum where all these learning outcomes are brought together in one academic showcase that represents the entire learning ecosystem of the LSPR Faculty of Communication. COMMFEST 2026 unites students across study programmes, across specialisations, and across campuses, so that the public can see comprehensively how various communication fields collaborate to produce innovative and impactful solutions. This collaborative spirit is the main strength of COMMFEST this year.’
Beyond serving as a space for appreciating learning outcomes, COMMFEST 2026 also marked a transition moment for students towards the professional world. After completing Semester 6, students will enter internship programmes in industry and business sectors and prepare for their final assignments. To strengthen this readiness, COMMFEST 2026 featured a series of talk shows with LSPR alumni and industry practitioners who shared their professional experiences.