“Ethnography is a skill that should become a strength for you, anthropology students, in addressing challenges in the professional world.”

Friday, November 28, 2025, marked the third installment of Ngumbar (Ngulik Materi Bareng), an event organized by the Samhita Social Research Institute. Raising the topic Reexamining the Relationship between Anthropology and Ethnography: Reflections on Knowledge, Methods, and Interpretation in Anthropological Research, the discussion not only explored foundational theories, but also encouraged anthropology students to reflect on their positionality in the process of learning. In collaboration with the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, the session featured Dr. Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi and Dr. Sita Hidayah as speakers who discussed current dynamics in the field of anthropology. Held in the Multimedia Room, 2nd floor of the Margono Building, the event was attended enthusiastically by students, faculty, and alumni both onsite and online via Zoom.

The discussion began by revisiting long-held assumptions about anthropology as a discipline and ethnography as a method, examined through a reflective lens. The topic was inspired by Tim Ingold’s essay Anthropology is not Ethnography, which sparked significant debate among academics and anthropology students. The relationship and distinctions between anthropology and ethnography were viewed through idiographic (descriptive) and nomothetic (theoretical) approaches in studying socio-cultural phenomena, rather than as fixed and definitive knowledge. This led to conversations about ethical dilemmas, an important aspect for contemporary generations of anthropology students and scholars to recognize. The use of the term “learning” during fieldwork carries ethical consequences, particularly in mitigating power imbalances between researcher and researched.

Dr. Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi added that amid debates over the ideological direction of Indonesian anthropology, the Anthropology Department at UGM has become a space where differing academic influences meet and shape curriculum development. “We are fortunate that new lecturers at that time brought diverse perspectives from their studies, and particularly Prof. Laksono and Prof. Heddy have significantly shaped our academic orientation,” he noted.

Continuing the discussion on contemporary dynamics within anthropology, Dr. Sita Hidayah highlighted reflectivity as a strength and distinctive characteristic of Anthropology at UGM. Awareness of positionality has become an integral aspect of anthropological learning. “Developing a reflective and position-conscious curriculum is crucial for facing future challenges, especially in the professional world,” she added. Building student confidence in their ethnographic abilities is essential and needs to be strengthened as a key competence for addressing real-world problems.

Writer: Okky Chandra Baskoro
Photo: Nandito Jodi Syaifulloh

Yogyakarta, November 28, 2025 – The Department of Anthropology at UGM held a Visiting Lecture titled Framing Child Marriage: Film, Visual Ethnography, and the Ethics of Representation. The event featured guest speaker Nur Wucha Wulan Dari, commonly known as Wucha, a film director and graduate of the Master’s Program in Anthropology. The session was opened by Dr. Sita Hidayah, who emphasized that final academic projects have the potential to become visual or non-textual representations of anthropological research presented in a more engaging format.

During the film screening session, Wucha showcased two of her works: Laila and Pasukan Gagal Tobat. Both films explore the issue of child marriage. Laila tells the story of a 15-year-old girl in East Kalimantan who escapes an arranged marriage by fleeing on a boat, while Pasukan Gagal Tobat is an ethnographic film about a group of teenagers who view child marriage as a common and accepted practice in their village.

In the discussion session moderated by Muhammad Ade Putra, Wucha shared her research methods and creative process behind the films. While working in the field, she often faced dilemmas, especially during the production of Pasukan Gagal Tobat, when she encountered extreme weather conditions and witnessed firsthand the social changes occurring within the community. The sensitive issue of child marriage in both films often placed her in challenging ethical positions, leading her and her team to develop a risk matrix. She also frequently conducted regular Focus Group Discussions as part of her approach to building trust with the subjects.

Summarizing the discussion, the moderator emphasized that the camera can serve as a medium for recording field notes, a point of reference, and a space for negotiating positions between the researcher and their subjects.

Author: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani

Yogyakarta, 13 November 2025 — The Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), with Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, and Pondok Pesantren Muhammadiyyah, took part in the Arabic Language Teaching Training organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). The training brought together not only participants from Indonesia but also representatives from various countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Russia, and others.

The ICESCO training focused on four fundamental theories in Arabic language teaching and learning. The first was the Grammar–Translation Theory, which is suitable for advanced learners and emphasizes reading, writing, and vocabulary mastery, particularly for academic, religious, and literary purposes. The second was the Behaviorism Theory (as-Sulukiyah), which views language as a form of behavior shaped through repetition and imitation, highlighting the significant role of environment in language acquisition. The third theory, Cognitivism (al-Ma‘rifiyyah), underscores that language learning involves active mental processes such as attention, information processing, and comprehension, placing learners as active participants rather than passive recipients. The final theory, Communicative Theory (at-Tawasuliyyah), emphasizes real-life language use within social contexts, prioritizing fluency and communicative ability over strict grammatical accuracy. This theory also acknowledges dialectal variations as an integral part of everyday language use.

In its concluding remarks, ICESCO highlighted that no single theory is entirely sufficient. Each has strengths and limitations, meaning effective Arabic language instruction requires an integrated approach that adapts to context. The training also emphasized the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in designing lessons, generating exercises, and visualizing theoretical applications in more engaging and effective ways.

The Arabic Study Program at UGM’s participation in the ICESCO training reinforces the university’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of Arabic language educators and learners on campus. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through this involvement, the Arabic Study Program at UGM continues to advance as a progressive and globally connected center for Arabic language and cultural studies.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

Yogyakarta, 27 November 2025 – The Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada held an Academic Writing Workshop for students of the 2023 cohort who are entering the thesis preparation stage. The workshop featured Adwidya Yoga, M.A., publishing manager at the Bureau of Journals and Publications, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, as the guest speaker.

The workshop aimed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of effective academic writing techniques, covering both undergraduate thesis composition and the preparation of publishable journal articles. In his presentation, Adwidya Yoga emphasized that academic writing requires precision, a strong logical flow, and a well-structured research strategy. He also clarified the differences between an undergraduate thesis, a master’s thesis, and a doctoral dissertation, enabling students to recognize the analytical standards expected at the undergraduate level.

Adwidya further elaborated on the essential components of journal article writing, including topic selection, research storytelling, source exploration, the use of clear and effective academic language, and strategies for identifying credible journals. He highlighted the importance of building a coherent research narrative through a structured format consisting of introduction, methods, findings and discussion, conclusion, and abstract.

In addition, the speaker shared practical tips on avoiding predatory journals, identifying indicators of journal credibility, and understanding the peer-review process before article submission. Students were also introduced to various writing and reference management tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, DeepL, Grammarly, and VOSviewer to support more efficient and accurate academic work. He underscored that the use of technology and AI tools must be accompanied by ethical responsibility, including the inclusion of a Statement of Originality and AI Tools Fair Use in the publication process.

Through this workshop, the Arabic Study Program at UGM reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing students’ academic competencies in a practical, forward-looking manner. This initiative is expected to strengthen research literacy among the 2023 cohort as they enter the thesis-writing stage with greater confidence, and to encourage the production of scholarly work that is high-quality, credible, and relevant to the development of Arabic studies and the humanities.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program held a workshop titled “Exploring the Types and Meanings of Culture from Sesajen” on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Margono 4th floor lobby. This event was attended by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., as the lecturer in charge of the course, as well as students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program and various other study programs. The guest speaker was Faizal Noor Singgih, S.T.P., a cultural practitioner and ceremonial master of ceremonies.

In his presentation, Faizal Noor Singgih explained various aspects of offerings, ranging from types and functions to cultural meanings. He emphasized that offerings in Javanese tradition are essentially a form of prayer or hope to God Almighty through a series of symbols contained within them. In addition to being a spiritual tool, offerings also serve as a medium of social communication, a form of respect from the Javanese people towards their environment, and an expression of the local community’s culture.

The participants were enthusiastic, saying that this activity provided them with new insights into offerings as part of Javanese culture. The workshop was closed with a prayer and a meal together.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that students will gain a deeper understanding of Javanese culture. The presence of speakers from the cultural sector is considered to enrich perspectives, both in terms of theory and practice. Thus, cooperation from various parties is essential to continue studying, preserving, and reviving Javanese culture.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro