The Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently hosted its annual Summer School, which was a significant achievement after last year’s event had to be held virtually due to the pandemic. This year, the Department of History organized the 1st Summer School on Environmental History in Indonesia, a timely and important topic given the current global focus on environmental issues. The Summer School was held offline for the first time since the pandemic, from 31 July to 7 August 2023.
The event was inaugurated by the Head of the Department of History, Dr Abdul Wahid, who delivered a welcome address to the participants. Following Dr Wahid’s remarks, Dr Farabi Fakih provided opening remarks that set the tone for the week-long program.
This year’s Summer School has a theme that is very close to Indonesian society, especially in a post-pandemic world that is increasingly loudly voicing issues regarding the environment. In collaboration with WALHI and BKI Journal / KITLV, this activity invited thirteen speakers from renowned universities and institutions. The universities and institutions involved included the University of Queensland, Universiteit Leiden, National University of Singapore, FIAN Indonesia/ Samdhana Institute, WALHI/Friends of the Earth Indonesia and of course several speakers from Gadjah Mada University.
The summer school programme was a diverse and enriching experience, with participants hailing from various countries and fields of study. Notably, attendees came from Germany, Singapore, and Indonesia. The programme was structured with both in-class and out-of-class activities. Within the classroom, participants engaged in stimulating discussions with speakers over a period of four days. Outside the classroom, the group embarked on field trips to a number of fascinating locations, including Siung Beach, Watukodok Beach, Al Imdad Islamic Boarding School, and Kali Code Garden. This well-rounded and immersive experience allowed participants to broaden their perspectives and gain valuable insights into different cultures and fields of study.
The summer school event was closed with project presentations from each group on 6 August 2022. Some discussions also took place quite intensely. In the end, the summer school participants managed to complete the series of activities well and optimally.
The success of this summer school event certainly cannot be separated from the committee who worked both in front and behind the scenes. The committee from the Department of History UGM is composed of a combination of teaching staff, education staff, alumni, and several undergraduate students.
