Yogyakarta, 28/5/2025 — Thirteen students from the Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participated in the Period III Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year. Among them, Muhammad Ghazi Al Ghifari earned the distinction of being the fastest graduate in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), completing his degree in just 3 years, 6 months, and 12 days.
The announcement was made by the Dean of FIB, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., during the Mangayubagya Graduation Ceremony held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 1:00 PM in the Soegondo Auditorium. In the heartfelt event, Al Ghifari also delivered a speech on behalf of the graduates. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who had supported the graduating students and encouraged his peers to uphold integrity and apply the knowledge gained during their time at university.
Originally from Petaling Banjar Village, Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Province, Al Ghifari was admitted to the Arabic Study Program on May 25, 2021, through the Penelusuran Bibit Unggul Berprestasi Seni (Special Admission for Artistic Talent). After completing seven semesters, he defended his undergraduate thesis on February 12, 2025, titled “The Quality of DeepL Translations in Translating Fictional Texts from Arabic to Indonesian”. He officially graduated with a GPA of 3.93 and earned his Bachelor of Arts (S.S.) degree on February 28, 2025, at the age of 21 years and 6 months.
Al Ghifari noted that there was no special formula behind his academic achievement. “I simply committed to writing my thesis every day—even if it was just a paragraph—and consulted with my advisor weekly,” he said. The consistent support of his parents was also a major motivation for completing his studies swiftly and preparing to pursue a master’s degree.
He also praised the Arabic Study Program at UGM as an ideal environment to study the Arabic language, literature, and culture. The program holds national and international accreditation and is supported by a team of highly qualified and professional lecturers. Al Ghifari hopes the program will continue to grow in quality and reputation on the global stage.
Looking ahead, Al Ghifari is determined to pursue a master’s degree with a focus on Middle Eastern political, economic, and cultural issues.
Author: Muhammad Ghazi Al Ghifari
