The Japanese Language and Culture Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again achieved a national accomplishment by winning the Grand Champion title at the 2nd Hiroshima University Japanese Essay Contest in Indonesia. The awards were presented on 7 February 2026 during the award ceremony held at Garuda Hall, Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta, involving various national and international institutions as event partners.

The Japanese-language essay contest was organized by Hiroshima University in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia and Universitas Dharma Persada, with support from the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, the Association of Japanese Language Education, PT Suzuki Indomobil Sales, SPRIX Inc., Nihon Talent Solution, Andersen Group, Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd., Chateraise Co., Ltd., and Marugame Udon. In its second year, the competition received 268 essay submissions from 24 universities across Indonesia, a significant increase compared to the previous year, which received only 96 submissions.

Out of hundreds of submissions, 30 participants were selected to advance to the interview stage. UGM submitted 21 essays, with three participants advancing to the interview round, and two of them receiving awards, including the Grand Champion title.

A 2022 student of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program UGM, Michelle Anastasia Budiman, won the Grand Champion award and received prizes including a MacBook Air M4, a round-trip ticket from Yogyakarta to Hiroshima with two weeks of accommodation, a round-trip ticket from Yogyakarta to Jakarta along with hotel accommodation for the award ceremony, Marugame Udon meal vouchers, and a certificate of achievement.

Meanwhile, another 2022 student of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program UGM, Sheila Nursabila Sunarto, received the Honorable Mention Award and obtained a Huawei MatePad SE tablet, Marugame Udon meal vouchers, and a certificate of achievement.

On the same occasion, the UGM team supervisor, Wiastiningsih, Ph.D., also received an award as the Best Supervisor for her contribution in mentoring and assisting the students throughout the competition process.

The organizing committee stated that the increasing number of participants reflects the growing interest in Japanese language studies in Indonesia and expressed hope that the competition would continue to serve as a platform for appreciation and competency development among university students.

This achievement further demonstrates the commitment of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program UGM to providing quality education and encouraging students to compete at both national and international levels. Through collaboration with various institutions and active participation in global academic events, the program continues to strengthen its role in academic competency development and international networking.

[Japanese Literature, Barra Taura Nursaid]

Yogyakarta, May 7, 2026 – Professor Dr. Aris Munandar, M.Hum. was officially inaugurated as a Professor of English Pragmatics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The inauguration ceremony took place at the UGM Main Building on Thursday, May 7, 2026. In his inaugural speech, Prof. Aris emphasized the importance of developing English pragmatic competence oriented toward linguistic diversity in Indonesia.

Prof. Aris explained that English now serves as a crucial global communication tool for economic growth and education systems. Based on the concept of World Englishes, the diversity of the English language is divided into three circles. Indonesia falls into the expanding circle category. This position makes Indonesia a receiver of English norms from native-speaking countries, or the inner circle.

Indonesians learn English as a foreign language without a historical background of British colonialism. This condition creates unique challenges and characteristics. The characteristics of the English spoken by Indonesians are indirectly influenced by both the national language and regional languages. One of the most striking differences is seen in the application of politeness principles, which often differ from native speaker norms.

Today, intensive English communication occurs among speakers from developing nations. Prof. Aris gave an example of common interactions within the UGM campus environment between international students from Asia and Africa and the local academic community.

“As English has become an international lingua franca and the number of speakers in expanding circle countries continues to grow, there is a wide possibility of English communication occurring among fellow speakers from these expanding circle nations,” explained Prof. Aris during his speech.

Therefore, Prof. Aris believes that pragmatic competence with a multilingual orientation must be continuously developed. This approach aims to prevent society from adopting a monolingual view that could potentially generate negative perceptions of English variations in developing countries. He asserted that the diversity of English is an inevitable linguistic reality.

This condition has practical implications for language proficiency evaluations, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Such standardized tests are still considered biased because they heavily prioritize native speaker norms. As a solution, Prof. Aris proposed adjustments to local evaluation instruments. The Academic English Proficiency Test (AcEPT) at UGM needs to be designed as a relevant benchmark for speakers in Indonesia. This test should incorporate materials that reflect the local realities of Indonesian speakers without violating generally agreed-upon linguistic standards.

An inclusive understanding of English language diversity aligns with efforts to create an equitable and adaptive education system. Through a multilingual approach, cross-border interactions involving diverse cultural backgrounds can run harmoniously. Ultimately, this step supports the creation of an equal and inclusive global order, where every individual receives equal respect without losing their local identity roots. This resonates with UGM’s vision to remain deeply rooted in local wisdom while achieving global respect.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

The Archaeology Student Association (HIMA) of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada took part in a social service activity organized by the Perkumpulan Ahli Arkeologi Indonesia (IAAI) to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The activity involved planting 100 bamboo seedlings in the area surrounding Candi Morangan, specifically along the Gendol River embankment and Embung Tiban in Sindumartani Village, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency. Held on April 19, 2026, the program began with an opening session and remarks, followed by documentation and the bamboo planting activity at the site. This activity was carried out through collaboration between IAAI Central, IAAI Regional Commission of Yogyakarta–Central Java, the Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Yogyakarta, Komunitas Kandang Kebo, Yayasan Hutan Biru, the Sindumartani Village administration, and HIMA. The involvement of HIMA in this activity reflects the active role of students in supporting environmental preservation and the protection of cultural heritage sites.

[Archeology, Jovinka Aldinova Kiranamurti]

Credit Photo : IAAI

Yogyakarta, April 25, 2026 – The Association of Arabic Literature Students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (IKMASA UGM) once again presents a student development program through the IKMASA Future Leaders 2026 event. With the theme Public Speaking Advancement & Leadership Decision Making, this program serves as a learning space for students to enhance their public communication skills while also strengthening their leadership capacity.

The event featured two experienced speakers in their respective fields. Nafesya Amrina Rasyada, S.S., Creative Officer at GIK UGM, delivered a session on public speaking, while Syifa Ulhusna Syahputri, S.S., Founder of Pelita Gembira, discussed leadership. Both speakers presented the material in an applied approach that was closely related to the current realities faced by students.

In the public speaking session, participants were guided to understand the fundamentals of effective communication, build self-confidence, and develop well-structured and persuasive ideas. Meanwhile, in the leadership session, participants were encouraged to explore the importance of decision-making, the ability to lead in various situations, and the development of adaptive leadership character. 

The event atmosphere was highly interactive. Participants did not only listen to the presentations but also actively engaged in discussions, asked questions, and shared their experiences. Overall, IKMASA Future Leaders 2026 ran smoothly and provided a positive impact on students’ soft skills development, particularly in communication and leadership.

This program is expected to serve as an initial foundation for Arabic Literature students at UGM to become better prepared in facing future challenges, both in academic and professional fields.

[Arabic Literature, Indana Zulfa Maulida]

Ciamis, 25 April 2026 — The Department of Intercultural Studies, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Community Service Program (PkM) and Expert Lecture at Universitas Islam Darussalam on 25–26 April 2026. The event brought lecturers, students, and the pesantren community together in a setting that combined academic discussion with everyday interaction.

The visit also continued an existing connection between the two institutions, especially through Prof. Dr. K.H. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur. In his remarks, he described the program as more than a formal academic agenda. For him, it was a form of silaturahim, where knowledge is shared in a more personal and open way.

The delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Aris Munandar, who spoke about the role of American Studies in reading global influence. He pointed out that influence does not always come in direct or visible forms. In many cases, it appears through everyday habits such as academic writing, publication systems, and standards that scholars gradually follow. 

Therefore, according to him, the American Studies program plays an important role in helping scholars critically recognize and navigate these subtle influences, which often emerge through habits in academic writing, publication systems, and scholarly standards.

Several speakers then presented their topics in parallel sessions. Dr. Mahmudah discussed feminism in Arabic literature and its place in Islamic education. Dr. Amin Basuki focused on how American academic patterns can be seen in SINTA-indexed journals, especially in the way articles are structured and evaluated. Dr. Muhammad Zakki Masykur talked about Arabic and the works of Javanese ulama which showed that local traditions remain active in knowledge production. Meanwhile, Dr. Stedi Wardoyo explained how morality in Japanese society often grows from family life and social habits, not only from religion.

Outside the formal sessions, the program also included shared activities such as joining the Shalawat Burdah gathering with the pesantren community. Moments like this made the visit feel less formal and more connected. It showed that community service is not only about delivering material, but also about building relationships.

As an institution that provides education from early levels to university, Universitas Islam Darussalam also offers space for future collaboration, especially in character education. This program, in a simple way, shows that academic cooperation can grow through meeting, talking, and spending time together.