Banjarmasin, October 5, 2025 — Three students from the Arabic Literature Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, proudly represented UGM as delegates in the 18th National University Qur’an Recitation Competition (MTQMN XVIII), held at Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

The delegates were Muhammad Candra Solihin (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Contemporary Calligraphy Male category), Pandhita Hapsari (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic), and Hasifa Zara (Arabic Literature, Class of 2024, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic). In addition, Muhammad Shofyyulloh (Cultural Anthropology 2023) as an official, also accompanied the group from UGM.

Before advancing to the national stage, the three students had to undergo a series of rigorous selection processes. These included internal selection at UGM, followed by an online pre-national selection involving hundreds of students from various universities across Indonesia, before finally being chosen as UGM’s official representatives.

The 18th MTQMN brought together around 1,500 students from universities throughout Indonesia, with the competition running over five days. The event featured an opening ceremony, preliminary rounds, final rounds, and a closing ceremony.

This prestigious competition aims to strengthen students’ Qur’anic character, nurturing a generation with noble character, academic excellence, and the ability to contribute to the nation.

UGM provided full support for its delegates, including regular training, academic guidance, and full facilitation of competition needs. Such support reflects the university’s commitment to fostering achievements while upholding UGM’s reputation on the national stage.

The participation of Arabic Literature students in categories such as Qur’anic debate in Arabic highlights the strong relevance between academic learning and competition. It not only sharpens language mastery but also broadens networks and strengthens the tradition of Islamic scholarship on campus.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, October 13, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the improvement of educational quality through the KAGAMA Korea Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The event was held in Room 305, Building F, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, from 08.30 to 09.00 WIB, and was attended by all scholarship recipients as well as students enrolled in the course Cross-Cultural Understanding Between Korea and Indonesia.

The program began with an opening by the master of ceremonies, followed by a welcoming speech from Achmad Rio Dessiar, S.S., M.A., Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation and congratulations to the scholarship recipients for their hard work and academic achievements. He also gave a brief introduction about KAGAMA Korea and provided information about the scholarship programs offered by the study program.

The event continued with the presentation of scholarship certificates to ten outstanding students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, namely:

1. Naufal Java Fakhriansyah (GPA 3.88)

2. Vira Ardiana Puspaningrum (GPA 3.87)

3. Rohadatul ‘Aisy Hamdaini (GPA 3.85)

4. Safrina Kurnia Dewi (GPA 3.78)

5. Nayla Nur Shadrina (GPA 3.85)

6. Lian Lina Purnama (GPA 3.85)

7. Sofia Rahma Ismulyanti (GPA 3.82)

8. Tamara Nasrina Prameswari (GPA 3.94)

9. Irene Xaviera Lovryna (GPA 3.90)

10. Theresia Chindyawati (GPA 3.87)

The awarding of this scholarship not only served as a form of recognition for students’ academic excellence but also as an encouragement to foster continuous learning and active contribution in the field of Korean language and culture. Through this support, students are expected to further develop their personal and academic capacities in a holistic manner.

In addition to providing direct benefits for the recipients, this event also strengthened the collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and KAGAMA Korea. The partnership stands as a tangible example of shared commitment to creating equal and sustainable educational opportunities, while fostering the improvement of human resource quality.

The event concluded with a group photo session involving the scholarship recipients, lecturers, and representatives from the study program.

Through this initiative, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program reaffirms its dedication to creating an inspiring and collaborative learning environment, while contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals through the enhancement of educational quality and the strengthening of academic partnerships.

Author: Aura Adiba WIjaya

Yogyakarta, October 6, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continued its Entrepreneurship course in the sixth session by once again inviting Sofian Munawar, S.S., M.A., Founder of Ruang Baca Komunitas, as the guest lecturer. In this session, students were guided to design a business plan under the theme “Developing Social Entrepreneurship Based on Literature and Language”, as a practical application of the materials discussed in previous meetings.

During the lecture, Sofian Munawar emphasized the importance of understanding the literacy ecosystem within schools and communities as the foundation for developing literature- and language-based social enterprises. Students were encouraged to identify existing literacy issues—such as low reading interest, limited access to books, and weak writing culture among students. From these challenges, they learned how to conduct research, develop innovative concepts, and formulate sustainable business plans that take social and educational aspects into account.

Sofian Munawar also highlighted the significance of building cross-institutional networks involving schools, government bodies, and literacy communities. He introduced students to various literacy-based initiatives such as IKMASA Goes to School (a literacy outreach to Islamic boarding schools), collaborations with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and BAZNAS, and publishing opportunities through IKMASA Press. In this context, books are seen not merely as reading materials, but as tools of inspiration and instruments for community empowerment.

As a form of applied learning, Arabic Study Program students were assigned to create a group business plan titled “Social Entrepreneurship Design Based on Linguistic Literacy”, which included components such as background, problem identification, business opportunities, and implementation strategies. These business plans will later be presented in the following session as a tangible reflection of their ability to develop literacy-based social enterprise ideas.

Through this session, UGM Arabic Study Program students not only learned to be critical and creative academics but also changemakers capable of generating social impact through literacy innovation. This program also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening literacy movements, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging the creation of competitive social enterprises, and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through inclusive education and language-based community empowerment.

[Sastra Arab, Muhammad Ardiansyah]

Yogyakarta, October 1, 2025 — The Master’s Program in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held the ASN (Academic Sharing Network) Seminar 2025 online on Tuesday (October 1) from 09.00 to 15.00 WIB. Carrying the theme “Ecocriticism: Literature and Culture as Arenas of Negotiation,” the event was a collaborative effort between UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature and Universitas Airlangga’s Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies. The seminar attracted enthusiastic participation from students of both universities.

The event was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, who expressed his high appreciation for the successful organization of the seminar. “ASN serves as a space for students to cultivate academic enthusiasm and expand interdisciplinary networks. Through collaborations like this, we learn together and build a sustainable tradition of critical thinking,” said Prof. Setiadi.

In addition to the Dean, the event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum., Head of the Master’s Program in Literature, UGM, and Edi Dwi Riyanto, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., Head of the Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies, UNAIR. Both expressed their strong support for this collaborative initiative as a means to strengthen academic networks between faculties and to provide a platform for students to further develop their research.

The seminar consisted of three sessions. The first session featured lecturers from both UGM and UNAIR as keynote speakers. From UGM, Dr. Pujiharto, S.S., M.Hum. delivered a presentation titled “A Postmodern Eco-Reading of Danarto’s Short Story ‘Kecubung Pengasihan’.” In his talk, Dr. Pujiharto explored the relationship between literature and the environment in Danarto’s work, which is rich in critiques of human anthropocentrism. “Danarto’s short story portrays the blurring of boundaries between the human and the vegetal worlds. When humans realize they are also part of nature, ecological awareness emerges as a form of spirituality,” he explained during his presentation.

Two other speakers from UNAIR’s Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies, Dr. Nadya Afdholy, S.Hum., M.Pd., M.Hum. and Arum Budiastuti, S.S., M.C.S., Ph.D (Cand.), enriched the discussion with diverse perspectives. Dr. Nadya presented on ecofeminism, highlighting the interconnectedness between the exploitation of women and nature, while Arum Budiastuti discussed the concept of green halal in the context of cultural studies, examining the relationship between religious values, ethics, and the environment.

The first session was notably interactive, with several students posing insightful questions that fostered a lively and engaging academic discussion on ecological issues in literature and culture.

In the second and third sessions, the seminar continued with student research presentations. This year, ASN received over a dozen academic papers from students of both UGM and UNAIR. After a review process led by Dr. Pujiharto, four papers were selected as best papers and presented in the main session.

The four selected papers showcased diverse and thought-provoking topics. Three of them, written by students from UGM, examined ecological issues in literary works, while one paper from UNAIR analyzed ecology from a cultural perspective. Each presentation generated active discussion between presenters and participants, turning the seminar into not only a platform for sharing knowledge but also a vibrant forum for exchanging ideas.

The collaboration between UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature and UNAIR’s Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies through ASN 2025 has opened meaningful opportunities for students to develop their academic work and broaden their scholarly networks. Through this event, students were not only able to present their research but also gained the potential to publish their papers, contributing to the advancement of academic discourse in literature and culture.

[Master of Literature, Marsya Kamila]

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences welcomed a study visit from SMA Daarut Tauhid and SMA Thursina IIBS. The event took place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM with the aim of providing students an insight into higher education and the various programs offered at FIB UGM. This visit aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting quality education.

The visit began in the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, where students and teachers from both schools gathered. The event was opened by the Public Relations team of FIB UGM and continued with a welcoming speech from representatives of each participating school. Subsequently, a profile video of UGM and FIB UGM was presented. This introduction aimed to familiarize attendees with Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, which is committed to academic excellence.

To further engage the students, an interactive quiz was conducted by the FIB UGM Public Relations team. This enjoyable activity encouraged students to answer questions related to the faculty and university, making the learning experience more fun. Participants who answered correctly were given merchandise as souvenirs of their visit.

Following the quiz, the FIB UGM Public Relations team explained various aspects of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. This session included information on the faculty’s history, academic programs, publications, and other relevant details. This segment was crucial in helping students understand the range of opportunities available at FIB UGM.

After the informational session, a question-and-answer session was held, allowing students to clarify any doubts they had regarding the faculty and its programs. This interactive dialogue encouraged deeper understanding and motivated students to think critically about their future study plans.

The event closed with a group photo, capturing the smiles and enthusiasm of all participants. This photo will serve as a cherished memory of their visit to FIB UGM, strengthening the bonds formed during the day.

To conclude the visit, a guided tour of the faculty was conducted, starting from the Poerbatjaraka Building, passing several buildings within FIB, and ending at the Mandala Majapahit Museum. The tour continued to the Javanese Heritage Museum.

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Muhammad Hafidz Haikal Amirza]