Yogyakarta, November, 4, 2025 – Students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on mapping ancient manuscripts organized by the Library and Archives Office (Dinpersip) of Salatiga City, Central Java, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The event took place in the Regional Secretariat room of the Salatiga City Library and Archives Office. The students were accompanied by their supervising lecturer, Yosephin Apriastuti Rahayu, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program who specializes in philology. 

The event began with an opening and remarks from the Mayor of Salatiga and the Head of the Library and Archives Office. In her remarks, the Head of the Library and Archives Office of Salatiga City, Sri Sarwanti, S.H., M.Si., said that there were 37 ancient manuscripts in the Salatiga area. Of these, five manuscripts have been transcribed and translated. All manuscript data has been digitized and stored in the Khastara system owned by the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia or Perpusnas.

The event was interspersed with macapat songs and continued with a presentation on the mapping and preservation of ancient manuscripts, especially those still stored in communities or non-institutions.

One of the interesting points was presented by Dr. Munawar Holil, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer in philology from the Regional Literature Study Program for Javanese Literature, University of Indonesia. He provided information about the discovery of a manuscript containing the story of Sri Tanjung, with a different version of the story compared to the popular one. This manuscript was found by residents at an antique market.

This FGD activity was enthusiastically welcomed by the students. In an interview on November 4, 2025, one of the participants, Novia Hikmatul Mubarokah, said that this activity provided valuable experience regarding the process of archiving manuscripts. “I feel very happy and interested, because the FGD discussed ancient manuscripts from the city of Salatiga that have been documented by the archives office,” she said.

Mapping ancient manuscripts is considered an important step in preserving the nation’s cultural and intellectual heritage. Manuscripts are not only traces of culture, but also reflect the civilization of the archipelago, containing values, ideas, literary works, and religious knowledge from the past.

The participation of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in this activity is expected to motivate the younger generation to continue preserving manuscripts, exploring the information contained within them, and developing this knowledge so that it can be useful to society. In addition, cooperation between various parties, from the government, academics, communities, to the public, is expected to continue as an effort to care for and preserve the cultural heritage of the Indonesian nation.

Yogyakarta, November 4, 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Universitas Gadjah Mada received a request from the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Assembly and Modernization (BRMP Biogen) to hold a discussion regarding the implementation of the Baseline Survey of the Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) in Central Java Province.

This survey is part of the GEF-7 Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) project, which aims to strengthen the conservation and sustainable utilization of Indonesia’s plant genetic resources, both in the wild and on agricultural lands. The project focuses on five key commodities: rice, cassava, taro, nutmeg, and clove.

The survey involves collecting baseline data on conservation conditions, local practices, and traditional knowledge related to these crops. In addition, the activity assesses policy aspects, value chains, and the roles of indigenous peoples and gender in the management of agricultural genetic resources.

The activities in Central Java Province were scheduled for October 27–31, 2025, with a discussion session between project representatives—Component 1 and 4 of CDCSUI, the Project Management Unit (PMU), BRMP Central Java, and FIB UGM—held on Wednesday, October 28, 2025, from 09.00 to 12.00 WIB.

FIB UGM’s involvement focuses on exploring aspects of traditional knowledge, gender, and indigenous communities, which play a vital role in plant genetic resource conservation and the strengthening of sustainable food systems.

This initiative supports sustainable development goals by enhancing the resilience of community food systems against climate change, preserving terrestrial biodiversity, and promoting environmentally friendly cultural practices. Moreover, the survey highlights the importance of empowering women and indigenous groups in natural resource management, recognizing their role in preserving traditional knowledge and maintaining local food security.

Through collaboration between research institutions and academic entities, this activity represents a concrete step toward ensuring that plant conservation efforts go beyond scientific and economic dimensions—integrating social and cultural perspectives that form the foundation of sustainability in Indonesia.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, October 24, 2025 – Two students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) — Sultan Amirul Muttaqin and Jibriel Sayyid Ishaq — have successfully advanced to the semifinal round of the Al-Istiqama International Arabic Public Speaking Competition 2025. They are two of only 17 participants selected from various countries who made it through after an intense and highly competitive preliminary stage.

In the semifinal round, the competition continues to be held online, with participants required to submit a new video speech addressing a different theme from the previous round. This stage serves as a crucial opportunity for Sultan and Jibriel to demonstrate their analytical depth, creative thinking, and contextual argumentation skills on pressing global issues.

The Arabic Study Program continues to provide comprehensive support for Sultan and Jibriel during this phase, including guidance in speechwriting, training in articulation, intonation, and body language, as well as assistance with video recording and editing. This ongoing support reflects the program’s strong commitment to nurturing students’ linguistic, rhetorical, and cultural competencies on the international stage.

Sultan and Jibriel’s participation in this competition also exemplifies the Arabic Study Program’s contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Their success not only brings pride to the university but also serves as an inspiration for fellow Arabic Literature students to continue developing their potential, engaging in international arenas, and representing Indonesia through language, intellect, and culture.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

Yogyakarta, October 26, 2025 – The Muslim Family of Cultural Sciences (Keluarga Muslim Ilmu Budaya – KMIB) from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully held a social service event titled “Rabita: Raih Berkah, Bagikan Cinta” (Gain Blessings, Share Love) at the Lembaga Kesejahteraan Sosial Anak (LKSA – Child Social Welfare Institution) Omah Ngaji Jogja. This year, the Rabita activity adopted the theme of “Environmental Hygiene” as a form of student concern for the importance of cleanliness and environmental sustainability, while also realizing the spirit of community service.

The event was attended by KMIB members, administrators and fostered children of LKSA Omah Ngaji, as well as students participating in the KMIB Soft Skills class. Their presence added to the spirit of togetherness and strengthened the value of mutual cooperation (gotong royong) throughout the series of activities. The event proceeded with great enthusiasm and cheerfulness, reflecting the collaborative spirit between the students, administrators, and the fostered children of LKSA Omah Ngaji in carrying out social activities.

The series of activities included education on waste sorting, tree planting, and an interactive activity of painting trash bins. Through these activities, KMIB FIB UGM aimed to cultivate awareness of the importance of cleanliness and environmental sustainability from an early age, while creating a fun and memorable learning experience for the children.

Dian Patmisari, the Chief Executive of Rabita, explained that the program not only focused on environmental cleanliness but also instilled humanitarian values, gratitude, and social concern. She stated that Rabita: Gain Blessings, Share Love is a manifestation of gratitude and care from the KMIB extended family towards others, as well as a means to strengthen kinship (silaturahmi) and foster the spirit of Islamic brotherhood (ukhuwah Islamiyah) among students.

More than just a social activity, Rabita served as a platform for FIB UGM students to channel positive energy and strengthen the spirit of community service (one of the Three Pillars of Higher Education – tri dharma perguruan tinggi). Through the theme of “environmental hygiene,” this initiative instilled the awareness that maintaining cleanliness is part of worship and a shared responsibility as the nation’s next generation.

The administrators of LKSA Omah Ngaji Jogja welcomed the implementation of Rabita and appreciated the attention and concern of KMIB FIB UGM for their fostered children. Events like this can provide emotional and educational benefits for the children, as besides fostering environmental awareness, they also instill the value of togetherness and cheerfulness through direct interaction with the students.

The Rabita: Gain Blessings, Share Love activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through efforts to create a clean environment, SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing environmental education to the fostered children, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through concrete action to maintain cleanliness and green the environment, SDG 13 (Climate Action) through tree planting and natural preservation education, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for The Goals) through collaboration between FIB UGM students and LKSA Omah Ngaji Jogja.

(KMIB FIB UGM, Hilmi Anugerah Alghani)

Yogyakarta, October 18, 2025 – Students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), have once again brought pride to their university at the national level. The team, consisting of Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh, successfully won 2nd Place in the Essay Presentation Competition at the Arabic Fair 2025.

The Arabic Fair 2025 is an annual competition organized by the Arabic Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), and supported by the QISAR Arabic Student Association. The event serves as a platform to broaden academic perspectives and enhance students’ competencies in Arabic language and literature.

In the Essay Presentation category, Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh competed against participants from universities across Indonesia. The category challenged students not only to compose their ideas in a written essay but also to present them persuasively and comprehensively before the judges. Through determination and hard work, the UGM team demonstrated their exceptional quality, securing the 2nd best position and outperforming many other competitors. Remarkably, both are first-semester students, making their achievement even more impressive as they competed alongside senior-level participants.

Expressing their gratitude, the team emphasized the importance of confidence and perseverance in academic pursuits. “We worked day and night to prepare for this competition. But we believe this achievement is not the end of our journey, it’s just the beginning of a long road ahead,” said Muhammad Al Hasan on behalf of the team.

The accomplishment of Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh adds another milestone to the list of achievements of UGM’s Arabic Study Program students at the national level. Their success is expected to inspire and motivate fellow students to continue participating actively in competitions and academic initiatives. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM extends its warmest congratulations to the team for their remarkable achievement.

[Arabic Literature, Faqih Hidayatulloh & Muhammad Al Hasan]