Yogyakarta, 28 May 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), proudly celebrated the graduation of 81 undergraduate students during the third commencement ceremony of the 2024/2025 academic year, held on Wednesday, 28 May 2025. The graduates came from 11 different programmes, comprising 25 male and 56 female students.

Three standout graduates received special recognition for their achievements:

• Best Graduate:
  Angely from the English Literature programme achieved the highest cumulative GPA of 3.94, completing her studies in 3 years, 8 months, and 6 days.

• Fastest Graduate:
  Muhammad Ghazi Al Ghifari from the Arabic Literature programme completed his degree in a record time of 3 years, 6 months, and 12 days, with an impressive GPA of 3.93.

• Youngest Graduate:
  Rosinky Sekar Wiradiani from the Cultural Anthropology programme graduated at the age of 21 years, 1 month, and 20 days, earning a GPA of 3.80.

More than 52% of the graduates earned cum laude honours, demonstrating the academic excellence and dedication of FIB UGM students. The faculty’s average GPA was 3.69, with the French Language and Literature programme recording the highest average GPA of 3.84.

FIB UGM continues to support its students in achieving not only timely graduation but also academic excellence and personal resilience in facing global challenges.

Congratulations to all graduates on their exceptional accomplishments. May this milestone mark the beginning of continued success and meaningful contributions to society, the nation, and the world.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, May 27, 2025 – The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada once again held an inspiring public lecture titled “Public Speaking for Effective Intercultural Communication.” Taking place at the 7th Floor Auditorium of Soegondo Building, the event featured Dhinar Arga Dumadi, S.S., M.A., a TvOne journalist and public speaking practitioner, as the keynote speaker.

The event began at 7:30 AM with an opening by the MC, followed by a welcoming remark from Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. The session then continued with the speaker’s introduction and material presentation. During the lecture, Arga delivered various fundamental communication techniques and effective public speaking strategies. He emphasized that effective communication does not rely solely on words but also on facial expressions, voice intonation, and body language. Referring to Albert Mehrabian’s theory, he highlighted that non-verbal communication plays a dominant role in message delivery.

Among the techniques he introduced was the “Burger Trick” for structuring a speech—comprising a clear opening, body, and closing—along with the importance of articulation, intonation, stressing, phrasing, tempo, and gestures. Arga also shared his personal experiences as a host and journalist in dealing with various types of audiences.

The students attending the event showed great enthusiasm, especially during the lively Q&A session. In addition to expanding their technical knowledge, this lecture also helped boost students’ confidence in public speaking, both in academic and professional contexts.

The event concluded at 9:00 AM with a documentation session involving all participants.

Through this activity, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM hopes that students will become more equipped to be competent communicators—not only in terms of language use, but also in effectively delivering messages within intercultural dialogues.

[Nisa Khairuna Sabilla]

Yogyakarta, 19-21 Mei 2025 —Indonesia is widely recognized as an archipelagic country. According to the Geospatial Information Agency, by 2024, the number of islands in Indonesia had reached 17,360, varying in size, location, socio-cultural systems, and natural as well as human resource potential. As territorial units, these islands are both separated and united by the sea—whose area is even larger than the landmass itself. This fact illustrates that the tendency toward fragmentation may be stronger than that of unity. As a unitary state, Indonesia exists within a constant tension between sameness and diversity, unity and potential disintegration. Therefore, the state must pay serious attention to its islands. It is for this reason that the national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), continues to be emphasized by the government through various educational institutions and civic doctrinal efforts.

In response to the urgent need to address Indonesia’s existence as an archipelagic state with complex island-related issues, the Doctoral Program in Humanities at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, opened the year 2025 with an international lecture series. The program invited three internationally recognized scholars in island studies to teach and deliver lectures as part of a comprehensive event entitled Critical Island Studies Summer School, themed “The Land, The Sea, and The State.” The invited scholars included Maria Luisa Torres Reyes, a full professor and Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila; Alex Taek-Gwang Lee, professor of philosophy and cultural studies and founding director of the Centre for Technology in Humanities at Kyung Hee University, South Korea; and Faruk, professor at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, specializing in literary sociology with a focus on cultural and island studies. The event took place from May 19 to 21, 2025, in Room 709, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM.

On the first day, the program commenced with an introductory presentation on Critical Island Studies (CIS) by Prof. Maria Luisa Torres Reyes and Prof. Alex Taek-Gwang Lee. Prof. Reyes—affectionately called “Bu Lulu” during her stay in Indonesia—explained that Critical Island Studies was established in 2019 at the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. Its core focus is to observe and critique island-related studies, particularly in the Asian region.

On the second and third days, the program continued with lecture sessions from four keynote speakers. On Day 2, Prof. Reyes presented a lecture titled “The Sama Bajau: The Nomadic Space/Place Between ‘Laut’ and ‘Pulo’,” followed by Prof. Faruk’s presentation entitled “The Sea, Nomad, and Capitalist.” On the final day, Prof. Toshiya presented an abstract titled “What is the Speculative and Archipelagic Turn in the Recent Tonality of Human Sciences?” which was then followed by the final lecture delivered by Prof. Alex titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Ecological Catastrophe.”

Guided by a moderator, the event did not merely consist of lectures but also featured engaging discussions with the participants. The entire Critical Island Studies (CIS) Summer School concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA, Vice Rector for Education and Teaching at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

[Doctoral Program in Humanities]

Yogyakarta, May 17, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program Student Association (IKMASA) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) warmly welcomed a delegation from Qismul Adabil ‘Arabiy (QIS’AR) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) for a comparative study visit held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The event was held to strengthen inter-organizational connections and foster lasting relationships between student associations of Arabic Study programs.

The visit was attended by all members of IKMASA, representing each department, and led by IKMASA Chairperson Candra Solihin. The QIS’AR UNS delegation, numbering around 50 students, was accompanied by their Chairperson, Adil Alhuda.

The visit began with welcoming speeches from the heads of both student associations, followed by detailed presentations of work programs from each department. To facilitate in-depth discussions, participants were divided into smaller groups consisting of 2–3 corresponding departments for more focused exchanges.

The event concluded with a documentation session held in Room 709 of the Soegondo Building and in front of the Graha Sabha Pramana building, capturing the spirit of collaboration and mutual learning that defined the day.

Yogyakarta, May 21, 2025 – The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a public lecture entitled “Sugianto’s Heroic Action in the Great Fire Crisis in Korea” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

The public lecture featured Prof. Yang Seung Yoon, a prominent scholar in Korean history and culture, as the keynote speaker. In his presentation, Prof. Yang shared a moving true story about the bravery of an Indonesian citizen named Sugianto, who was involved in a major fire crisis in Korea. The story not only portrayed extraordinary humanity but also highlighted how a foreign national could make a meaningful contribution during a cross-national crisis.

The session was highly interactive, with Prof. Yang weaving in historical narratives, the geography of Korea, and the human values that formed the core of his lecture.

Following the lecture, the event continued with the awarding of scholarships from KAGAMA Korea to eleven students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. This scholarship represents the alumni’s concern and support for advancing the education of younger generations, especially those who show dedication and commitment to Korean studies.

To conclude the event, Prof. Yang Seung Yoon presented books on Korean history to the attendees. The books symbolize a commitment to supporting intercultural learning and serve as valuable references for the students. After the book presentation, Prof. Yang left the audience with a memorable message: “Never stop reading.” This simple yet meaningful remark inspired all participants to continue expanding their knowledge through literacy.

This event not only strengthened the bonds between academia, alumni, and the Korea–Indonesia community, but also formed part of a broader effort to foster global academic collaboration and promote quality education through intercultural knowledge exchange.

[Bachelor of Korean Language and Culture, Nisa Khairuna Sabilla]