Yogyakarta, 22 December 2025 – The Tourism Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the Sarasehan Dwi Windu to commemorate the program’s 16th anniversary. The event, which took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time at Soegondo Room 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, served as a forum for academic reflection, network strengthening, and maintaining close ties among academics, alumni, and tourism stakeholders.

The discussion opened with a presentation on the current condition and achievements of the Tourism Study Program by the Head of the Program, Dr. Wiwik Sushartami, M.A. In her presentation, she explained the implementation of the university’s tridharma, with particular emphasis on teaching through internships and strategic partnerships. Internships have been established as a compulsory course within the core curriculum, designed to bridge academic learning with the demands of the professional world.

“We designed the internship as part of the core curriculum so that students are not merely pursuing academic credits, but also gaining direct field experience and stronger job readiness,” said Dr. Wiwik during her presentation.

Partnerships of the Tourism Study Program involve a wide range of stakeholders, including tourism industry players such as hotels, tourist destinations, travel agencies, and the creative industry. In addition, collaboration has been developed with local government institutions, area management bodies, regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations, village tourism development communities, as well as research centers and academic institutions through collaborative research, guest lectures, and the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program.

In terms of community service, the Tourism Study Program focuses on tourism village development, cultural and heritage preservation, sport tourism, and community-based planning. The overarching theme emphasizes community empowerment and the strengthening of local economies.

The next session featured a curriculum presentation by Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., Ph.D. He outlined the planned implementation of Stream 9 through a Double Degree or Joint Degree program. This program is designed under a Primary Major scheme and will be aligned with international partnership plans targeted for development over the next five years.

According to Popi, the Double Degree or Joint Degree program is planned to take place in the fifth and sixth semesters. During this period, students of the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, will undertake their studies at partner universities, while also welcoming students from partner institutions to study directly within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This scheme continues and expands the international collaborations that have been established previously.

The Sarasehan Dwi Windu not only marks the 16-year journey of the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, but also reaffirms its commitment to developing tourism education that is adaptive, collaborative, and community-oriented. Through strengthening the curriculum, partnerships, and community engagement, the Tourism Study Program is expected to continue contributing to sustainable tourism development and to deliver tangible benefits for the surrounding social and cultural environment.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, December, 12, 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), officially launched the Implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT)–Based Smart Classroom System for Room Temperature Automation and Monitoring on the 7th floor of the R. Soegondo Building.

This activity is part of the UGM Sustainability Campus Action Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences 2025, which aims to optimize the management of learning spaces through the efficient and sustainable use of digital technology. In its initial phase, the IoT-based Smart Classroom system has been installed and operated in four rooms within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences as an effort to enhance comfort and effectiveness in academic activities.

During the launching event, the FIB UGM Information Technology Team presented the application dashboard used to operate the Smart Classroom system. The dashboard enables centralized control and remote monitoring of room temperature. The system operates using the UGM WiFi network as its main infrastructure. As long as the WiFi connection is active, the system can function optimally; however, when the network is unavailable or disrupted, the automation system will also cease to operate.

The launching event was attended by faculty leaders, representatives of lecturers, educational staff, students, and technical support teams. The series of activities included remarks from faculty leadership, implementation briefings, a technical presentation by the FIB IT Team, and the official launch of the IoT-based Smart Classroom system. In the final session, participants were invited to visit the rooms that have been equipped with IoT-based temperature control devices to observe the system’s implementation firsthand.

The implementation of the IoT-based Smart Classroom aligns with FIB UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The provision of a comfortable and adaptive learning environment supports SDG 4 (Quality Education). Energy efficiency through automated temperature control contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Furthermore, the use of technological innovation in campus facility management reflects support for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Through the implementation of this system, FIB UGM reaffirms its commitment to continuously integrating technology, humanistic values, and sustainability principles in the development of its academic environment.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, December, 16, 2025 – The Neuroscience-Based Language Teaching approach became the central focus of an academic activity held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event aimed to introduce and discuss language learning strategies that emphasize the role of emotions, focus, and meaningful learning experiences grounded in how the human brain works.

The activity opened with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya and the Gadjah Mada Hymn, followed by opening remarks from the course lecturer. The program then continued with the screening of instructional videos and educational animations illustrating the application of neuroscience in the language learning process, before proceeding to an interactive talk show session.

In their presentations, the speakers emphasized that emotional elements play a vital role in language learning. Positive emotions, a sense of trust, and learner engagement have been shown to support the formation of emotional memory, making the learning process more meaningful and the material easier to retain. This was demonstrated through various examples of interactive learning media, including animated videos and educational games.

The first talk show session was moderated by Rizky Ramadhani under the theme “Languages Through Gamification: A Neuroscience-Based Approach.” Several language education practitioners served as speakers, namely Tabinda Putri, Eva Pras, Fajri, and Elvina. They shared their experiences in applying neuroscience-based approaches through gamification methods in language teaching.

Elvina, an English course instructor whose students range in age from 17 to 25, highlighted the characteristics of Generation Z learners, who tend to become easily bored. To address this challenge, she developed learning media in the form of a snakes-and-ladders–style board game as well as web-based games. According to her, language learning does not need to begin with a strong emphasis on grammar, but can be packaged in a more engaging way through games that train learners’ focus and participation.

Meanwhile, Tabinda Putri, an instructor of Indonesian for Speakers of Other Languages (BIPA), emphasized the importance of building emotional rapport with learners before introducing the core material. She explained that light conversations about students’ names, interests, and backgrounds serve as an effective initial approach to building trust. This trust fosters positive feelings that influence learners’ memory and comprehension of the learning material.

The speakers also underlined the importance of adjusting teaching methods to learners’ preferred learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. The use of images, videos, writing on the board, role play, and games was considered effective in accommodating this diversity of learning styles. At the same time, Fajri highlighted challenges related to limited technological facilities in certain learning contexts, which need to be collectively addressed in the development of innovative teaching methods.

This activity reflects FIB UGM’s commitment to providing inclusive, innovative, and research-based language education. The Neuroscience-Based Language Teaching approach aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education through the strengthening of effective, learner-centered teaching methods. In addition, the activity supports Goal 10 on Reduced Inequalities by promoting access to adaptive learning, as well as Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the use of innovative media and technology in language education.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Shah Alam, 18 December 2025 – Three students from the Arabic Literature program at Universitas Gadjah Mada recorded notable achievements at the Modern Languages Olympiad 3.0, held at Universiti Teknologi MARA UiTM in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The international competition brought together participants from various countries in a series of multilingual contests, with the main events culminating on 18 December 2025.

In the Arabic Poetry Recital category, Pandhita Hapsari, an Arabic Literature student from the 2023 cohort, won first place and also received the award for Best Script. Another student, Muhammad Hayyi’ Rosyada from the 2024 cohort, secured third place in the same category. Meanwhile, Haris Arfakhsyadz Azka Maula, also from the 2024 cohort, achieved second place in the Arabic Champion Orator category and earned a special award for Best Impromptu Speech. Throughout their participation in Malaysia, the students were officially accompanied by Dr. Zurfa Purnamawati, M.Hum., a lecturer in Arabic Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, who supported during the competition.

MLO 3.0 was organized by the Academy of Language Studies at UiTM as a language competition featuring four main categories: Malay, English, Arabic, and Mandarin. The event series began with participant registration on 30 October 2025, followed by video submissions for the preliminary round until 6 November 2025. The judging process took place from 10 to 15 November 2025, with the announcement of preliminary results on 18 November 2025. The face-to-face final round was held on 16 December 2025 and concluded with a closing ceremony the following day.

In its official description, the organizing committee stated that the Poetry Recital category is a multilingual poetry writing and recitation competition that encourages expression in multiple languages while celebrating cultural diversity and unity. The Orator Champion category is described as a multilingual speech competition that facilitates the exchange of ideas across traditions, enriching the cultural value of public speaking.

These achievements reflect the students’ strong academic capacity and competitive language skills at the international level. Active participation in global forums of this kind reinforces the role of language as a bridge for intercultural dialogue and highlights the importance of education development that promotes cross-national collaboration for a more sustainable future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 15 December 2025 – The Archaeology Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the Archaeopreneur Bazaar as part of the fulfillment of the Final Semester Examination (UAS) assignment for the Archaeopreneur course. The course is taught by Sektiadi, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer in Archaeology at FIB UGM, and aims to encourage students to develop creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset grounded in archaeological knowledge.

The bazaar featured eight booths representing student groups enrolled in the Archaeopreneur course. Each group showcased a variety of locally produced creative items, including bag charms, tumblers, scarves, illustrated pins, bags, and many other products. These creations not only emphasized aesthetic value but also embodied philosophical meanings inspired by cultural values.

Through this activity, students were trained to transform archaeological knowledge into creative products with both commercial and educational value. The Archaeopreneur Bazaar served as a contextual learning space that bridges academic studies and entrepreneurial practice, enabling students not only to understand theory but also to apply it in real-world contexts.

This activity aligns with the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 on Quality Education through the strengthening of practice-based learning and student creativity. In addition, the bazaar supports SDG Goal 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth by fostering young entrepreneurship, as well as Goal 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production through the development of local products that prioritize cultural values and sustainability.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]