Yogyakarta, November 29, 2025 – Efforts to strengthen the Korean Studies ecosystem in Indonesia have entered a new phase with the hosting of the INAKOS Seminar titled The Role of INAKOS in Reinforcing Korean Studies in Indonesia on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the Soegondo Building Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM. Organized by The International Association for Korean Studies in Indonesia (INAKOS) in collaboration with the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UGM and the Korea Foundation, the event marked an important milestone in revitalizing INAKOS as a center for academic collaboration and research development in Korean Studies in Indonesia.

In his opening remarks, the Dean of FIB UGM, Prof. Setiadi, reaffirmed the faculty’s commitment to strengthening the East Asian studies ecosystem.
“We are preparing proper infrastructure to support East Asian studies. The building next to this one is fully dedicated to academic study centers, one of which is Inakos. We aim for all research centers at FIB to be integrated within a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary environment,” he stated.

Support was also expressed by the Director of the Korea Foundation, Lee Sanghoon, who highlighted the strategic role of INAKOS as an academic bridge between Indonesia and Korea.
“The Korea Foundation fully supports Inakos in revitalizing academic spaces and dialogue for scholars with deep interests in Korea. We believe Inakos will play an important role as a bridge in strengthening Korean Studies in Indonesia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Ambassador of Korea to Indonesia, Park Soo-deok, emphasized the importance of strengthening cross-national collaboration through research and academic dialogue.
“Indonesia and Korea have a long history of cooperation in culture and education. Through research, academic exchange, and scholarly dialogue such as today, both countries continue to build stronger bridges of mutual understanding,” he noted.

On the same occasion, the 2025 President of INAKOS, Suray Agung Nugroho, presented the strategic direction of the newly reactivated organization. He emphasized that INAKOS serves as a home, space, and academic umbrella to unite scholars and observers of Korean Studies in Indonesia, as well as to enhance collaborative and sustainable research.

Following the opening remarks, the audience was treated to a performance of the Korean Fan Dance, presented through a collaboration by students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UGM. The program continued with academic presentations by speakers from UGM, UI, UPI, and Universitas Nasional.

The first presentation was delivered by Rostinue from the University of Indonesia, who explained the role of Korean Studies scholars as academic and cultural bridges that strengthen bilateral interactions between Indonesia and Korea. The next speaker, Ashanti Widyana from the Indonesia University of Education (UPI), presented research trends in UPI’s Korean Language Education Program from 2020 to 2025, focusing on strengthening applied linguistics research, cultural studies, and integrating research outcomes into educational practice.

The session continued with Desitha Dwi Asriani from FISIPOL UGM, who discussed body modification and gender performativity among young Asian men and women from a comparative Indonesia–Korea perspective. The next presentation, by Rurani Adinda from Universitas Nasional, explored differences in the meanings of idioms related to the head in Korean and Indonesian. The final speaker, Achmad Rio, Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UGM, delivered a talk on analyzing translation patterns of the adnominal ending deon-eass-does using a Korean–Indonesian parallel corpus.

This seminar is expected to serve as an initial step in expanding academic networks in Korean Studies in Indonesia, while strengthening academic contributions to cultural, social, and educational cooperation between Indonesia and Korea. Continued collaboration will open broader spaces for dialogue and encourage innovative scholarly work that benefits society and advances knowledge.

In the long term, this initiative is expected to enhance access to knowledge and opportunities for academic exchange, contributing to human development and a more inclusive and sustainable future for both countries.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, November 26, 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada officially graduated 91 Bachelor Degree students in the First Graduation Period of the 2025/2026 Academic Year, held on November 26, 2025 at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, FIB UGM. The ceremony was attended by graduates from 11 study programs, as well as one graduate from a previous period who joined the procession this time.

The graduation ceremony took place solemnly and included the presentation of academic achievements and messages for the graduates. Based on faculty data, the cohort consists of 25 male graduates and 66 female graduates. Cultural Anthropology marked the highest number of graduates with 21 students, followed by English Literature with 13 graduates, and Indonesian Language and Literature and Tourism with 11 graduates each. A total of 73 graduates earned the distinction of cum laude.

In his remarks, the Dean of FIB UGM emphasized the faculty’s commitment to strengthening academic contributions. “FIB contributes around seven areas of study recognized by QS out of 27 at UGM. This is our goal in strengthening FIB, not only by focusing on one or two individuals, but by building a shared spirit, a spirit of synergy in advancing knowledge,” stated the Dean of FIB UGM.

In addition, a representative of the graduates’ parents delivered a message encouraging students to view graduation as the beginning of a long journey. “Continue learning and seeking knowledge because graduation is not the end, but the beginning of your long journey. Be a person who brings benefit, because the best human being is the one who brings the most benefit to others. Use your knowledge to bring light not only to yourselves, but also to your families, communities, the nation, and the world. Hold firmly to character, for it is the key foundation in earning public trust,” she said.

The representative of the top graduates, Catharina Maida from the French Language and Literature Program with a GPA of 3.91, also expressed gratitude and optimism for the future. “Our challenges are still long ahead. There will be many more obstacles in life,” she said.

During the event, the faculty also released other academic achievements, including the fastest study completion and graduate age statistics. Maritza Vidyatsabita from the English Literature Program completed her studies in the shortest time of 3 years, 2 months, and 5 days. Meanwhile, the youngest graduate is Bulan Churniati from English Literature, aged 21 years, 1 month, and 10 days.

This graduation ceremony not only marks the completion of the students’ academic journey, but also the beginning of their contribution to the progress of society. The values of knowledge, collaboration, and character highlighted throughout the ceremony are expected to guide the graduates in building a more sustainable future and bringing meaningful benefits to the wider community.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Universitas Gadjah Mada has selected Humaniora and Poetika: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra as recipients of the Journal Governance Support Program Toward Scopus Indexing through the EQUITY WCU 2025/2026 initiative.

Both academic journals under the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM were chosen under the scheme aimed at strengthening the quality of academic publication management and increasing the global visibility of research originating from Indonesia.

Humaniora, first published in 1989, is known as an academic, open-access, and peer-reviewed journal focusing on cultural studies from an Indonesian perspective. Since 2022, all articles have been published in English and the journal is issued twice a year. It accepts submissions throughout the year and is committed to advancing interdisciplinary humanities scholarship.

Meanwhile, Poetika: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra is a biannual academic journal that highlights social issues through literary research, particularly topics related to marginalized groups. The journal is published by the Postgraduate Program in Literature at FIB UGM and is indexed in DOAJ, as well as accredited SINTA 2 by the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN).

With the support of the EQUITY WCU Program, Humaniora and Poetika are expected to strengthen the role of knowledge in driving social progress and expanding equitable access to academic insights. This effort to improve the quality of scholarly publications reflects a sustainable commitment to advancing education and research with meaningful impact for the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, November 14, 2025 — The Arabic Study Program Student Association (IKMASA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted a Government Tour as part of the 2025 External Relations Department’s flagship program. The visit, held from 13:30 to 15:00 WIB, involved 40 students from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Language Center of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (BBY), reflecting the institution’s appreciation for student-led educational initiatives.

The event opened with remarks from Candra Solihin, the 2025 President of IKMASA, who emphasized the importance of institutional visits in broadening academic insight and fostering early professional networking. The agenda continued under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, Rusydatu Nibras Salamah, ensuring the program ran smoothly and in order. The atmosphere grew more engaging when participants were invited to enjoy refreshments prepared by BBY.

During the main session, Mulyanto, M.Hum., Senior Expert Linguist at the institution, delivered an informative presentation outlining the history of the Language Center, its institutional roles, and various strategic programs carried out to support language development and literacy initiatives across the Yogyakarta region. He also highlighted internship opportunities available for students interested in pursuing linguistic research and institutional language work.

Throughout the visit, students demonstrated strong enthusiasm, actively engaging in discussions about language programs, research opportunities, and potential pathways for student involvement in BBY’s activities. This Government Tour is expected to serve as a meaningful platform for UGM Arabic Study Program students to expand their professional network, gain firsthand exposure to applied language work, and explore future collaborative possibilities with the Language Center.

Author: Aisyah Mutmainnah

On Friday (November 21, 2025), Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi served as a panel discussant in the session “Monsters, Devils, and Survival: The Persistence of Plantations and People in the Scholarship of Pujo Semedi” at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in New Orleans, LA, supported by FULLBRIGHT funding through the Scholar in Residence Grant at the University of Colorado Boulder for Fall 2025. The panel was inspired by Pujo’s academic work on plantations, which investigates how colonial hegemony in its efforts to build capital accumulation by sacrificing human sociality has instead resulted in the loss of assets and weakened capacities for survival. In his presentation, Pujo invited participants to explore how non-human entities such as “ghosts” influence social and material relations within plantation environments.

Through ethnographic research in Kalimantan’s palm oil plantations, Java’s tea plantations, and Germany’s vineyards, Pujo argues that “ghosts” are understood as empirical and material realities by plantation communities. Although spiritual beings are not bound by physical laws or fixed forms, belief in them becomes a productive lens for ethical and emic understanding. Positioned within a strong postcolonial perspective, Pujo’s ideas are seen as important for advancing research on extraction and imperial accumulation in postcolonial nations. The panel, featuring Carla Jones and five PhD students from the University of Colorado Boulder, embodied efforts to decolonize knowledge, highlighting Pujo Semedi’s role in fostering cross-cultural academic collaboration.

Author: Penulis: Okky Chandra Baskoro