An undergraduate student of the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, M Deni Maulana, has won the prestigious Daesang (대상) award at the Global Inbound Start-Up Idea Competition held in South Korea. The accolade was awarded for his innovative, contextual, and practical educational start-up concept designed to address the needs of international students.

The global competition brought together 45 participants from 20 universities across various countries. It was organized by Jeonbuk National University, Jeonbuk State, and the Global Innovation Start-Up Center (GISC). The event series took place from November 13 to December 3, 2025, and was held onsite at The May Hotel Jeonju, Jeonbuk State, South Korea. The competition stages included idea submission, concept presentation, mentoring sessions, and final evaluation by a panel of professional judges.

At the international forum, Deni represented Indonesia with a conceptually strong and strategically competitive proposal. He earned the Daesang award for his start-up idea, LinguaLoka, which addresses cross-cultural communication challenges, particularly the gap in understanding dialects and everyday speech varieties that are often overlooked in formal language learning.

Drawing on his academic background in Indonesian Language and Literature and his interest in the Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) program, Deni developed LinguaLoka as a local dialect-based language learning application. His experience as an exchange student in South Korea and as an Indonesian language tutor for Korean students significantly shaped the idea. Through direct interaction, he observed that foreign language learners frequently struggle to understand language in everyday conversational contexts, while mastery of dialects often becomes the key to effective social communication.

“Language learning cannot rely solely on formal structures. Dialects and everyday speech contexts play a crucial role in building meaningful communication,” said Deni Maulana.

Conceptually, LinguaLoka features several key components, including real-life conversation simulations, a peer-to-peer language exchange feature, and an educational dialect-guessing game. The application is designed to facilitate Indonesian and Korean students in learning formal language while also becoming familiar with regional dialects used in daily life in both countries.

The panel of judges assessed LinguaLoka as having strong educational value, global development potential, and sustainability as a culture-based educational start-up. Deni’s background as a humanities student was considered a conceptual advantage, as he was able to integrate linguistic studies, BIPA teaching experience, and the practical needs of international students.

This achievement underscores the strategic role of language and literature students in generating cross-disciplinary innovations relevant to global challenges. Through culture-based educational approaches, such innovations are expected to strengthen cross-cultural understanding and foster the development of inclusive and sustainable learning ecosystems at the international level.

Source: M. Deni Maulana
[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Another international achievement has been secured by a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. M Deni Maulana, a student of the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program, won First Place at the Korean Culture International Poetry Contest Jeonbuk 3 held in Jeonju, South Korea, on November 28–29, 2025.

The international Korean poetry recitation competition brought together 48 participants from 16 countries, representing diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. The event was organized by the Jeonbuk Foreign Language Support Volunteer Association in collaboration with the Jeonju Jeonbuk City Government and the Department of Culture and Tourism. It aimed to introduce Korean literature to a global audience while strengthening cultural exchange through poetry.

Deni Maulana’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as it was accomplished while he was participating in a Student Exchange Double Major program at Jeonbuk National University under the Global Korean Scholarship Outstanding Student scheme. In the competition, Deni performed the Korean poem 빈방 (Empty Room) by Kim Jae-jin, a reflective work that demands emotional sensitivity and strong proficiency in the Korean language.

The competition consisted of rigorous selection and evaluation stages conducted by a panel of professional judges. Assessment criteria included accuracy of Korean pronunciation, mastery of intonation, expressive delivery, and depth of understanding of the poem’s meaning. Through an expressive yet controlled performance, Deni was considered successful in conveying the poem’s message to a cross-cultural audience.

Based on the judges’ final evaluation, First Place was awarded to M Deni Maulana from Indonesia. Second Place went to Sanya Koirala from Nepal, while Third Place was earned by Kato Minenhle from South Africa. The organizers stated that the finalists’ performances reflected a strong appreciation among the younger international generation for Korean literature.

This accomplishment represents not only a personal milestone for Deni but also highlights the active role of Indonesian students in fostering cultural dialogue at the global level. Through literature as a medium of expression, student participation in international forums such as this reinforces the values of mutual understanding, diversity, and international cooperation, which are essential to building an inclusive and sustainable future.

Source: M. Deni Maulana
[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

It is hereby announced to all students of the Applied Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s, Professional, and Postgraduate Programs that the re-registration and payment of the Single Tuition Fee (UKT) for the Even Semester of the Academic Year 2025/2026 will be conducted from 2 to 31 January 2026.

The document can be accessed via the following link: Pengumuman Pendaftaran Ulang Semester Genap 2025-2026_signed

Yogyakarta, 14/06/2025 – As a student, maintaining a balance between academic and non-academic activities is essential. Keysha Almira, a 2023 undergraduate student in Tourism, has exemplified this well. After performing as a Color Guard in the Marching Band UGM concert titled “Pangupajiwa: Marta Sang Mahapatih Gadjah Mada” in November 2024, she has now shifted her focus to becoming a Drill and Display coach of Marching Band UGM.

Keysha’s daily routine mirrors that of many students. From morning to afternoon, she focuses on her academic responsibilities, while her evenings are devoted to coaching fellow members of the Marching Band UGM. Her commitment reflects strong time management skills, which she considers crucial for balancing academic and extracurricular pursuits. To maintain this balance, Keysha organizes her schedule by creating daily to-do lists and using Google Calendar. This method helps her avoid scheduling conflicts and ensures she can allocate time for both her studies and her passion in the marching band.

According to Keysha, balancing academic and non-academic activities is very important. “You can’t just study in class all the time. As students, it’s also important to develop our passions outside of academics,” she said. Her perspective highlights the importance of holistic student development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which emphasize quality education.

Keysha encourages her peers not to hesitate in exploring activities beyond their academic curriculum. “Don’t be afraid to explore things outside of academics. As long as your time management is structured, everything will be fine,” she advised. This mindset not only supports personal growth but also contributes to a well-rounded campus life.

Marching Band UGM has long served as a platform for students to express their creativity through music and teamwork. With the routines she’s building, the band is expected to enhance its performance quality, especially in the Drill and Display segment. Keysha’s role as a coach stands as proof that students can develop their potential through non-academic activities as well.

Through her journey as both a student and coach, Keysha aims to inspire others to pursue their passions while remaining committed to their academic responsibilities. Her story serves as a reminder that with proper planning and dedication, students can achieve a fulfilling and balanced university experience.

In conclusion, Keysha Almira’s journey reflects the importance of structured development in both academic and non-academic fields. Her proactive approach to time management and her passion for the arts contribute meaningfully to her personal growth at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

[Humas FIB, Alma Syahwalani]

Jakarta, 23/5/2025 – Two students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), successfully secured 2nd Place at the National Korean Debate Competition for Indonesian University Students. The competition was held at Auditorium 1, CGV FX Sudirman, Jakarta, on Friday, May 23, 2025. This semifinal-final round was participated by selected students from various universities, including two representatives from UGM’s Korean Language and Culture Study Program.

Unlike typical debate formats, participants in this competition were not informed of the motion or their teammates until the day of the event, as all team assignments and debate positions were determined randomly on-site. In the semifinal round, teams were divided into 3 vs 3 format with the motion, “학생의 편리를 위해 대학교 도서관이 24시간 운영을 해야 된다” (“For the convenience of students, university libraries should operate 24 hours a day”). The two UGM representatives, Adzini and Melinda, were randomly placed on the same team and successfully advanced to the final round. Once again, in the final round, they found themselves on the same team. The final round continued with the motion, “소셜미디어 상에서의 익명성은 긍정적인 영향보다는 부정적인 영향을 더 많이 초래한다” (“Anonymity on social media brings more negative impacts than positive ones”).

The competition concluded with comments from the judges, a dance cover performance, and an awarding session. In this event, Adzini Nurul Fatima Juliani and Ferdinanda Melinda Suryaningrum from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program successfully won 2nd Place in the team category.

In a separate interview, Melinda shared her experience, “Before the competition started, so many thoughts ran through my mind, especially because we were carrying the name of UGM and our study program, which had supported our journey to Jakarta. However, by the grace of God, we managed to deliver a result by winning 2nd place. Although it was not the best result, it was achieved through our utmost efforts. This competition has become an unforgettable part of my life.”

Meanwhile, Adzini also shared her story and the challenges she faced during the competition. “I used to be someone who was afraid to speak up, even just to express my opinion. But now, being able to participate in a debate competition and win 2nd place is a proud achievement for me. I believe that the biggest challenge in a competition doesn’t come from your opponents, but from within yourself. During this competition, I doubted myself many times — could I really do this? Especially when carrying the name of my university and study program. But amidst the doubt, I remembered words from a sunbae: ‘Winning is a bonus. What matters is that we finish what we’ve started.’ Whatever the result, I’m grateful because this is the outcome of my best efforts. Eventually, through this experience, I’ve been able to grow again. And finally, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me to stand here. All of this is thanks to everyone’s support~!!”

(Sherina Azmi)