Yogyakarta, 24/4/2025 — The Tourism Study Programme at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), welcomed an academic visit from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Johor, Malaysia on Thursday (24/4). The visit marked a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and the strengthening of international networks in the fields of tourism and culture.

In a warm and engaging session, both institutions presented their academic activities and flagship programmes. Students and lecturers from both sides shared experiences on curriculum development, industry practices and research, as well as approaches to tourism education.

The event continued with an interactive bonding session. A relaxed atmosphere was created through ice-breaking activities involving all participants, followed by a traditional dance performance by students from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

This visit is expected to be the starting point for further collaboration between the Tourism Study Programme of FIB UGM and Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, particularly in future capacity-building initiatives.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 24/4/2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) officially inaugurated Prof. Dr. Agus Suwignyo, M.A. as a Professor in the field of History. The inauguration ceremony was held at the UGM Senate Hall and attended by members of the academic community, family, and guests from various institutions.

In his inaugural speech entitled “Has Political Independence Transformed the Concepts of Colonisation and Decolonisation of Knowledge in Higher Education?”, Prof. Agus Suwignyo asserted that Indonesia’s political independence has indeed transformed these concepts, although the changes have not unfolded in a linear or progressive manner.

“Eight decades after the Proclamation of Independence, we have yet to witness a thorough and systematic decolonisation of knowledge within our universities,” said Prof. Agus. He stressed that while Indonesia is politically independent, the domain of knowledge and its production continues to be overshadowed by unresolved colonial legacies.

In his speech, Prof. Agus also drew attention to how criticisms of academic institutions have emerged as early as the era of President Soekarno. He quoted Soekarno’s statement: “I detest all this juridical formalism; I detest all this intellectualism,” which reflects the tension between politics and intellectualism. A similar tension, according to Prof. Agus, resurfaced six decades later in President Prabowo Subianto’s remark: “There are these professors who are so smart, yet they disagree. I’m puzzled. Are they clever or foolish? I don’t know. Maybe their minds are sharp, but their hearts can’t feel.”

These two statements, though separated by 64 years, reveal an enduring scepticism toward the role of intellectuals in the political power structure. Prof. Agus argued that such scepticism hampers genuine efforts at decolonising knowledge, as academic independence is often constrained by ideological interests.

The ceremony concluded with congratulations and best wishes for Prof. Agus, in the hope that he will continue to contribute to the development of critical and timely historical scholarship, especially in advancing a more substantial decolonisation of knowledge in Indonesian academia.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, September 22, 2024 – Putri Azkia Nisfiatul Laili, a student of Arabic Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has achieved her first major milestone at the university level. Competing in the 2024 Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ) League organized by the UGM MTQ Community, Azkia secured second place in the Musabaqah Hifdzil Qur’an (MHQ) category.

The competition was held as a preparatory event to select UGM’s delegation for the 17th National Student MTQ (MTQMN XVII) in 2025. It featured various branches of Qur’anic competitions and attracted hundreds of participants from different faculties across UGM.

The MHQ branch was divided into three categories: 10 juz, 20 juz, and 30 juz. Azkia competed in the 20-juz category, where participants were tested on their memorization from Juz 1 to Juz 20 using murattal recitation. During the competition, she confidently answered all questions posed by the judges in front of a live audience. Despite initial doubts due to limited preparation time and tight competition, her dedication and effort led her to secure second place, surpassing many other contestants. As a first-year student, Azkia admitted she did not expect to compete successfully against more senior participants.

Expressing her gratitude for the award, Azkia highlighted the importance of confidence and personal growth. “This competition not only challenged my skills but also taught me the importance of self-confidence and quality in facing challenges,” she stated.

Azkia’s achievement not only brought pride to the Arabic Literature Program but also aligned with the values of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education. Her success is expected to inspire other students to continue contributing in the field of Qur’anic studies and beyond. This milestone marks the beginning of what promises to be a bright journey for Azkia in promoting the values of the Qur’an and uplifting the university’s reputation on both national and international stages.

Yogyakarta, April 16, 2025 – The Arabic Literature Student Association (IKMASA) held a post-Ramadan gathering event titled Ikmasa Balalan 2025 at Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Taking place from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM WIB, the event acted as a valuable opportunity for spiritual reflection and strengthening bonds between students and lecturers of the Arabic Literature Department after the holy month of Ramadan 1446 H.

The event opened with remarks from the Master of Ceremony, followed by the reading of Syawalan pledges delivered by representatives from each academic year, starting from the 2021 to 2024 cohorts. A solemn atmosphere filled the room as Muhammad Ardiansyah (2021), Shang Narendra (2022), Faris Zaky Ramadhan (2023), and Haris Arfakhsyadz Azka Maula Harapan (2024) took turns to deliver the pledges. The Syawalan pledge continued with a heartfelt delivery by Mr. Abdul Jawat Nur, S.S., M.Hum., representing the lecturers of the department.

The Syawalan pledge was more than just a ceremonial act—it served as a sacred moment of mutual forgiveness for any past wrongdoings, whether between fellow students or between students and lecturers. The essence of sincerity, unity, and familial bonds was deeply felt throughout the session.

The main event was the tausiyah delivered by Dr. Nur Kholid, M.Pd.I., who shared post-Ramadan insights and emphasized the importance of maintaining spiritual growth during the month of Syawal. He discussed the deeper meaning of the commonly heard phrase “Minal Aidin wal Faidzin”, the significance of Syawal as a month of personal elevation, and the noble pursuit of becoming a pious individual.

The event concluded with a closing prayer led by Mr. Abdul Jawat Nur, S.S., M.Hum., followed by a group photo session and mushofahah—the traditional greeting and expression of forgiveness among participants. Warmth and camaraderie were evident in the interactions between students and lecturers.

Through Ikmasa Balalan 2025, IKMASA successfully fostered deeper spiritual understanding and reinforced the spirit of togetherness during this blessed Syawal moment.

[Public Relation of Arabic Literature, Muhammad Ardiansyah]

Yogyakarta, April 17, 2025 – The Student Association of Arabic Literature (Ikatan Mahasiswa Sastra Arab or IKMASA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) conducted a visitation to the Literacy Center DTMI at the Faculty of Engineering. This visitation was carried out in response to an invitation from the Literacy Center DTMI, which is actively promoting a culture of literacy among UGM students.

The visit was attended by all executive members of IKMASA 2025/2026 from each department, led by IKMASA Chairperson, Candra Solihin. During the visit, the delegation was warmly welcomed and guided by Adhika, a 2022 student of DTMI, who introduced the various facilities available at the Literacy Center.

Adhika shared insights into the book collections housed at the center and offered inspiring stories about how DTMI students utilize the space—not just as a reading room, but also as a comfortable and productive learning environment. The collection ranges from academic textbooks used by engineering students to popular fiction titles like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and Tetralogi Buru by Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

In addition to reading materials, the Literacy Center DTMI also provides a wide variety of board games designed to be both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. These games cater to different skill levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—and serve as tools for honing critical thinking and strategic planning in a relaxed setting.

Through this visit, IKMASA hopes to foster collaboration and synergy with the Literacy Center DTMI, aiming to enhance cross-faculty literacy culture throughout the UGM campus. The IKMASA board also expressed their interest in adopting creative ideas from the center—such as the design of a comfortable and inviting literacy space, a diverse range of reading materials, and alternative learning media.

This visit marks a meaningful first step in opening dialogue and collaboration among student organizations across disciplines. Activities like this demonstrate that the spirit of literacy can flourish not only within the Arabic Literature program but also throughout the wider academic community—nurturing a more collaborative, inclusive, and literate culture at UGM.

[Public Relation of IKMASA FIB UGM]