Yogyakarta, March 3, 2026 – The Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., emphasized the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding international engagement in the development of humanities scholarship. He delivered the message during the Open Senate Meeting marking the 80th Anniversary of FIB UGM on March 3, 2026, in Yogyakarta.

In his annual report, Prof. Setiadi described the faculty’s 80th anniversary as a moment to reflect on its long journey while looking ahead to future challenges and opportunities. With the theme “Eight Decades of Building Civilization,” the faculty aims to further strengthen its academic contributions at both national and international levels.

“For eighty years, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada has undergone significant transformation and achieved notable accomplishments as a key pillar in the development of humanities scholarship,” he said.

He noted that the faculty’s achievements are the result of the collective efforts of its academic community, built upon the scholarly foundations laid by earlier generations.

One of the performance indicators highlighted in the report is the number of international students, which reached 150 students, exceeding the target of 100 students or 150 percent of the initial target. According to Prof. Setiadi, this reflects the growing international appeal of FIB UGM.

Research collaboration has also shown significant progress. The number of multidisciplinary research outputs reached 169 research titles, far surpassing the target of 84 projects, or about 201 percent of the target. This achievement indicates a stronger culture of collaborative research across academic disciplines.

In addition, FIB UGM recorded 2,378 news publications related to academic activities and community engagement in 2025, exceeding the target of 1,155 publications.

In terms of academic quality assurance, FIB UGM continues to strengthen the accreditation status of its study programs. Out of 21 study programs, 20 programs have received the highest accreditation status (Unggul) from BAN-PT, while the Master’s Program in American Studies has obtained the same status from LAMSPAK.

Several programs have also gained recognition from international accreditation bodies, including ACQUIN, AUN-QA, and FIBAA, further reinforcing the faculty’s position in global humanities education.

These academic achievements are also reflected in international rankings. The Anthropology, Archaeology, and English Literature programs are ranked first nationally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, with global rankings in the 101–170 and 151–200 ranges. Meanwhile, EduRank placed FIB UGM’s literature field first in Indonesia among 68 institutions offering literary studies.

Prof. Setiadi also highlighted developments in student performance. Currently, FIB UGM has 4,346 active students, consisting of 3,448 undergraduate students, 672 master’s students, and 226 doctoral students. Academic data shows improvement in student performance, with the average undergraduate GPA increasing from 3.62 to 3.67, while the average study duration decreased from 4.42 years to 4.28 years.

He expressed appreciation for the contributions of lecturers, administrative staff, and students. Over the past four years, FIB students have achieved 23 international awards, 224 national awards, and 48 regional awards.

Concluding his remarks, Prof. Setiadi emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity, solidarity, and academic values within the faculty community.

“In the academic world, which upholds honesty, equality, and integrity, we must continue to nurture a culture of mutual learning, care, and mentorship while strengthening our solidarity as the FIB UGM community,” he said.

As it enters its eighth decade, FIB UGM aims to remain a productive space for the advancement of humanities scholarship and to contribute to the development of civilization through education, research, and community engagement. Such efforts reflect the broader commitment of higher education institutions to advance knowledge, expand global collaboration, and generate meaningful benefits for society.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 26 February 2026 – The Arabic Literature Student Association of Universitas Gadjah Mada (IKMASA UGM) held a Work Program Reflection Forum as part of its 2026/2027 General Assembly series. The event, which took place from 15.00 to 17.15 WIB at Room 201, Poerbatjaraka Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, served as a platform to evaluate performance and to bring together the Ababil Cabinet management for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 terms.

The IKMASA General Assembly is an annual agenda held at the end of each cabinet’s term. The series of activities, conducted from December 2025 to February 2026, aims to review and evaluate performance over one term, formulate a new vision and mission to strengthen the organization’s future direction, and elect or reorganize the next leadership.

The Work Program Reflection Forum is one of the main agendas within the series. The 2025 IKMASA UGM General Assembly committee organized the event offline and required all board members to attend. The forum was designed as a transitional space that brings together former and newly appointed administrators to ensure continuity of information and organizational experience.

During the forum, the Ababil Cabinet presented the organizational structure, performance achievements, and implementation of work programs over the past term. The session was followed by a joint evaluation and reflective discussion involving all participants.

Through this forum, IKMASA seeks to ensure that program sustainability and organizational governance continue in a systematic manner. The cross-term meeting also served as a momentum to strengthen coordination and align the organization’s direction moving forward.

By providing a structured space for reflection, IKMASA reaffirmed its commitment to building a student organization that is adaptive, accountable, and oriented toward continuous improvement in order to create a positive impact on the academic community and society at large.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 15 February 2026 – The Arabic Literature Student Association of Universitas Gadjah Mada (IKMASA UGM) officially inaugurated its 2026/2027 executive board at Room 709, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The inauguration formed part of the IKMASA General Assembly series, which took place from December 2025 to February 2026.

The event was attended by all active students and alumni of the Arabic Literature Program at UGM. The inauguration ceremony was led by Dr. Nur Kholid, M.Pd., advisor to the Arabic Literature Student Association at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, who formally installed the IKMASA executive board for the 2026/2027 term.

The IKMASA General Assembly is an annual agenda held at the end of each executive term. The forum reviews the accountability report, evaluates organizational performance over the past year, and formulates the vision and mission for the upcoming period. It also serves as a platform for organizational restructuring and the election of new leadership.

The inauguration marked the final stage of the entire general assembly series. Through this ceremony, the newly appointed board obtained formal organizational legitimacy to carry out its mandate and implement work programs over the next year. The event was conducted offline at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences as a demonstration of organizational transparency and accountability to the Arabic Literature academic community.

With the new executive board officially in place, IKMASA is expected to continue ongoing programs while introducing initiatives that respond to students’ needs. Structured regeneration through the general assembly remains a key foundation for sustaining the organization and strengthening students’ role in fostering a collaborative and responsible academic environment.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, February 10, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada welcomed an educational visit from groups of students and teachers from SMA Pembangunan Jaya 2 and MAN 1 Surakarta. The program aimed to introduce prospective students to the academic environment and campus facilities before they pursue higher education.

The two delegations were warmly received by the FIB UGM Public Relations team and campus tour guides. The visit began with a brief introduction to the faculty’s academic profile, including its history, vision and mission, as well as the range of study programs offered. The presentation was delivered in an interactive format, allowing participants to ask questions about campus life and learning activities.

Following the introductory session, the participants were invited to explore various learning facilities within FIB UGM. The tour started with classroom visits, where students could observe the teaching and learning atmosphere firsthand, and continued to the faculty library, which serves as a central resource for academic references and research.

In addition, the guests had the opportunity to visit other supporting facilities that enhance academic activities, including discussion rooms, learning resource centers, and student academic service offices. The visit provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the university’s academic environment and campus life, while also inspiring them to plan their future educational pathways.

Through initiatives such as school visits, FIB UGM hopes to encourage more young people to explore higher education opportunities and to understand the importance of academic facilities in supporting a quality learning experience.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Shah Alam, 16 December 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada, through its Arabic Literature Study Program, has established an academic collaboration with the Academy of Language Studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA. The meeting, held at the Academy of Language Studies Meeting Room at UiTM Shah Alam, focused on strengthening cooperation in education, research, and the exchange of academic communities between the two institutions.

The meeting took place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time and was attended by academic leaders and lecturers from both sides. The UGM delegation was led by the Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., while UiTM was represented, among others, by the Deputy Dean of the Academy of Language Studies, Prof. Ts. Dr. Janudin Sardi, and the Head of the Arabic Studies Department, Dr. Abdul Azim Mohamad Isa.

The event opened with remarks from the UiTM deanery, followed by the presentation of the purpose of the visit by the UGM delegation. A discussion then took place to explore forms of cooperation that could be implemented in the near future, before concluding with the signing of a cooperation agreement.

One of the main outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to begin an online faculty exchange program in March 2026. This program will involve Dr. Mohamad Nor Amin Samsun Baharun from UiTM and Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati in the Balaghah, or stylistics, course.

In addition, both parties are still in negotiation regarding further faculty exchanges in the fields of Arabic literature and culture in Indonesia and Malaysia. Student exchanges were also agreed to be conducted on a reciprocal basis in accordance with mutually agreed mechanisms.

In the area of research, UiTM expressed its interest in establishing collaborative studies on several topics, including Arabic pragmatics, Arabic literature, Javanese philology, and English language studies. This cooperation is also directed toward joint publications, such as poetry and pantun anthologies, as a form of academic and cultural collaboration. The meeting also discussed plans for the organization of international seminars.

This cooperation is expected not only to strengthen cross-border academic networks but also to encourage sustainable exchanges of knowledge and cultural understanding. Through collaboration in education and research, both institutions aim to contribute to the development of the humanities in ways that respond to global challenges and future societal needs.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]