It feels different when we step into things beyond our abilities, it feels different when literature students take part in hackathon competitions, and it is still different when women enter business and even lead. This was what actually wanted to be achieved in the 2023 UNESCO-UNITWIN Advanced Workshop & Hackathon program at Sookmyung Women’s University (SMU), Seoul, South Korea in November-December 2023. Bulan Churniati, an English Literature student at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, had never expected that this program would enable her to compete on the international stage and at the same time experience traveling abroad for the first time.

This was not a trivial journey, this program required us to first be selected from hundreds of internal university students, then took part in training and whoever was the best would represent Gadjah Mada University at the international level later. It was truly an honor that Bulan must be proud of to have had this extraordinary experience, even though it might be a bit of a burden to show her best as a representative of the best university in Indonesia. The reason was, there were many creative ideas from competing countries, such as Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia—from ideas for making audiobooks, applications to reduce fast fashion, health, and many more. However, the student topic given required the participants to hold their heads high by discussing MSME issues which certainly produced results.

Before taking part in this training, Bulan admitted that she was still too afraid to start her own business and only focused on the theoretical enthusiasm she initiated – PKM-K about entrepreneurship, business case and business plan competitions, and creating content for other people’s MSMEs. Until APWINC came along and gave her lots of ideas, relationships and the courage to start and develop her own online shop, yes, a small step but the most meaningful in 2023. “Thank you for the support of PIKA UGM as a companion and provider of all information, FIB UGM as a beloved faculty, and UNESCO for its extraordinary program, as well as all parties involved. The word ‘finished’ will not stop my passion, but will make me thirstier to learn—wait for me here to share more stories.” said Bulan Churniati.

In preparation for the implementation of Posbindu PTM activities, HPU FIB UGM held training activities for Posbindu cadres. This activity was carried out over two days. On the first day, Monday 6th of February 2024, material provision about Posbindu was held in the Multimedia Room of Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. The event opened promptly at 8 am and continued with the Pre test. Furthermore, the delivery of material related to the introduction of HPU, introduction to Posbindu PTM, assessment of risk factors for PTM, assessment of nutritional status and nutritional education, measurements at Posbindu, recording and reporting at Posbindu, consultation on examination results and education at table 5, safety at Posbindu, and first aid in an accident. After being provided with some of these materials, participants took the post test.

The second day’s event was held the following day, it was Wednesday, 7th of February 2024 in Courtroom 1 of Poerbatjaraka Building, 1st Floor,  Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University at 8 am until 12.15 pm. Because on the first day the participants were presented with basic material regarding Posbindu and so on, on the second day the participants were encouraged to practice. The Posbindu training participants carried out the Posbindu table 5 simulations and exercises with enthusiasm and passion, then immediately carried out the second post test to see the progress they had made as Posbindu cadres after receiving the material and training during the two-day event.

This event received cooperation and assistance from Mr./Mrs. UGM HPU Team. Head of HPU UGM, Prof. Dra. Yayi Suryo Prabandari, M.Sc., PhD, had the opportunity to directly accompany the training participants as a speaker regarding examination activities in posbindu and health check practices (measuring blood pressure and taking blood samples to check cholesterol, sugar and uric acid levels). He received a direct invitation from the Deputy Dean for Finance, Assets and Human Resources, namely Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, M.A., Ph.D. The Posbindu cadre training was attended by staff from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. The targets of Posbindu services are all staff, both lecturers and teaching staff in the faculty environment.

SDGs 4: Quality Education|SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals

Yogyakarta, January 26, 2024 – A student of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), has completed the MBKM Campus Teaching program at the Miftahul Huda Kroya Islamic Boarding School with flying colors. This program is part of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) which aims to provide out-of-class learning experiences for students. This program focuses on assisting learning and fostering the use of Arabic and English in Islamic boarding schools.

While at the Miftahul Huda Kroya Islamic Boarding School, the two UGM students carried out various activities, including Language Classes, Foreign Language Talks, Student Mentoring, Bilingual Speech, Dhiba’ and Barzanji Readings, Language Tests, Listening Training, National Santri Day Commemoration Competition, Socialization of the Importance of Foreign Languages, and Vocabulary Book Making.

The Campus Teaching Program at the Miftahul Huda Kroya Islamic Boarding School is a real example of a beneficial collaboration between universities and Islamic boarding schools in improving the quality of education in Indonesia. This program is expected to produce a young generation that excels in Arabic and English and is ready to compete in the global arena.

SDGs 4: Quality Education|SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth|SDGs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions|SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals

Yogyakarta, January 27, 2024 – The internship program for UGM Arabic Literature students at the Sleman Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office was assigned to several service sections, namely Hajj and Umrah, Madrasah Education Section, and Public Relations Services. There are four students in this section. During the internship process, students were guided and monitored directly by the Mr. and Mrs. employees, they provided job descriptions that matched the students’ abilities, especially in the fields of communication, correspondence, archiving, and public services.

Some of the tasks given to the interns in the Hajj and Umrah section include: Assisting with the administration of registration, cancellation, and transfer of Hajj pilgrims’ portions; Assisting with the digitization of Hajj pilgrims’ data; Assisting with the registration of Hajj pilgrims’ passports; Assisting with the provision of Hajj consultation services to prospective Hajj pilgrims. The work sessions for the interns are adjusted to the working hours of the Sleman Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office.

For the Madrasah Education Section, the following tasks are given: Verifying data on educational personnel, starting from checking, validating, and ensuring the accuracy of the data; Managing the application on the Education and Teacher Personnel Management Information System of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Simpatika) for educational personnel; Managing data and information systems for educational personnel, including updating data; Archiving supporting documents for the administrative needs of educational personnel; Assisting with the preparation of BOSDA and BOSNAS reports; Providing information services related to regulations, requirements, and facilities and infrastructure needs for educational personnel; Calculating the performance allowances for teachers and madrasah supervisors; Applying Ms. Excel formulas, especially VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP formulas, to ensure the accuracy of Teacher and Supervisor Performance Allowances.

Furthermore, in the public relations service, some of the tasks carried out include: Making videos of routine activities of the Sleman Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office; Making press releases; Assisting with the input of correspondence in the Sedakep application; Assisting with services at the One-Stop Integrated Service of the Sleman Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office. The work sessions are carried out in accordance with the working hours that have been applied for all employees of the Sleman Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs Office.

SDGs 4: Quality Education

Yogyakarta, January 27, 2024 – To support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, several students from the Arabic Literature Study Program, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) have completed an internship program at various Elementary Schools (SD) and Junior High Schools (SMP) in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.

This internship program is an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge they have learned in college directly in the world of education. The students were assigned to several schools, such as SD Unggulan Muhammadiyah Lemahdadi, SD Kasongan, SDIT Luqman Al-Hakim, MI Ma’arif Candran, SMPIT Alam Nurul Islam, and Yayasan Tahfidz Sulaimaniyah in Yogyakarta, as well as SD Interaktif Harum Mulia, SD Muhammadiyah Tonggalan, and SDIT Ulul Albaab Weleri outside Yogyakarta.

During the internship program, the students had the opportunity to teach Arabic and several other subjects, such as Islamic Religious Education, Tahfidz, and Tahsin. In addition, students also participated in various activities at the school, such as religious studies, MABIT (Malam Bina Iman dan Takwa), healthy gymnastics, and extracurricular activities. This internship program is a real example of collaboration between FIB UGM and educational institutions to improve the quality of education in Indonesia. With this program, it is hoped that UGM Arabic Literature students can become competent and inspiring teachers, and contribute to realizing quality education.