The Korea University ASEAN Centre (KUAC) delegation, led by Professor Jae Hyeok Shin, the Director of KUAC, recently paid a visit to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in 16th August 2023. The delegation, which included Professor Jeong-in Suh, Former Korean Ambassador to ASEAN, Professor Jaehoo Park, Chief Administrative Officer, and a journalist from Yonhap News, Mr Kim Ho-Chun, had a seven-day visit to Indonesia and Thailand. During their visit, they gained valuable insights into ASEAN countries and had the opportunity to exchange ideas with students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Programme at FIB UGM.

The KUAC delegation’s visit was not just a mere academic and cultural exchange but also aimed to foster closer ties between Korea and ASEAN countries. To achieve this goal, the delegation attended a series of lectures on Cultural Differences between Indonesia and Korea. Moreover, two representatives from Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, Mr Cho Hyun Jin and Mr Shin Ji Nam, also accompanied the delegation, adding more value to the visit.

Overall, the KUAC delegation’s visit to UGM was a significant milestone in the academic and cultural exchange between the two regions. It is hoped that such visits will continue to take place, leading to more opportunities for collaboration and mutual understanding between Korea and ASEAN countries..

University Twinning and Networking (UNITWIN) is a programme established in 1992 at the 26th session of the UNESCO General Conference with the aim of building the capacity of higher education and research institutions through knowledge exchange and sharing.

Two Mahadayas excelled in the programme, with each becoming the top participant in their respective sub-programmes. Bulan Churniati, a 2021 English Literature student, emerged as the best participant in the Digital Entrepreneurship Training sub-programme, while Nasywa Naurah, a 2022 History student, claimed the top spot in the Leadership Training.

Congratulations on your impressive success, Mahadaya!
Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off and you deserve all the recognition that comes with it. Keep up the great work !

On Monday, 14 August 2023, the Department of History Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM successfully held an Interdisciplinary Critical Heritage Study Conference in Indonesia at Ullen Sentalu Museum, Kaliurang, Sleman. The conference aimed to develop a critical heritage curriculum and open cooperation between museums, communities, and cultural activists in heritage utilisation.

The conference was divided into four panels that were conducted separately. The first panel carried the theme “Heritage in Practice”. Acting as presenters in this panel were Grace Leksana, an academic and historian from the State University of Malang; Kate McGregor, a historian from the University of Melbourne; Restu Gunawan, Director of Development and Utilisation at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research; and Bambang Widodo, Chairman of the DIY Musea Deliberation Board (BARAHMUS DIY). In this panel, they discussed topics on the commodification of colonial heritage, the practice and theory of interdisciplinary approaches, and heritage preservation practices.

The second panel raised the theme “Decolonisation and Repatriation”. Tular Sudarmadi, UGM academic and archaeologist; I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Executive Director of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation; and Daud Aris Tanudirdjo, UGM archaeologist discussed topics on the difference between return, repatriation, and resitution; microhistory approach in heritage studies; and museum decolonisation.

The third panel was themed “Performing Heritage”. Sumarsam, a lecturer at Wesleyan University and Eri Sustiyadi, Head of the Collection, Conservation and Documentation Section, discussed the topic of intercultural encounters in the development of puppetry and the practices of presenting heritage through museums.

Finally, the fourth panel raised the theme “Heritage in Contestation”. Marieke Bloembergen, a historian from Leiden University; Sukma Putri, activist of the Malam Museum Community, and Sektiadi, UGM archaeologist, discussed the topics of epistemic violence against heritage, discussion practices through communities, and the transformation of museum identity in line with decolonisation efforts.

Monday, 14 August 2023, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) held a meeting with the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama. The meeting was held in the Leadership Conference Room, Poerbatjaraka Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with the aim of signing a cooperation agreement regarding the MBKM programme. Mitra Praja Utama Joint Secretariat is a forum for provincial cooperation in Java and Bali that aims to solve various development problems with their regional potential. This time the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama collaborates with the UGM Department of Archaeology to conduct action research on cultural heritage.

The signing was carried out by Dr Suwarno, M.M. in his capacity as Executive Director of the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama, Dr Mahirta, M.A. as Head of the UGM Department of Archaeology, and Prof. Dr Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si. as Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The goal is to ensure a seamless future collaboration that will yield benefits for both parties and the community at large.

Salut, Mahadaya!

The faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is delighted. On 9-15 June 2023, the Department of French Language and Literature of the Faculty of Arts, Universitas Brawijaya held the “Humanities Studies Competition of French”. This opportunity was not missed by Mahadaya from French Literature. There are three representatives from FIB including Jasmine Nabila, Meitri Lathifah and Agata Aubrey. They competed in two different categories, poetry reading and translation.

The three representatives from the French Literature Study Programme of FIB UGM managed to win the championship podium with the following details.

1. Jasmine Nabila (1st place in French Poetry Reading)
2. Meitri Lathifah (1st place in Translation)
3. Agata Aubrey (2nd place in translation)

Congratulations, winners!