SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 5: Gender Equality

International Women’s Day (IWD) is commemorated every March 8th. In 2024, IWD carries the theme #InspireInclusion, focusing on supporting the establishment of an inclusive environment.

Renada Latifah Firdaus, an alumni of the English Department who joined HopeHelps Network. This community is dedicated to addressing and preventing cases of sexual violence in university environment. The HopeHelps Network has local chapters spread across 17 universities in Indonesia, including one at Universitas Gadjah Mada. On this occasion, Renada aimed to share her ideas about fostering inclusivity on campus.

She said that on IWD 2024, there is much to celebrate after the long struggle for gender equality and the rights of gender minorities. However, there are still pressing issues today, with women and other gender minorities experiencing discrimination, objectification, and injustice. Most women are not feeling safe even in public spaces, due to the constant threat of sexual violence.

Renada, often called Rere, emphasized that International Women’s Day can only be truly celebrated when all women are included, regardless of identity, background, profession, beliefs, and life choices. Every woman deserves to feel safe, receive equal pay, and not experience oppression or gender-based violence.

Joining HopeHelps Network in 2022 with the goal of contributing to positive action against sexual violence on campuses, Rere serves as the Director of Human Resources Development (PSDM). By actively providing training for all HopeHelps members, she believes in the significance of her efforts. She also mentioned that, within the network, she has not encountered situations where individuals are treated differently. This is because HopeHelps Network consistently strives to create an inclusive environment for everyone that is actively supporting, listening to, and advocating for anyone in need. The community places a strong emphasis on providing support for sexual violence victims, primarily women, on college campuses to provide accessible step to justice.

In conclusion, Rere emphasized that the crucial message from IWD 2024 encourages us to ensure that inclusivity is achieved comprehensively, as it is one of the most important things to live in diversity. “We need to empower each other, stick together, and be there for each other during the hardships. No one is left behind; we are in this together.”

Rere’s involvement in this organization serves as tangible proof that anyone can actively contribute to create an inclusive environment. Whether it be professors, educational staff, students, or alumni, everyone can take real action to promote inclusivity. Hopefully, it will inspire more people to be aware and contribute to this issue. The university itself that has students from various regions across Indonesia, should be a safe and comfortable home for them, where they can grow and express themselves without any discrimination.

SDGs 1: No Poverty | SGDs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SGDs 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Yogyakarta, Tuesday, February 20, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held an Entrepreneurship and Self-Development Lecture by presenting a national trainer, Dr. Ir. Siti Andarwati, S.Pt., MP, IPM, ASEAN Eng. The event aimed to equip students with knowledge and practical skills in building an entrepreneurial spirit and developing self-potential. The lecture, which was attended by high enthusiasm from UGM Arabic Literature students, was held twice online, namely on February 20 and 27, 2024.

In the first session, Dr. Ir. Siti Andarwati, S.Pt., MP., IPM., ASEAN Eng. presented material on “Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Scope”. This material opened the students’ insights into the basic concepts of entrepreneurship, potential business opportunities, and strategies for building a successful business. In the second session, the focus shifted to “Potential for Student Entrepreneurship Development”. This national trainer encouraged students to dare to be entrepreneurs and explore their potential. As a form of implementation of the knowledge gained, the students at the end of the activity were given the task of developing business ideas by making products. This aims to train their creative and critical thinking skills in building innovative and sustainable businesses.

Through this Entrepreneurship and Self-Development Lecture, it is hoped that it can foster an entrepreneurial spirit and equip UGM Arabic Literature students with qualified knowledge and skills to become entrepreneurs.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta, Wednesday, February 28, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a Public Lecture entitled “The Importance of Arabic Literature in the Contemporary World of Work” on Wednesday (28/2) at the Auditorium of Soegondo Building 7th Floor, Faculty of Arts UGM. The event was attended by Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., Chairperson of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Arief Budiman, S.S., M.A., as Ikmasa supervisor, and two inspiring speakers, Afifatul Munjidah and Muhammad Egata Asysyakur, alumni of Arabic Literature UGM who are successful in various fields.

This Public Lecture aims to equip Arabic Literature students with insights and knowledge about broad job opportunities in the contemporary era. Afifatul Munjidah, an alumnus of the Arabic Literature class of 2013 who is active in the field of education and entrepreneurship, shared her experience in building a multidimensional career. Afif is a practitioner teacher in the Kampus Merdeka program, partnership staff at Baitul Maal Nurul Ashri, and the owner of Moen House Id and Moenjastip. He emphasized the importance of having plans and strategies to achieve goals, as well as always striving to develop themselves.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Egata Asysyakur, an alumnus of the Arabic Literature class of 2015 Assistant Manager of Sheikh Muhammad Jaber, and Founder of PT Albalad Alameen Indonesia, told his inspiring story of building a company engaged in Hajj and Umrah, halal tourism, da’wah events, and publishing. He motivated the students to focus on completing their responsibilities because Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.

This public lecture was closed with a question and answer session from the students. It is hoped that by organizing this event, UGM Arabic Literature students will be more motivated to develop their potential and achieve broad job opportunities in various fields.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Yogyakarta, Saturday, February 24, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Student Association (IKMASA) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) inaugurated the Naseem Cabinet in an Ikmasa 2024/2025 Management Inauguration event held on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in Soegondo Room 709.

The event was attended by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., Head of the Department of Language and Literature, and Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program. The handover of positions was carried out from the old chairman, Sabik Hikami, to Muhammad Nabil Sahabuddin who will lead Ikmasa for the 2024/2025 period.

This activity began with the opening, remarks from the Head of Language and Literature, remarks from the Head of Arabic Literature Study Program, handover and inauguration, remarks from the new Head of Ikmasa, and ended with closing and group photos. It is hoped that with this change of management, Ikmasa can continue to develop and advance UGM Arabic Literature students in various fields.

SGDs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | SGDs 17: Partnerships For The Goals

On Monday, February 26, 2024, 16.00-17.30 WIB, the UGM Japanese Language and Culture Study Program (BKJ) held an offline light discussion on the topic ‘Current State of Japan’ with Aoyama Tooru, Ph. D. who is an Emeritus Professor from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The discussion was attended by lecturers and students of BKJ UGM from all active batches.

The discussion agenda was opened with an explanation of the current condition of Japan by Aoyama-sensei. Coinciding with the new year 2024, January 1, 2024, in Japan, precisely Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture faced an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale at 14.10 local time. The earthquake not only damaged many public facilities and homes but also affected the access roads to the affected areas. The severe damage hampered access to disaster relief by the Japanese government. The affected area is a rural area filled with elderly people, so most victims have difficulty moving quickly in a precarious situation. Alas, the earthquake and its damage have the potential to make the area disappear from the map of Japan. This is because young people in Japan are choosing to live in cities with better facilities. Based on Aoyama-sensei’s explanation, the session continued with a dynamic and interactive question-and-answer session. Afterward, the discussion session was characterized by various questions about current social issues or problems in Japanese society. One of them was the link between the shoushikoureika (少子高齢化) problem, known as the problem of low birth rate and high elderly population, and the future of Japan.

The discussion with Aoyama-Sensei gave Japanese Language and Culture students valuable experience that can improve their critical thinking skills. By studying social cases in Japan, students not only broaden their horizons but also hone their creativity in formulating solutions to existing or even similar problems in Indonesia. This activity is a window of inspiration for students to learn and enrich their perspective on the current condition of Japan.