SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program held an online event “Welcoming New KBTT Students for the Even Semester of 2023/2024” on Monday, February 12th, 2024. This event was attended by lecturers in the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program, namely Prof. . Dr. Lasiyo, M.A., Prof. Dr. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur, M.S., Dr. Hindun, M. Hum., Dr. Arifuddin, Lc. M.A., and Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M. Hum.

Throughout the history of its establishment starting in 2020, the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program accepted new students for the first time in the even period with a total of 10 students. This activity was opened by an opening remarks from the Head of the Intercultural Department FCS UGM, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. Prof. Sangidu who emphasized that the acceptance of new students for the even semester was a real effort made by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to provide opportunities for undergraduates to deepen their knowledge in the Middle Eastern realm.

The event continued with a presentation of graduate profiles and curriculum by the Secretary of the Intercultural Department, Dr. Mahmudah, M. Hum. The curriculum stipulates that the KBTT Alumni profile has great opportunities in employment, ranging from academics and researchers to diplomats. Throughout this activity, students are expected to be able to prepare themselves to take part in learning in the Study Program in order to achieve a dedicated graduate profile and contribute to advancing education in Indonesia.

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth | SDGs 8: Culture | SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | SDGs 11: Adaptation | SDG 17: Partnerships for goals | SDGs 17: Fostering for innovation

In one of series of retirement period events for Prof. Dr. Ida Rochani Adi, S.U. which was held on Monday, February 19th 2024 in the Soegondo Building Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Seminar on Popular Culture and Literature was the main event led by the moderator, namely Dr. Herman Felani, M.A. with Prof. Ida acted directly as Keynote Speaker. Meanwhile, the presenters were two professors who were experts in this field. The two presenters were Prof. Mister Gideon Maru as the first presenter and Prof. Nuriadi as the second presenter. The two experts discussed the social community’s views on popular cultural and literary phenomena.

According to the speaker at the seminar, literature is always synonymous with “fiction”, “the product of imagination”, “imagination” and “the result of inventions” created by the author. This view is not completely wrong but tends to inferiorize literature as a creative work and science in the social sciences and humanities. Literature is an expression of feelings, thoughts, views on life, life character principles, and a writer’s ideal vision of life. Therefore, literature takes the form of FICTION (novels, short stories, folk tales, legends, etc.), but also NONFICTION (letters, essays, speeches, biographies, autobiographies, etc.). The extraordinary discussion closed with comments from Prof. Ida, then continued with giving souvenirs to the moderator and presenter as well as taking a group photo.

SDG 4: Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure | SDGs 9: Affordable access | SDG 10: Reduced inequalities | SDGs 10: Education | SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | SDGs 11: Adaptation 

Apart from the Seminar in Popular Culture and Literature, another agenda that attracts literature enthusiasts in the Retirement Period Event of Prof. Ida Rochadi Adi, S.U. was a Book Review of the book entitled [R]EVOLUTION OF LITERARY IN THE DIGITAL ERA: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives whose author is none other than Prof. Ida. The agenda started at 10.30 am on Monday 19th of February 2024 and lasted for approximately 45 minutes at the same place as the other series of agendas, it was in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. On this occasion, the speaker was Dr. Anna Sriastuti, M. Hum. and Dr. Rif’ah Innayati, M.A.

The book was written with the aim of responding to technological developments that are capable of changing the mature structure of a scientific discipline. The author tried to capture the lament of a scientific discipline facing the dilemma of technological change. From a theoretical and historical perspective, the book tried to offer a framework for responding to developments in the digital world in the world of literature. This book could provide thought, reflection and development of new ideas regarding the phenomenon of literary works in the development of the digital world in the current modern era. Finally, both speakers strongly recommended reading the book because it can really open up thinking about literature in the digital era.

SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals 

Assalam Fil Alamin (ASFA) Foundation has officially collaborated with the UGM Masters in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was carried out by the Head of the ASFA Foundation, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin with the Head of the Intercultural Studies Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada and advisor to the ASFA Foundation, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. on Thursday, January 11th, 2024. This event took place in Jenggala, Jakarta and was attended by leaders of Islamic boarding schools and leading Islamic boarding school-based universities on the island of Java, including the Secretary General of the Gontor Alumni Islamic Boarding School Forum, KH. Anang Rikza Mashhadi, Ph.D, Rector of La Tansa University Banten, Dr. KH. Soleh Rosyad, Rector of Darunnajah University, Dr. Hasan Darojat, and the Rector of Darul Quran University, Dr. Anwar Sani.

In his remarks, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin said, “Asian countries are located near the equator which is a marker for fertile areas so that they become strategic centers of human movement and dynamics, including us in Indonesia. Our challenge going forward is to prepare superior human resources so that we are ready to face increasingly fierce global competition.” The Deputy Chief of Police for the 2016-2018 period also said that it was hoped that this collaboration would be a means of strengthening human resources, both in the educational and economic fields.

SDGs 4: Quality Education

On Sunday February 11th, 2024, Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was a guest speaker in the Culture Webinar. The webinar is one of a series of events commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Association of Regional Language and Literature Students throughout Indonesia (Imbasadi). The event was held at 13:00 (GMT+7) with the theme “Synergy of Nusantara Performing Arts in the Era of Globalization.” The theme raised a reality about the role, function, and position of the archipelago’s performing arts in the era of free and open globalization.

Together with Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Sugita, M.Si., a professor from the State Hindu University, I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar, both presented informative and educational material about the Nusantara performing arts to the webinar participants.

Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., explained his material entitled “Art, Tradition, and Globalization.” In his presentation, he highlighted how globalization can affect a tradition. One of the interesting aspects of his presentation was the changes in Kecak dance over time. “Kecak dance initially did not contain a particular story. Later, Walter Spies, a Western artist, worked with Balinese artists and inserted the Ramayana epic into the Kecak Dance performance. At this point, Kecak Dance, which was originally part of the communal culture of the community, was transformed into an attraction for tourist consumption,” he explained.

 The Cultural Webinar organized by Imbasadi is aimed at inviting the younger generation of Indonesia to understand the potential of the archipelago’s arts and culture in the midst of globalization. By preserving and enlivening the archipelago’s culture, the community can contribute to developing knowledge and abilities and participate in protecting the nation’s cultural heritage. This effort is in line with the sustainable development goals, especially point 4, which highlights the provision of quality education.

Image 1: The delivered material.