Throughout history, the Arab world has been a subject of fascination due to its unique blend of contrasting elements. The Arab identity has always been marked by a struggle between unity and fragmentation, tradition and modernity, and religious and secular values. The Arabs are often seen as the East that is trying to catch up with the West, which is considered the epitome of progress and prosperity, especially in the fields of culture and literature.

Recently, Professor Dr. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur was inaugurated as Professor of Arabic Culture at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. In his inaugural speech, he discussed the Arab nation and its cultural and literary heritage, which has gone through many transformations over time. He talked about the connection between Arabic and Western cultures from the perspective of symbolic interactionism.

During his speech, he presented five conclusions regarding the contiguity of Arab culture with Western culture. First, the Arab intellectuals reached their peak of glory due to the brain drain movement, which saw many Arab scientists and writers studying and perfecting Western scientific theories. Secondly, the symbol of bees and honey represents the power of cultural and scientific energy in the revival of Arab culture.

Thirdly, Christian scholars played a vital role in preserving the ancient Greek heritage, which included extensive transmission from Greek to Syriac literature and transmission from Syriac to Arabic literature. In social intercourse between Arab-Islam and Christianity, there was a great harmony and warmth. Fourth, the symbols of the sword and pen represent Arab heroism and intellectualism, where the sword symbolizes strength and power, and the pen symbolizes kindness, peace, and love of knowledge.

Finally, Fadlil discussed how modern Arab society is depicted in four novels that symbolize the power of ideology, immigration, superiorism, and agilism in Arab culture. He explained that cultural contiguity with other cultures needs to be strengthened by the concepts of structure, function, communication, and relations. In terms of praxis, he emphasized that cultural contiguity theory should provide a blueprint for concrete, applicable, and specific methods to integrate human work into its socio-cultural context.

In conclusion, Fadlil’s speech highlighted the need to strengthen the relationship between Arab and Western cultures, which can help us better understand the complex and diverse Arab world.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences is hosting a seminar that is set to be an insightful and informative event for those concerned about child welfare and education. The seminar is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023. This seminar was convened by Dr Agus Suwignyo (from the Department of History) and featured two distinguished keynote speakers who will address pressing issues related to children’s education by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

The two speakers have impressive backgrounds and expertise in their respective fields. First on the list is Prof. dr. Marit Monteiro, an expert in colonial and postcolonial educational practices. Prof. Monteiro will speak about “Child Segregation,” exploring some conceptual frameworks surrounding this topic and shedding light on the historical context of the issue. Her insights are sure to be enlightening for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of child segregation and how it can be addressed.

The second speaker, Dr. Maaike Derksen, will present cases from Java and Papua New Guinea, highlighting the challenges children’s institutions and orphanages face. Dr. Derksen has extensive experience working with various organizations that deal with child welfare issues in Indonesia and the surrounding regions. Her presentation is expected to be informative and insightful, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children’s institutions and orphanages.

The seminar came out as an engaging and thought-provoking event, with attendees encouraged to register in advance to secure their spot. With two distinguished speakers, the event is sure to be a valuable opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about children’s education, welfare, and the challenges faced by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

Friday, 29 September 2023, the Department of Anthropology held a public lecture class entitled “Pursuing a Career in Defence and Security”. This forum presented a speaker who has a career in defence and security, namely one of the investigators of the South Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier Eko Hardiyanto, S. Ant., M.A.. Brigadier Eko is an Alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme in 2010. The forum was hosted by one of the Anthropology lecturers, Dr Pande Made Kutanegara, M.Si.

Brigadier Eko told how he got his job. Brigadier Eko also explained how he carried out his work as an investigator, some examples are as follows. First, the title of the case to provide legal certainty for the case being handled. Second, conducting appeals to the public regarding law enforcement and crime. Third, increasing the competence capacity of investigators through training.

In this forum Brigadier Eko also explained how the contribution of Anthropology studies in carrying out his work as a legal investigator. Participatory observation is one of the techniques used by Brigadier Eko in conducting investigations. “My frequent research experience in Anthropology has given me the knowledge on how to get data from the people we investigate. I also know whether the person is speaking the facts or not.”

Brigadier Eko also uses data triangulation techniques in processing investigation data. Brigadier Eko combines various data from various sources, which are then made into conclusions to decide the status of the case.

The discussion forum was made even more epic by the presence of fellow students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme. Alumni who attended this forum also enlivened the discussion by sharing their respective career experiences. Such as Rudy Gunawan Erwinsyah who works as a researcher at the Indonesian National Research Agency and Ahmad Pradipta who also works in the field of defence and security.

In a recent event held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the socialisation of library services was discussed in detail (. The event was opened by the Head of Office and Administration of FIB, Erika Purnawati, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of the library as a vital resource for students and faculty members alike.

During the first session, Mrs Lilik Kurniati from the UGM Central Library shared valuable insights on the various types of library services available, including membership, free library, access to ETDs (Electronic Theses and Dissertations), digibook access, access to subscribed journals, and technical guidance related to the preparation of the final work pdf. She also discussed the different ways in which these services can be accessed and utilised by students and faculty members, depending on their respective needs.

In the second session, Mr Mardi, the PJ Library FIB UGM, elaborated on the various library services available to the students and faculty members, further highlighting their significance in the academic journey of every individual. He also emphasised the importance of making the most of these services, and encouraged attendees to take advantage of the resources available to them at the library.

Overall, the event was informative and helpful for those in attendance, who were able to learn about the different services available to them at the university’s library. The discussions provided a comprehensive overview of the library’s resources and services, and helped attendees gain a deeper understanding of how they can access and utilise them to enrich their academic pursuits.

UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh and UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Science have announced a new collaboration aimed at enhancing their respective academic programs in Wednesday 27 September 2023. The joint programme is the an effort of the two leading academic institutions and is designed to provide students better chance to learn.

The English Education Study Programme at UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh is renowned for its quality, and this collaboration with UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Science will only serve to enhance it further. Students will benefit from the expertise of both institutions, which will help them develop a deep understanding of English language and literature.

This collaboration between UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh and UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Science is a testament to the commitment of both institutions to provide their students with the best possible education. The joint efforts of these two institutions will pave the way for students to receive a holistic and well-rounded education in English language and American Studies. It is expected to have a positive impact on the academic landscape in Indonesia and beyond.