Yogyakarta, July 14, 2025 – Eka Nur Cahyani, a 2023 student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has embarked on a long journey in the world of dance. Since the age of 7, Eka has been acquainted with and has loved classical dance, particularly the Yogyakarta style, thanks to the support of her late father, who was a court servant (abdi dalem) at the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace.

“I started dancing since I was little, often brought to the palace by my father. Since then, I fell in love with classical dance and have continued learning until now,” she recalled.

Although she never studied at a formal dance studio, Eka gained knowledge from art teachers since elementary school and is now active as a member of UGM’s Swagayugama Student Activity Unit. There, she learns directly from the palace’s dance instructor, Dra. Veronica Ratnaningsih (Nyi Mas Riya Murtiharini).

Eka’s dedication to dance extends beyond performing. She has served as an instructor in the “Kampung Menari” program by the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office and has taught children in Pakembinangun. Since 2024, she has joined the Pamulangan Hamong Beksa at the palace, where she delves deeply into techniques, movement variations, philosophy, and ethics of Yogyakarta-style classical dance.

In addition to mastering Yogyakarta-style classical dance, Eka has broadened her horizons by studying Surakarta-style classical dances, such as Gambyong and Srimpi. Currently, she actively participates in the Pamulangan Hamong Beksa at the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace. Every Sunday at 12:00 PM, Eka attends the palace wearing full traditional attire (jangkep), consisting of a kebaya tangkeban, jarik seredan, sanggul tekuk and subal, subang, and carrying a Sampur Gendala Giri.

“I am motivated to keep learning because I come from an artistic family—my grandfather was a puppeteer (dhalang), my paternal grandfather was a court servant, and my mother is a sindhen (traditional singer),” she said.

For Eka, dancing is not merely about aesthetic movements but also a spiritual and personal expression. She believes that each dance movement embodies the philosophy of patience, sincerity, and harmony between the body, feelings, and rhythm.

“Dancing is a form of prayer. The movements teach us to be sincere and patient in facing life,” Eka expressed.

Since beginning her journey in dance, Eka has performed on numerous stages, from campus events like the Kraton Performance Tourism Package featuring the Senggana Duta play by Swagayugama at Bangsal Srimanganti, Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace, and the Grand Swagayugama Performance at Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, to national and international forums such as the 4th International Seminar on Malay-Javanese Studies (SEMEJA IV) and ASEAN in Today’s World.

Despite frequent performances, Eka maintains her enthusiasm for learning. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the concepts of wiraga (physical movement), wirama (rhythm), and wirasa (feeling), as well as knowing the names and meanings of various dance movements. According to her, consistency stems from love and the desire for continuous growth.

Eka Nur Cahyani’s journey in dance since the age of seven not only reflects her love for the art but also her tangible contribution to sustainable development. Through her activities in learning and teaching dance, especially to children, Eka supports SDG 4: Quality Education. Her role as an active woman in preserving culture aligns with SDG 5: Gender Equality. Moreover, her involvement in maintaining and revitalizing classical dance art strengthens SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by preserving intangible cultural heritage as the identity of Yogyakarta’s society.

Eka proves that cultural preservation is not solely the responsibility of previous generations but also a duty for the current generation to ensure a more cultured future.

“If we feel we have talent, it needs to be developed through continuous practice and not being afraid to try, because I believe learning will never lead to regret, and every process in learning will shape us into individuals with true identity.” – Eka Nur Cahyani

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

At the recent K-Speech Eloquence Competition held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., a lecturer in the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), received a Dedication Award from Mr. Woo Young Taek, President of the K-Speech Eloquence Association Indonesia.

This award was presented in recognition of her consistent dedication over the past three years in mentoring UGM students for the competition in Jakarta, and even accompanying last year’s winner to the international contest in Vientiane, Laos.

The plaque also acknowledged Ms. Alfi’s initiative in transforming the final speaking exam into a K-Speech-style oratory performance, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of Korean language education. Additionally, she has facilitated opportunities for Mr. Woo Young Taek to visit UGM and deliver a special lecture on effective speech techniques.

Surprised and honored to receive the award, Ms. Alfi expressed her gratitude. She mentioned that the recognition serves as new motivation to further integrate Korean oratory training into practical speaking classes. Currently, beyond converting the final exam into oratory-style presentations, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM has also established a speaking club to prepare future competition participants. Over the past year, the club has been mentored by students, but moving forward, it will be supervised by faculty members to ensure UGM’s representatives are well-prepared both technically and mentally for the K-Speech stage.

Written by: Alfiana Amrin
Edited by: Sherina Azmi

Yogyakarta, July 3, 2025 – The Balairung of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was filled with UGM’s academic community and members of the public, all dressed in black as a symbol of deep mourning for the passing of two UGM students, Septian Eka Rahmadi from the Faculty of Engineering (class of 2022) and Bagus Adi Prayogo from the Faculty of Forestry (class of 2022). Both students tragically drowned while carrying out their Community Service-Learning Program (KKN-PPM) duties in Debut waters, Southeast Maluku, as part of UGM’s Period II program.

In a solemn and emotional atmosphere, a prayer gathering was held at Balairung UGM. Faculty members, students, educational staff, and members of the community attended to express their condolences and pay their final respects to Eka and Bagus. The event proceeded in a heartfelt manner, with prayers offered sincerely as a tribute and a hope that the departed souls may be granted the best place by the Almighty God.

Following the prayer, UGM’s academic community and the public took turns placing flowers beneath the flagpole in front of Balairung UGM. This moment served as a touching farewell, honoring the two young individuals who had dedicated themselves to the community through their service in the KKN program.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM family also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Eka and Bagus. Their spirit of service will always be remembered, and their dedication remains an inspiration to the entire academic community and the broader public.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, July 7, 2025 — Ajengkanthi Prabaningjati, a 2022 student of the Japanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is currently participating in the Community Service-Learning and Empowerment Program (KKN-PPM) Period II of 2025 in Wardo Village, West Biak, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province.

Ajeng is part of a KKN team called Biak Elok, whose main program theme is “Optimizing Sustainable Marine Resources to Realize a Blue Economy.” The program focuses on empowering local communities through the sustainable utilization of marine wealth. “Most people in Wardo Village work as fishermen, with fish as the main commodity,” explained Ajeng.

Within the team, Ajeng serves as the Coordinator of the Education Division. Together with her team, she focuses on teaching activities, especially for elementary school children, with an emphasis on character education. “The education division and I focus on teaching the elementary school children in Wardo, but we also open community classes for anyone who wants to learn in the Church environment, and we also assist as mentors for Sunday school. I hope we can make a lasting impact on the children here,” she expressed.

During the KKN program, Ajeng and her fellow team members stayed at the GKI Betel Wardo Church. They were warmly welcomed and cared for by a couple they affectionately call Mama Regina and Papa Ben. “Mama and Papa have been a great help to us, especially in terms of food. Not only that, but the Church community has also been very friendly and welcoming. The children often play with us too. Honestly, I feel very grateful to be accepted here,” added Ajeng.

Despite the remote location, the Biak Elok team managed to gain attention on social media. Thanks to their media team’s creativity, various moments from their community service from the natural beauty of Wardo Village to heartwarming interactions with the children—were captured in videos uploaded to Instagram and TikTok. Some of the posts even went viral and received positive responses from netizens.

One of the most touching experiences for Ajeng during the KKN program was witnessing the enthusiasm for learning among the children in Wardo Village. “Their eagerness to learn and their deep curiosity I think that’s already a strong foundation for them to achieve their dreams,” she said.

At the end of the interview, Ajeng shared a message for fellow students, especially those from FIB who will undertake KKN. “In my opinion, KKN is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that not everyone gets to have. So when your time comes, try to enjoy every part of it. From the small things that may seem trivial to the big moments that will teach you a lot. I hope FIB friends can discover new, meaningful, and memorable stories through their journey.”

[Public Relation, FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, 30 June 2025 – A total of 13 students from three higher education institutions are participating in an international collaborative program in the field of archaeology, organized by the Australian National University (ANU) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in cooperation with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). This program is part of efforts to strengthen cross-national academic collaboration while providing a platform for knowledge exchange and research experience in the fields of culture and archaeology.

The program involves 4 students from ANU, 5 students from Universitas Gadjah Mada, and 4 students from Udayana University. The activities are held in two main locations: the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara.

This program is funded by the Australian National University and results from a collaboration between the School of Culture, History and Language, College of Asia & the Pacific at ANU and the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada. The activities are coordinated by two archaeology experts: Dr. Shimona Kealy from ANU and Dr. Mahirta, M.A. from UGM, both of whom have extensive experience in archaeological research in Southeast Asia.

Throughout the program, students will engage in a variety of activities, including academic discussions, fieldwork, and cross-cultural studies. In Yogyakarta, participants will attend workshops and introductory sessions on archaeological methods and theories. Meanwhile, in Lombok, they will conduct direct field exploration and research at designated archaeological sites, honing their skills in observation, data recording, and artifact analysis.

The program is not only aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of Indonesia’s cultural heritage but also at strengthening academic networks between higher education institutions in Indonesia and Australia. With participants coming from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, this program serves as an ideal space for cross-cultural understanding, constructive academic dialogue, and collaborative learning experiences.

Furthermore, this program aligns with several goals in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities, through cultural heritage preservation), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through this program, the preservation and understanding of cultural heritage are pursued collectively across nations for a sustainable future.

With the enthusiasm of the participants and the support from the involved institutions, this program is expected to be a concrete step toward building sustainable international cooperation in the fields of archaeology and cultural studies.

[Public Relations, FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]