The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, collaborated with the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office in the regular program “Setu Sinau” or “Saturday Learning,” held at the Malioboro pedestrian area on Saturday, May 16, 2026. This activity became one of the efforts to preserve Javanese culture through educational and interactive approaches for the wider community.

“Setu Sinau” is a regular program organized by the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office aimed at introducing Javanese culture to the public. Various cultural activities were presented, including learning Javanese script, traditional dance, drawing, ngadi busana or traditional Javanese attire, traditional children’s games, and playing gamelan. The participation of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of FIB UGM in this program represented a tangible contribution of higher education institutions in supporting cultural preservation and strengthening local literacy in public spaces.

On this occasion, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program conducted the “Sinau Aksara Jawa” session. Around 15 participants joined the activity after registering through the link that had previously been distributed. In addition, several visitors in Malioboro enthusiastically joined the session on the spot because they were interested in learning how to write Javanese script.

The session began with an introduction to the Javanese script from ꦲ to ꦜ, followed by an explanation of sandhangan as sound markers, such as ꦶ for the vowel sound “i,” ꦸ for “u,” ꦺ for “e,” and ꦺꦴ for “o.” Since the session focused on basic introduction, the material on pasangan (conjunct forms) was not yet discussed.

The atmosphere during Sinau Aksara was lively and engaging. Participants not only learned the theory but were also invited to play while learning through Javanese script card games. The instructors mentioned certain words, and participants were asked to arrange the script cards according to the spoken words. In addition, participants practiced writing words and simple sentences directly using Javanese script. This interactive method helped participants understand the material more easily while enjoying the learning process in a fun way.

One of the participants, Mrs. Sahnaz, who attended with her sons, stated that this activity served as a positive alternative to reduce children’s dependence on gadgets. According to her, the program provided an experience of “playing while learning” Javanese culture directly. Meanwhile, Mrs. Lestari, who came all the way from Muntilan, expressed her interest in learning teaching methods for introducing Javanese script to beginner children. She found the card method used in the session very effective and enjoyable. Several participants from outside Java also mentioned that the activity was a fascinating new experience because they could directly try writing Javanese script.

The event concluded with the distribution of books from the Yogyakarta City Cultural Office and small souvenirs from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program of FIB UGM to all participants. This collaboration reflected a shared commitment to preserving local cultural sustainability while also supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through inclusive and enjoyable cultural education, and SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities through the preservation of cultural heritage in Yogyakarta’s public spaces.

Through activities such as Setu Sinau, Javanese culture is not only introduced as a cultural heritage of the past but is also revitalized as a meaningful part of contemporary community life.

Literacy Greetings, Script Greetings.

Aksara Team
Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program
Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada
(Arsanti, Zakaria, Ghibran, Dian, Bayu, Maysa)

Editor: Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani

Novel Si Anak Pemberani Tere Liye’s work once again feels relevant to various phenomena occurring in Indonesia today. Through the character of Eliana, readers are invited to see how a young girl’s courage can become a voice for the underprivileged, often marginalized by power and vested interests.

In the story, the villagers must face threats to their living space. This situation is reminiscent of numerous ongoing issues in Indonesia, from land conflicts and environmental degradation to the struggles of indigenous peoples and villagers to defend their homes. In these conditions, the common people are often in a vulnerable position, while major decisions are often made without truly listening to their voices.

Eliana’s character stands as a symbol of courage in fighting injustice. She doesn’t remain silent when she sees things that harm those around her. This figure also demonstrates the crucial role women play in social struggles. Today, more and more women in Indonesia are standing at the forefront of speaking out on environmental issues, education, and community rights, despite often facing pressure and challenges.

Through a warm story that is close to everyday life,The Brave Boyis not only a novel about childhood, but also a reflection on the courage to speak out. This book reminds us that change often begins with the courage of ordinary people who choose not to remain silent when facing injustice around them.

Author: Faiza S.

Yogyakarta, May 22, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a Farewell Afternoon Tea event alongside an evaluation meeting for the 2025/2026 Academic Year Student Exchange Program. The event was organized as a closing activity for the even semester and as a reflection forum on the implementation of FIB UGM’s student exchange program as well as the Independent Student Exchange Program under the Consortium of Deans of Faculties of Cultural Sciences across Indonesia.

The event was attended by faculty leaders, relevant administrative units, student exchange participants from various universities across Indonesia, and international students from partner institutions, including Kokushikan University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, National Chengchi University, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Palacký University Olomouc, and Kobe University. The presence of participants from diverse countries and institutions highlighted FIB UGM’s strong international academic network in supporting student mobility and cultural exchange.

In the official invitation, Nur Saktiningrum, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of FIB UGM, stated that the event aimed to evaluate the implementation of the student exchange programs that had been conducted throughout the academic year. Through this evaluation forum, participants were given the opportunity to share their experiences, feedback, and recommendations to further improve the quality of the programs in future periods.

Beyond serving as an evaluation platform, the event also functioned as a means of strengthening relationships among students from different cultural and national backgrounds. The interactions established throughout the exchange programs not only enriched participants’ academic experiences but also enhanced intercultural understanding, tolerance, and adaptability in a global environment.

This spirit aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through the promotion of inclusive and internationally oriented learning experiences, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration between FIB UGM and various national and international higher education institutions in supporting student mobility and educational cooperation.

[Public Relations Office of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

The rapid flow of global culture has made today’s younger generation vulnerable to being swept along and potentially losing their identity. To address this challenge, locally grounded character education is considered an important foundation for preserving identity while shaping strong personal character. This issue was discussed by Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum., a lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, during the Kawruh broadcast on Pro 4 Radio Republik Indonesia Yogyakarta on Friday, May 22, 2026, from 09:00 to 10:00 WIB. The broadcast carried the theme “Slay tapi Njawani: Manifesto Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Lokal di Hari Kebangkitan Nasional [Slay but Njawani: A Manifesto of Locally-Based Character Education on National Awakening Day]” in commemoration of National Awakening Day (Renggani, 2026).

In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum., explained that modernity is not something to be rejected. Young people are encouraged to express themselves while still holding firmly to Javanese cultural values, or njawani. These values are reflected in attitudes such as andhap asor (humility), avoiding arrogance, and upholding ethical behavior.

He also emphasized that preserving culture does not mean abandoning progress. On the contrary, local wisdom can go hand in hand with modernity. In the context of language, for instance, although language continues to evolve dynamically, young people still need to understand the concept of empan papan, which means using language appropriately according to the situation and context.

Furthermore, he highlighted that instilling ethical and moral values cannot be achieved solely through a blame-oriented approach. The process must involve listening, guiding, and positioning things proportionally. In this regard, the role of parents is crucial as role models, as expressed in the Javanese principle ing ngarsa sung tuladha, ing madya mangun karsa, tut wuri handayani, “those in front set an example, those in the middle build initiative, and those behind provide encouragement.”

This discussion is expected to broaden public understanding of the importance of maintaining a balance between culture and modern progress. Culture does not need to be abandoned for the sake of modernity; rather, it should be harmonized to remain relevant in contemporary life.
In addition, this activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on quality education through the dissemination of knowledge to the public. It also supports SDG 17 on partnerships by emphasizing the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, cultural institutions, and society in preserving the cultural heritage of the Indonesian archipelago, especially Javanese culture.

Bibliography
Renggani, T. (2026, 23 Mei). Gen Z Berekspresi Modern namun Tetap Membumi dan Njawani [Foto]. rri.co.id. Diakses pada 24 Mei 2026, dari https://rri.co.id/yogyakarta/budaya/2433916/gen-z-berekspresi-modern-namun-tetap-membumi-dan-njawani.

List of Figures
Renggani, T. (2026, May 23). Gen Z Expresses Modernity While Remaining Grounded and Njawani [Photo]. rri.co.id. Fully cited from https://rri.co.id/yogyakarta/budaya/2433916/gen-z-berekspresi-modern-namun-tetap-membumi-dan-njawani.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

The Archaeology Student Association of the Department of Archaeology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, through its Research and Scientific Development Division, once again organized its annual program Eksplorasi 2026 under the theme “Exploring the Heritage of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom from Yogyakarta to Surakarta.” The program involved 15 Archaeology students from the 2024 and 2025 cohorts under the supervision of Aditya Revianur. The first stage of the exploration was conducted on May 22, 2026, at the former Kedaton Pleret and Kerta sites in Pleret, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta, while the following stage took place on May 23, 2026, at the former Kartasura Palace area in Sukoharjo, Central Java. Another stage of the program is also planned to be conducted at the end of July 2026 as part of the continuing exploration of the Islamic Mataram heritage.

Eksplorasi is one of the flagship programs of the Research and Scientific Development Division, designed as a field-learning platform for archaeology students. Through this activity, participants were not only invited to visit historical sites, but were also directly involved in archaeological survey practices, site observation, basic mapping and documentation, as well as contextual interpretation of the surrounding cultural landscape. These field activities provided students with valuable experience in understanding how archaeological research is conducted in practice, from identifying archaeological remains to interpreting the broader historical and cultural context of the sites.

By focusing on the remains of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom, the program also aims to strengthen students’ awareness of cultural heritage preservation. The areas of Pleret, Kerta, and Kartasura were selected due to their major historical significance in the political and cultural development of the Islamic Mataram Kingdom in Java. Through this exploration, students were encouraged to view the sites not merely as physical remnants of the past, but also as cultural spaces that preserve traces of social, political, and historical dynamics from earlier periods. The outcomes of the program will later be developed into scientific articles and documentary videos, contributing to students’ academic portfolios while also serving as educational media to promote awareness of cultural heritage conservation in Indonesia.

Author: Muhammad Irsyad