The Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada invited Professor Emeritus Sabine Troeger from the University of Bonn to teach a research methodology course. She is both an experienced educator and practitioner with decades of experience in development studies and climate change. Among her achievements is involvement in the design and implementation of programs by the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in various African and Asian countries. The course was held in 14 sessions during September 2024 and was attended by both undergraduate and graduate Anthropology students. The general lecture with Professor Sabine also served as a preparatory class for undergraduate students selected to participate in the 2024 Merdeka Campus Competition Program (PKKM).

In this course, students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of applying participatory methods, widely used to engage communities in empowerment programs. Rather than just listening to lectures, students tried using several tools, such as Venn diagrams, spider diagrams, and well-being matrices, to understand how they can be applied in field data collection. In the second half of the course, students presented readings from scholars like Jurgen Habermas, Foucault, and Robert Chambers, which helped them apply theories to their own research.

Although the course was conducted in a block system with consecutive sessions, participants’ enthusiasm remained high from start to finish. This was due to the varied teaching methods and the active role students played in presenting their ideas. Professor Sabine Troeger expressed her delight in conducting the course and seeing the students’ enthusiasm. To close the course, she invited her students to dinner for an informal discussion about their research interests for the future. The hope is that through such activities, quality education as aligned with SDG 4, and partnerships for shared goals as aligned with SDG 17, can be achieved.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Writer: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani, Editor: Aldiza]

On Tuesday, The UGM History Department held a public lecture titled “How to Teach the History of Timor Timur in Indonesia” (9/10). Prof. Dr. Asvi Marwan Adam, a historian and researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), was the keynote speaker for this lecture. The primary goal of this public lecture was to raise awareness about the history of Timor Timur, which is often presented with a limited or biased perspective.

In his opening address, Dr. Abdul Wahid, Head of UGM’s History Department, noted that this topic is particularly intriguing since it deals with a former Indonesian province and is rarely discussed in depth by academics.

“Timor Timur is our neighbor. We are so close to each other, yet unfortunately, very few Indonesians have thoroughly studied its history,” said Abdul Wahid.

In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Asvi Marwan Adam explained that his deep interest in the history of Timor Timur stemmed from the fact that it has largely disappeared from the history curriculum in Indonesia.  

“With Prabowo’s election as president and the appointment of several ministers who previously served in Timor Timur, could this pose a challenge in teaching Timor Leste’s history? Will the history being written or taught be aligned with those currently in power, meaning that military violence in the past could be covered up?” he questioned.

He emphasized that writing the history of Timor Timur is incredibly complex, especially due to the numerous human rights violations that occurred there. This complexity is reflected in the many films, books, novels, and memoirs focusing on human rights abuses in Timor Timur. Prof. Asvi’s presentation sparked an engaging and lively discussion, with the audience enthusiastically asking questions over two separate discussion sessions.

The panel concluded that a deep understanding of Timor Timur’s history is crucial to be presented objectively and openly within Indonesian education. Understanding the historical events in Timor Timur will help Indonesians view the past with a broader perspective and comprehend its impact on regional relations and humanitarian issues. By studying this history, young generations can become more critical of political interference in historical narratives and better appreciate the importance of justice and reconciliation processes.

[PR of FIB UGM: Aldiza, Translated: Aldiza, Photo: Adnan, Putu]

The peak agenda of the ‘Middle East Culture Week’ activity organized by the Middle East Cultural Studies Student Association of Gadjah Mada University (IMABTA UGM) has been carried out on Wednesday, September 16, 2024. The celebration was successfully merged with the agenda of the National Seminar Mangayubagya Dr. Hindun, M.Hum which was held offline in the Soegondo Room of the Faculty of Arts UGM at 08.00 – 12.30 WIB. Previously, IMABTA UGM and PPIDK Timtengka had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of organizational and academic-based cooperation on July 31, 2024 at the Omega Education Group Office, South Jakarta.

The points of cooperation between the two parties are as follows.

1. Publishing information about education, research, and service.
2. Open opportunities for collaborative research and scientific publications in the MECRI Journal.
3. Open opportunities for collaboration in volunteering and community service activities.
4. Collaborate in the implementation of the ‘Middle East Culture Week’ which is held once a year.
5. The collaboration is valid for 5 years.

As the closing of the big agenda of ‘Middle East Culture Week’, the symbolic MoU was marked by the showing of a short video with a duration of 2 minutes 23 seconds. In the video, a series of documentation from a series of activities that have been held by IMABTA UGM from May to July are shown. A little flashback first, the first series of ‘Middle East Culture Week’ began with the IMABTA Greeting event on May 30, 2024.

Continuing on June 7, 2024, the Middle East Issues Talk Seminar which was accompanied by Palestinian Literature Observer, Dr. Hindun, M.Hum was held online and attended by Indonesian students both at home and abroad. The third agenda ‘Sharing Session KBTT UGM Expo’ was resumed on June 13, 2024. Furthermore, the Book Review presenting Indra Gunawan, Lc., M.A. was held on June 27, 2024. As a closing agenda, IMABTA UGM and PPIDK Timtengka held their last activity, namely the ‘Scientific Essay Writing Competition’ which is ongoing until November 2024.

On Monday, September 23, 2024, Students of the UGM Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program have carried out Community Service at the Sunan Pandanaran Yogyakarta Islamic Boarding School. The event was attended by the principal of Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School Yogyakarta, teacher representatives, and class XII students. The principal of Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School, Dr. KH Mu’tashim Billah, S.Q., M.Pd.I. said that he was very happy to host the community service from the Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program. This community service activity reflects the spirit of knowledge, togetherness, and care. The materials presented by KBTT students are expected to provide new insights for santri and santriwati in schools related to the Middle East, both from social, cultural, and political aspects.

The event continued with the presentation of material delivered by three students, namely Yusuf Idrus Malik, Vania Aina Sadikin, and Lutfi Nurfadli. The material presented by KBTT students included the countries of Egypt, Jordan, and the features of the Middle East. In the presentation of the three students, it was concluded that demographic diversity in the Middle East is one of the main characteristics of this region, covering aspects of socio-culture, religion, and political government.The Middle East is home to various tribes, languages, and traditions. From Arabs, Kurds, Persians, Turks, to Berbers, each ethnic group has its own unique culture and identity. These cultures are reflected in art, music, food, and customs. As for religion, the Middle East is very diverse, although the region is known as the birthplace of three major religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Islam, with its various sects such as Sunni and Shia, dominates social and political life in many countries. However, Christian, Yazidi, Druze, and Bahá’í communities also have a long history and contribute to cultural diversity.

Santri and santriwati of the Sunan Pandanaran Islamic boarding school were enthusiastic about the material as evidenced by the active forum discussion and souvenir distribution. At the end of the event, the principal of the Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School expressed his gratitude to PKM UGM students and motivated all students to study hard and practice the knowledge gained to the community. The event was closed by giving souvenirs from UGM to Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School and continued with a group photo session.

On October 1, 2024, the Folklore Class of the Cultural Anthropology Undergraduate Study Program, Department of Anthropology held a cultural workshop by inviting a guest lecturer. This Folklore class was taught by Dr. G.R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A. and Mubarika D.F.N, M.A. and what attracted the attention of the students this workshop discussed the Polonez Dance. The dance is an intangible cultural heritage from Poland. The material was delivered by Dr. Marzanna Popławska from the University of Warszawa, Poland. The workshop successfully highlighted the specialty of Polish performing arts and showed how intangible cultural heritage can optimize its role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The opening began with a warm welcome from Dr. Marzanna Popławska in Polish, “dzień dobry,” or “good morning” in Indonesian. The atmosphere immediately became intimate with the enthusiasm of the participants who wanted to learn more about the history and meaning of the Polonez Dance. Dr. Marzanna Popławska has been researching cultural heritage both in Poland and in other countries for more than 10 years, and has experience in studying the development of cultural heritage in Indonesia, which further enriched the discussion during the event.

The history and meaning of the Polonez or Polonaise Dance comes from the French “polish” which means “from Poland”, so this dance is one of the famous traditional dances from Poland. Its history can be traced to the Middle Ages and Renaissance with the name Polonaise becoming widely known in the 18th century. Dr. Popławska explained that Polonez is a very important intangible cultural heritage for Poland, being a symbol of nationality, honor, and unity. In 2015, Polonez Dance was recognized as Poland’s national dance alongside four other traditional dances. In 2019, Polonez was listed as one of the elements of Poland’s intangible cultural heritage and in 2023 Polonez Dance was officially recognized by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Polonez is a unique dance because it harmonizes performing arts with aspects of anthropology and folklore. This dance is not just a tradition or ritual, but a living and dynamic culture in Polish society. Polonez is also often performed at various state and ceremonial events, with costumes varying depending on the region of origin of the dancers. In Kraków, for example, dancers wear royal costumes and traditional clothes that reflect the nuances of Polish history.

In relation to the SDGs, Dr. Marzanna Popławska also emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage such as Polonez Dance in a global context, especially in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, Polonez Dance contributes to the achievement of SDG 11, namely “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, which aims to protect and maintain the world’s cultural heritage as part of the sustainability of communities and cities. Polonez Dance as an intangible cultural heritage has a vital role in maintaining the cultural identity of a nation while promoting togetherness, equality and harmony in its society. With its characteristic slow movements, Polonez Dance has signaled the values of honor, cooperation, and unity needed in the era of globalization. This is also in line with SDG 4, namely “Quality Education”, where the preservation of traditional culture provides a rich education about history and cultural identity to the younger generation, both at home and abroad.

In conclusion, this workshop not only successfully introduced the beauty and depth of meaning of Polonez Dance to the participants, but also showed how intangible cultural heritage can contribute to the achievement of sustainable global development goals. Through Polonez Dance, people can learn about the importance of appreciating cultural diversity and promoting universal values such as unity, honor, and peace.

The event was closed with an interactive Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to ask more about Dr. Marzanna Popławska’s experience in researching intangible cultural heritage in various countries, as well as how Polonez Dance can continue to be preserved in the midst of modernization and changing times. This workshop inspired the participants to continue preserving and promoting their own cultural heritage, while supporting the achievement of the SDGs through education, cultural preservation, and international collaboration.

Muhammad Lodhi Firmansyah
Photo: Puspita Nindya Sari
Translator: Sandya Kirani