Yogyakarta, April 8, 2026 – The Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Hospitality Management in Star-Rated Hotels: Challenges and Opportunities” at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium. The event featured Faradilla, Human Resource Manager of The Alana Yogyakarta Hotel & Convention Centre, as the main speaker.

The public lecture was attended by students of the Tourism Study Program, particularly the 2025 cohort who are currently enrolled in the “Hospitality Studies” course. The event was also open to students from other cohorts interested in exploring the hotel industry.

In her presentation, Faradilla highlighted the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry, especially in star-rated hotels, which continues to evolve alongside changing travel trends and guest expectations. She emphasized that human resource management plays a crucial role in maintaining service quality, as the hotel industry heavily relies on direct interaction with customers.

This activity not only provided practical insights for students but also served as a bridge between academia and industry. Students are expected to gain a deeper understanding of real working conditions in the hospitality sector and better prepare themselves to face future challenges.

Through this public lecture, the Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by offering practitioner-based learning, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging students’ readiness to enter the workforce in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

His family’s financial limitations did not deter Deni from achieving remarkable milestones. Coming from a family of farm workers, he was named the 1st Place Outstanding Student (Mapres) of the Undergraduate Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in 2026. He achieved this success through his persistence in securing various prestigious awards and his dedication to designing inclusive literature concepts for persons with disabilities.

Deni stated that his main motivation stemmed from his family’s condition. Both of his parents only graduated from elementary school. He wanted to prove that financial constraints are not an obstacle to dreaming big. His participation in this prestigious competition was an effort to realize his parents’ dreams while expanding the impact of the social initiatives he is currently developing.

“I dedicate this achievement to my mother and my late father, who, despite having only an elementary school education, managed to send their son to study at UGM with a scholarship,” expressed Deni.

The journey to becoming UGM’s 1st Place Outstanding Student required time and careful preparation. Deni began his preparations during his first semester in the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program with immense gratitude. For five consecutive semesters, this recipient of the Beasiswa Indonesia Maju (BIM) scholarship actively participated in various competitions. He successfully accumulated ten exceptional achievements, comprising six certified international awards and four certified national awards.

The biggest challenge he faced during the Outstanding Student Selection (Pilmapres) was maintaining consistency. Participants in this competition are required to excel academically while building confidence and demonstrating their overall personal qualities. Deni enjoyed the entire process because the existing obstacles actually shaped his mentality to become stronger. He then registered at the exact right time when he felt completely ready.

Deni believes that students have a strategic role as agents of change for society. During his studies, he has been actively involved in empowerment activities. In his field of literature, Deni highlighted the persisting accessibility gap for individuals with hearing impairments in enjoying literary works.

Driven by this concern, he developed a creative idea regarding the development of inclusive literature through poetry learning. He wants literature to become a space for expression as well as a welcoming environment for everyone without exception.

In managing his schedule, Deni applied the SMART method from the beginning of his studies to ensure every target was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This method helped him map out his priorities among his studies, competitions, and other activities on a weekly basis. He applied self-directed learning principles to stay focused on his ultimate goals.

“Identify your priorities and goals, create realistic plans, and enjoy the process. It is better to fail than to never try at all,” Deni advised other students. According to him, readiness can be built every day to welcome various future opportunities.

For Deni, the title of UGM’s 1st Place Outstanding Student in 2026 is a mandate to continue growing and to provide broad meaning to society. He plans to realize his inclusive literature concept through collaboration with various relevant parties so that literacy for deaf individuals can become a tangible reality. He firmly holds to the principle that success requires a consistent process.

“You do not have to be fast to be great; what matters is moving forward with determination,” he asserted.

Deni’s story carries a strong message about the importance of creating equal educational and literacy spaces for all levels of society. The effort to provide fair access for disability groups is a crucial stepping stone in building a just civilization, where every individual has an equal opportunity to develop and contribute to the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

What happens if technology continues to advance regardless of its users’ age?

Undeniably, technology has now permeated various aspects of human life. The rapid expansion of technology, supported by massive infrastructure development for networks and the internet, has made adapting to technology increasingly commonplace. Looking at our own country, it is no longer unusual for children and the elderly to be familiar with smartphones or devices in their daily lives. Technological innovation, which shows no signs of stopping, forces us to keep up with the latest updates regardless of age. This is increasingly evident in the adoption of technology and apps for accessing public services like hospitals. While systems for booking appointments and recording medical records in real-time offer convenience, transparency, and comfort, they often overlook one crucial aspect: the users themselves. Hospital visitors or patients, predominantly the elderly, are forced to adapt without consideration for their specific conditions.

The digital divide—the disparity in access to and adaptation of technology—is often understood as a limitation related to gender, age, or geopolitical factors, and now requires re-examination. Socially, the adoption of technology and digitalization does not always align with the development of supporting infrastructure, particularly among the elderly. This served as the catalyst for the Visiting Lecture “Ageing and Digital Welfare on the German-Polish Border,” held on April 1, 2026. The lecture, delivered by Dr. Katharina Schneider from the Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen Berlin, Germany, shared preliminary findings from field research in a retirement community regarding the responses of retirees or the elderly to digitalization efforts in their lives. The process of digitizing elderly health data, intended to facilitate access and monitoring for the government, private sector, or family members in caregiving, is not without challenges. The reluctance of the elderly to participate in digitization efforts is closely tied to social support and conditions; this is a particular issue in Germany, where many elderly individuals without family must navigate technological adaptation on their own.

Through her observations, Katharina Schneider noted that the conditions of elderly care in Germany and in developing countries in Southeast Asia are starkly contrasting. The willingness to use gadgets or smartphones to support daily life is voluntary, whereas resistance is more commonly encountered among German seniors. Several questions regarding the ideas and methods for achieving the digital welfare envisioned by the state versus the reality on the ground sparked discussion and reflection on future care practices, particularly in developing countries like Indonesia. To what extent can the care provided to our parents and grandparents ensure their well-being in old age?

Author: Okky Chandra Baskoro (Dept. of Anthropology)

Yogyakarta, March 31, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) organized a Syawalan and Halalbihalal event to strengthen the bonds of kinship among the campus community. Various elements of the academic community, including lecturers and educational staff, both active and retired, participated in this Syawalan. The event was filled with various religious and cultural agendas that carried the spirit of togetherness following the fasting month.

The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by a student representative from the Arabic Literature Study Program. It was then followed by opening remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. On this occasion, he invited all faculty members and invited guests to forgive one another to cleanse their hearts and begin a better new chapter.

The main agenda of this commemoration was the delivery of the Syawalan reflection by Professor Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum. He highlighted the history behind the use of the term halalbihalal, which has become a strong tradition for the Indonesian people every time they celebrate Eid al-Fitr. He also explained the symbolic meaning of ketupat through the approach of linguistic philosophy.

“The use of the word halalbihalal during Eid al-Fitr originated from President Soekarno’s request for advice and opinions from KH. Wahab regarding the unhealthy political conditions at that time. KH. Wahab suggested organizing a gathering for silaturahim. However, Soekarno refused because the term was considered too common,” explained Professor Sangidu as he shared his knowledge with the attendees.

In Professor Sangidu’s explanation, the word halalbihalal was proposed as an alternative to the word silaturahmi. History records that this term was born in the middle of Ramadan in 1948 when President Soekarno asked for advice from KH. Wahab Chasbullah to ease national political tensions. KH. Wahab initially proposed a silaturahmi event ahead of Eid al-Fitr, but Bung Karno wanted a fresher designation. KH. Wahab then coined the name halalbihalal, reasoning that political elites who blamed each other had committed sins or forbidden (haram) acts. Therefore, they needed to sit at the same table to forgive each other and “make halal” (resolve) the hostility.

In another explanation, Professor Sangidu also touched upon the philosophy of ketupat, which has become a signature Eid dish. Etymologically, the term “ketupat” or “kupat” is rooted in a Javanese phrase, namely ngaku lepat. This generational phrase literally means admitting one’s mistakes.

The philosophy of ngaku lepat carries a moral message that is highly relevant to the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. The presence of ketupat serves as a reminder medium for Muslims to be magnanimous and cast aside their respective egos. Every individual is encouraged to be brave enough to admit the mistakes they have made toward their fellow human beings.

The series of activities concluded with a prayer recitation session. This closing session was led by Dr. Nur Kholid, M.Pd. to pray for goodness, safety, and blessings for everyone in attendance.

This kind of tradition of forgiving each other and gathering together plays an important role in strengthening social harmony within the academic environment. A harmonious and respectful relationship between individuals is the main foundation for building a peaceful, inclusive, and resilient campus community to support collective well-being in the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, April 1, 2026 – Another remarkable achievement has been accomplished by a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Alma Syahwalani, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, has been selected for the Google Student Ambassador (GSA) 2026 program organized by Google Indonesia.

Out of approximately 81,000 applicants from across Indonesia, only 2,000 students were chosen as Google Student Ambassadors for 2026. Alma is among the representatives from Universitas Gadjah Mada and the only student from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to be selected for this prestigious program. In total, 34 UGM students were selected as Google Student Ambassadors this year.

The Google Student Ambassador program is an exclusive initiative by Google that appoints selected students to represent the company within their campuses. Ambassadors serve as technology leaders and change agents who actively promote the use of digital productivity tools and artificial intelligence innovations, particularly Gemini technology, to support students’ learning and research activities.

Throughout the program, Google Student Ambassadors take on various strategic roles, including organizing workshops, creating AI-based educational content, leading campus technology communities, and assisting fellow students in optimizing the use of Google tools. The program will run for four months, from April to July 2026.

Alma’s achievement is not only a personal milestone but also brings pride to FIB UGM on a national level, particularly in the fields of digital literacy and technological innovation. Her participation is expected to have a positive impact on the campus environment by enhancing students’ understanding and use of digital technology. This aligns with efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through the advancement of digital literacy; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the application of AI and technological innovation in academic settings; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between higher education institutions and the global technology industry.

[Public Relations FIB UGM]