YOGYAKARTA – Students enrolled in the Arabic Gastronomy course held a joint cooking practice at the Soegondo Building Hallway on Thursday, October 15, 2026. This event served as a hands-on opportunity to apply theories of Middle Eastern culinary culture in practice.

The two main dishes prepared during this practical session were samosa and isy baladi. Samosa a triangular pastry filled with spiced meat, vegetables, or cheese reflects the footprint of cultural acculturation along ancient trade routes. Meanwhile, isy baladi, a traditional Egyptian baked wheat flatbread, was presented not only as a staple food, but also as a symbol of food security and social identity deeply rooted for thousands of years.

In addition to honing teamwork, this activity aimed to deepen students’ understanding of spice characteristics and the philosophical values behind Arabic culinary traditions. This interactive practice not only enriched students’ academic literacy in international gastronomy, but also opened up entrepreneurial perspectives on authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.

Author: Syifa Khoirunisa

Yogyakarta – June 27, 2026 – In order to realize Universitas Gadjah Mada’s commitment to serving the interests of the nation and humanity, the Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, consistently supports the efforts of the government and society in achieving a more prosperous and equitable social order. Therefore, to this day, the UGM Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program continues to proactively play a role as a strategic partner to the government in ensuring the success of flagship government programs, especially those related to improving the quality of human resources for prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who will work in South Korea.

Previously, together with the management of LPK Bina Insani MTC and the head of PELBAKORI (Association of Korean Language Training Institutions in Indonesia), a mapping of the problems generally faced by PMIs in Korea was conducted. It was found that despite having sufficient Korean language proficiency, upon arriving in Korea, many of them experienced difficulties in adapting. These problems are not only caused by language barriers but also by a lack of understanding of Korean social and cultural matters. This condition often leads to culture shock, communication misunderstandings, and even impacts work performance and the continuity of the PMIs’ employment contracts in Korea.

Against this background, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, a Community Service (PkM) program entitled “Workshop on Cultural Adaptation and Work Ethics in Korea for Prospective PMIs to Korea” was held at LPK Bina Insani MTC, Yogyakarta. The workshop, attended by 60 prospective PMIs to Korea and LPK instructors, involved five lecturers from the study program as speakers: Achmad Rio Dessiar, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Yuliawati Dwi Widyaningrum, S.S., M.A., Sri Wahyuningsih, S.S., M.A., and Andri Saefudin, B.A., M.A.

In the first session, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. discussed “The Key to Success in Korea is Not Only Working Hard, but Working Smart by Understanding the Culture and Maintaining Personal Dignity”. Then, in the second session, Andri Saefudin, B.A., M.A. presented on “Essential Knowledge for PMIs in South Korea: Rights, Obligations, and Everyday Rules”. This was followed by an interactive discussion between the participants and all attending lecturers.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that all participants will gain a more comprehensive understanding of Korean work culture, including the fast-paced work characteristic (pali-pali), the hierarchical system, workplace communication ethics, the rights and obligations of PMIs, as well as the ability to adapt to the social and physical environment in Korea. This Community Service serves as tangible proof that the Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, does not merely act as a provider of formal education on Korean Studies, but also directly participates in providing solutions to real problems faced by society.

Translation by Alma Naya Kamila

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Department of Cultural Anthropology
organized a fieldwork trip to Wonokerto, Pekalongan, as part of an effort to apply in
practice the theories discussed in class. Participants in this fieldwork included
undergraduate students in Cultural Anthropology taking the course “Maritime
Anthropology,” taught by Dr. Des Christy, and graduate students in Cultural
Anthropology taking the course “Rhetoric of Development,” taught by Prof. Pujo Semedi
Hargo Yuwono, along with a guest lecturer from UIN Pekalongan, Mochammad Najmul
Afad. The fieldwork activity was organized by selecting destinations for the participants
to visit that aligned with the learning objectives set in class.

That morning, while having breakfast, participants were not only provided with
logistical support but also attended a general lecture as part of their exposure to local
knowledge, featuring a local village official who explained the context of Wonokerto
Kulon. Mr. Jodi, a village official, explained several fundamental aspects of the area,
such as its social, cultural, economic, and ecological contexts from the perspective of
coastal life. One of the points Mr. Jodi emphasized most was the tidal flooding that
continues to affect Wonokerto, which in turn impacts the social and economic contexts
of the surrounding community.

The class continued with a visit to the Wonokerto Fish Auction Site. There, the
students directly observed the process by which fishermen auctioned their catch. Dr.
Des Christy, a professor of Maritime Anthropology, gave the students the freedom to
gather data during the assignment, with the goal of producing a descriptive account of
community life. The students employed various approaches, such as participant
observation, interviews, and ethno-photography. For two hours, the students and faculty closely observed the fish auction activities before finally taking their leave to head to the next destination.

The next destination in the series of fieldwork activities was a visit to the
shipyard—an area where ships are “parked” while they are out of service or serving as
a waiting area for vessels preparing to set sail. At the shipyard, students from both the
Maritime Anthropology and Development Rhetoric courses had the primary objective of
exploring the personal lives of the fishermen. The students were allowed to explore the
boats lined up in the parking area, which included various types ranging from
small-scale fishing vessels to large-scale ones. In between exploring the vessels and
interacting with the fishermen, students and faculty were treated to smoked stingray and vegetables, specially prepared by local residents.

The final leg of the fieldwork took place during a brief stop at the Setono Batik Market
area. The students were invited to explore the market area while viewing Pekalongan’s
signature batik fabrics, which embody a strong sense of local identity. Not only were
they invited to explore, but some students also purchased goods from batik artisans as
a form of support for Pekalongan’s batik UMKM community. Purchasing batik also
serves as a means of passing on cultural heritage to younger generations. With a
deeper understanding of batik, this traditional Pekalongan fabric holds its own
significance within the broader cultural landscape. Shopping and browsing for unique
Pekalongan souvenirs brought the entire series of trips and fieldwork conducted by the
students and faculty members to a close, leaving them with many experiences and
joyful memories from every encounter, as well as the coastal ambiance that will shape
their future academic journeys.

Author: Danumurti
Editor: Leonard Dimas

DIKASTRAT of HIMAJE held Benkyoukai Yukata on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Margono Room 204, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event provided students of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program (BKJ UGM) with an opportunity to learn more about yukata, one of Japan’s traditional garments.

During the event, students explored various aspects of yukata with direct guidance from Japanese participants. Through these interactions, students gained a closer understanding of yukata and its role in Japanese culture.

Through Benkyoukai Yukata, BKJ UGM students not only gained new insights into traditional Japanese clothing but also had the opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand. From learning about yukata to having the chance to try one on, the activity offered a memorable experience that enriched the students’ journey of discovering Japanese culture.

Auhor: Sahla Naura Noor Sabrina

Yogyakarta, 26 October 2026 — The Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association (IPPA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to studying archaeology and other related fields in the Indo-Pacific region. Since its founding more than fifty years ago, IPPA has grown into a large community of academics and practitioners from more than 40 countries.

This year, IPPA will hold its 23rd Congress from 1–7 November 2026 at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta. This international congress, organized collaboratively by the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the Cultural Affairs Office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Kundha Kabudayan) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, will bring together approximately 880 participants from 42 countries.

Indonesia previously hosted the 14th IPPA Congress in Yogyakarta in 1990, under the leadership of the late Prof. R.P. Soejono. Hosting the congress in Yogyakarta once again is part of Indonesia’s continued contribution to the development of prehistoric studies and the broader field of archaeology in the Indo-Pacific region. Hosting it in Yogyakarta is also an opportunity to introduce the richness of Indonesia’s cultural heritage to the international community. The IPPA President for the 2024–2028 period, Prof. Anggraeni, stated that Indonesia is honored to have been chosen once again as host of the IPPA congress.

By holding the congress regularly, IPPA seeks to sustain knowledge exchange, promote cooperation in the study of prehistory, proto-history, historical archaeology, civilizations, cultural heritage, and the advancement of culture in the Indo-Pacific region, and uphold standards of research ethics. The series of activities at the 23rd Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association, which will run for seven days with scientific and cultural agendas, will serve as an international scientific forum for discussion, knowledge exchange, and strengthened cooperation.

The 23rd IPPA Congress will begin with a workshop on 1 November 2026 covering geographic information systems, geochronology, bioarchaeology, zooarchaeology, microscopic analysis, and cultural heritage, held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM.

On 2 November 2026, the Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner will be held at Grha Sabha Pramana. The opening ceremony will be attended by several VIP guests, including the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. (Hons) Dr. H. Fadli Zon, S.S., M.Sc., the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, and the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K), Ph.D.

The scientific agenda, in the form of presentations and discussions, will be held on 3, 4, 6, and 7 November 2026 at the Soegondo Building, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, and the University Club Hotel. Participants, consisting of researchers, academics, practitioners, students, and cultural enthusiasts from 42 countries, will present the results of their work in 8 parallel discussion sessions, as well as in a poster exhibition. This congress will cover a wide range of current archaeological topics and issues in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

On 5 November 2026, participants will join the Mid Conference Tour to cultural heritage and archaeological sites, namely Borobudur Temple, the Liyangan Site, the Prambanan and Plaosan Temple Complexes, and the Sangiran Early Man Site. The congress will close on 7 November 2026 at the University Club Hotel.

Alongside the congress, there will also be a book exhibition by reputable publishers and journals from Indonesia and abroad (including PT Kompas Gramedia, Frontiers Media, Periplus, and the journals Antiquity and Asian Perspective), as well as exhibitions of field and laboratory equipment, batik and lurik, and culinary offerings.

Through academic forums, knowledge exchange, and visits to archaeological sites, the congress is expected to broaden understanding of the development of past societies and cultures in the Indo-Pacific region. The event is also expected to create space for interaction between the international scientific community and Indonesia’s cultural heritage, while strengthening collaborative networks for the future development of archaeological research and cultural heritage.

Further information about IPPA Congress 2026 can be found at:

https://www.ippasecretariat.org/ippa2026