SDGs 4: Quality Education

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, specifically within the doctoral program in Anthropology, held an open seminar on the results of a PhD dissertation research in Anthropology. This seminar served as the final presentation before presenting the full results of the dissertation. The event took place at Soegondo Building, 7th floor, at 13:00 WIB and was attended by Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A. as the supervising professor, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., Dr. Elan Lazuardi, S.Ant, M.A., and the students. The dissertation seminar was reviewed by Dr. Pande Made Kutanegara, M.Si., Dr. Mohamad Yusuf, M.A., Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant, M.A. The dissertation research conducted by Prima Dona Hapsari was carried out in Dukuh Penaban, Karangasem, Bali. The focus of this dissertation was to examine Balinese lontar manuscripts from an anthropological perspective. The research aimed to explore the emergence, development, factors, and actors influencing the existence of Balinese lontar manuscripts.

According to Prima Dona Hapsari’s presentation, reading lontar manuscripts has been a tradition in Bali’s customary villages. However, nowadays, some people are beginning to abandon this practice due to certain lontar manuscripts being prohibited from being read by the general public. Despite this, lontar manuscripts are still recited during Ngaben ceremonies to ensure that everyone can hear the ritual even if not everyone understands it, as these texts are considered ritual experiences rather than memorization material. However, there is now a movement to reread Balinese lontar manuscripts emerging from both the Triwangsa (Brahmana, Kesatria, Waisya) and Jaba (intellectual group outside the caste system in Bali) groups.

Chronologically, in 2013, the emergence of the Bali Language Care Activists forced the inclusion of Balinese language into the 2013 curriculum. This step was taken to ensure that students could at least be introduced to lontar manuscripts. It is also stated that important actors influencing the existence of Balinese lontar manuscripts include the Bendesa of Dukuh Penaban and Penedun customary villages, as well as the readers of Balinese lontar manuscripts.

After the presentation, there were several responses from discussants and supervising professors. One of them was from Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A., who focused on the content of the dissertation. He stated that the dissertation is an excellent example for future anthropology studies. “This writing actually aligns with the questions in the last presidential debate about culture, that the condition of community destruction due to village tourism,” he continued. In that debate, the question was raised about what policy would be taken to make the community responsive. According to Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A., the answer to this question can be found in this dissertation. He emphasized that this situation represents a cultural murder. “For example, in the Ngaben ceremony, which should be described in more detail. Because within it, there is an anti-structure where the presence of lontar, which I feel is specifically placed in Ngaben, gives rise to a responsive community,” Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A. concluded.

Author: Bonifacius Edo Wisnu Waskita

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

On Thursday, March 28, 2024, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), together with the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Student Association (HMJ Kamastawa), held a sharing session entitled ‘The Existence of Javanese Culture in Foreign Countries’. The event was held offline at the Soegondo Auditorium, 7th floor, at 15.00 WIB until completion.

This sharing session featured two main speakers, Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., and R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., both lecturers of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program with a field of literary studies. Alma Syahwalani and Muhammad Bagus Ulin Nuha also participated as speakers and moderators. The participants consisted of students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program batches 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as other participants who were interested in the existence of Javanese culture in foreign countries.

In the presentation session, R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., and Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., shared their experiences when working on a project organized by the British Museum. The project is a study that departs from a question: is it true that Raffles’ belongings that are now in the British Museum were looted?

“At the British Museum, we found a lot of manuscripts and puppet collections, such as wayang kulit, wayang topeng, wayang krucil, and wayang klithik, to a puppet whose existence has been lost in Java,” explained R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., in his presentation. “This can be an opportunity for Javanese literature students to study and continue their education abroad,” he added.

In line with R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., reviewed research opportunities for students through the perspective of post-colonialism. “The current cultural perspective adopts a post-colonialism perspective. This means that the British Museum gives access to the owners of culture, namely us, to research and study according to their own cultural knowledge and taste.” In addition, he also highlighted the lack of Javanese manuscript experts in the UK. “In the UK, there are various manuscripts and cultures typical of the archipelago, but the scholars are very few and have not experienced significant regeneration,” he explained.

After the presentation session ended, the announcer opened a discussion session and gave participants the opportunity to ask questions of the two speakers. The participants responded enthusiastically. This was evident from the variety of questions asked of the speakers. The last series of events was the closing, with a group photo session to capture the moment.

The Sharing Session event entitled ‘The Existence of Javanese Culture in Foreign Countries’ is expected to motivate and arouse the enthusiasm of students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. “This is to motivate all Javanese Literature friends that departing from pleasure or hobbies, if done seriously, can lead to dreams or ideals, especially about Java, and that opportunities are wide open for all students,” said R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A.

Research and study of the traditions and culture of the archipelago need to be carried out continuously to maintain its sustainability because it is the identity and heritage of the Indonesian nation. Synergy from various parties is needed in disseminating this knowledge to academics and the community so that knowledge and culture are not lost and can continue to be developed in accordance with the times. This is in line with the goals of sustainable development, especially in organizing superior-quality education and establishing partnerships to achieve certain goals.

SDG 4: Quality education | SDGs 4: Access to education | SDGs 4: Education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability 

Universitas Gadjah Mada has made achievements in the Program Kompetisi Kampus Merdeka (PKKM) organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture Research and Technology, Directorate General of Higher Education Research and Technology. UGM study programs that successfully received PKKM funding for the First Year 2024 were Chemistry, Food Technology and Agricultural Products and Agronomy. In this Second Year, the Cultural Anthropology Study Program was the only study program from Universitas Gadjah Mada that was again successful in qualifying to continue the programs that had been carried out in the First Year PKKM 2023. 

The Directorate of Institutions determines 169 study programs / MBKMISS as candidates for the Program Kompetisi Kampus Merdeka Assistance for the Second Year of Fiscal Year 2024. Study program/ISS-MBKM data can be seen in the attachment to the letter sent by the Directorate of Institutions to the Head of Higher Education on the attached list. Then they also congratulated the study programs /ISS-MBKM from the selected universities to continue the second year of PKKM.

Due to the partial blocking of the 2024 PKKM budget by the Directorate General of Budget at the Finance Ministry of the Republic of Indonesia, the effective implementation of the Second Year PKKM Fiscal Year 2024 is estimated to be for 5 (five) months. Previously, the Cultural Anthropology study program in the first year received DIKTI funds amounting to 1,339,964,000. In the second year, data verification is still being carried out for each study program that passes. We congratulate the Cultural Anthropology study program which is part of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences for its achievement in obtaining PKKM Funding in 2024. Hopefully it can develop sustainable innovations for the people of Indonesia.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals

After going through a series of processes, from registration to announcement, it was time for the selected organizers of Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX to meet and interact with each other. The first gathering of the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX committee was held offline on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the University Fire Department garage, from 20.00 to 21.00 WIB.

The first gathering was attended by the entire Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX committee from various divisions, such as events, public relations (PR), creative media, equipment, consumption, business funds (danus), security, sponsors, and liaison officers, as well as student delegates from Universitas Gadjah Mada. In addition, this inaugural meeting was attended by special figures such as Ardhani Indri, a student of the Javanese Language Education Study Program at UNS, as President of Imbasadi for the 2022-2023 period, Zainal Fanani, an alumni student of the UGM Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program class of 2019, as President of Imbasadi for the 2020-2021 period, Nur Laeli Wijayanti (online), an alumni student of the UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2017, as the coordinator of the cultural arts division for the 2019/2020 period, and Vighna Rivattyannur Hernawan, a student of the UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2020, as the Secretary of Imbasadi for the 2022-2023 period and currently serves as a supervisor in Imbasadi for the 2024-2025 period.

This inaugural meeting was not only a place to get to know each other but also filled with briefings and understanding about Imbasadi. Ardhani Indri, Zainal Fanani, Nur Laeli Wijayanti, and Vighna Rivattyanur Hernawan gave a glimpse into their experiences while involved in Imbasadi. Meanwhile, Bima Muslih Wicaksono, chairman of the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX committee, explained the planning timeline and the main programs to be implemented.

As a result of the XXIX Nusantara Cultural Gathering National Conference at I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa State Hindu University, Bangli, on November 8, 2023, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was chosen as the host of the Nusantara Cultural Gathering XXX in 2024. With the selection of UGM as the host of the Nusantara Cultural Gathering XXX, it is expected that the event can run smoothly and provide positive experiences for all participants. In addition, the implementation of Nusantara Cultural Gathering XXX is expected to contribute to the study and preservation of the cultural diversity of the archipelago and remain relevant in the times. Thus, the activity is in line with the sustainable development goals, especially point 4 regarding quality education and point 17 regarding partnerships to achieve goals.

SGDs 4: Quality Education | SGDs 5: Gender Equality | SGDs 5: Empowerment of Women |  SGDs 10: Reduced Inequalities | SGDs 17: Fostering Innovation

Bulan Churniati, an English Department student batch 2021, achieved the Penghargaan Favorit Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM 2024 awards on Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM 2024 event. Before receiving this award, Bulan accomplished many achievements, for example, the winner of Digital Entrepreneurship Hackathon 2023 by held UNESCO UNITWIN in South Korea, the third place in the national competition Publicly Digital Legal Innovation 2023 held by Oleco, dan became the ambassador of Millennial KAMI Foundation x Tjorak Sorai 2023.

Bulan is committed to give her best efforts in everything she does. This strong determination stems from her will to partake in women empowerment. 

“Wong wedok ora usah melu-melu, which means: women are not supposed to intervene. That saying is embedded in my heart and mind. This is the reason I participate in prestigious awards and build a branding around this issue. I just want other women to realize that new opportunities are available to us, and I hope those women will use those chances. I do not want to be the only woman who fights for this, I want to join forces with other women as well.” Said Bulan about her motivation to participate in Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM 2024. 

Bulan went through a long process to prepare herself for participating in this event. The first step she had to undergo was the administration selection. She had to prepare three things on this stage. First, an English proficiency certificate. If the participant does not have an English proficiency certificate yet, they will be facilitated to take the AcEPT test if they pass to the next stage. Second, list of achievements. The limited number of achievements to be included in the list is ten, so the participant should select the best achievements they have. Third, an innovation proposal. In this event, Bulan wrote a proposal titled “In-Eksklusif: Program Peningkatan Kesempatan Eksklusif untuk Pelaku Ekonomi Inklusif”, a program to increase exclusive opportunities for inclusive businesses. This proposal correlates with Bulan’s IT background and humanistic perspective. 

In the faculty selection, the participant will present their ideas and answer questions from the juries in a 30-minute session. One student will be granted the award of Mahasiswa Berprestasi Utama and represent the faculty in the Supercamp event, where they will present their list of achievements and innovation proposals. In this event, the committee will select three winners for three categories: bachelor program, diploma program, and favorite.

Bulan gained valuable insights after participating in Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM 2024, “We have to prepare ourselves to be let down by the results if we are participating in competition. We also have to make sure that we have adequate experiences.”

After winning the Penghargaan Favorit Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM 2024 award, Bulan went back to her daily routine. She is currently working on her thesis, while also still participating in many competitions and positive activities. Bulan said she still wants to try competing in this event, if she has not graduated next year. She also encouraged other students to participate in the Pemilihan Mahasiswa Berprestasi UGM event, “For other students in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, don’t be afraid to send your application! There are not many students in our faculty who are willing to participate in this event. Don’t forget to prepare all the documents early because of the short period of the submission. Always be humble, because being a Mahasiswa Berprestasi doesn’t transform you into the student with the highest position; you are just a representative.”