The Arabic Language & Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has successfully held the ‘Festival of Arabic Culture (FKA) 2024’ which took place from 18 to 20 October 2024. This annual festival is a celebration of Arabic culture with a series of interesting events, such as national level competitions, FKA Talks, Arabic Market Day, and the “Arabian Night” theater performance. 

# FKA 2024 National Competition

The national competition held on October 18, 2024 involved participants from various categories, ranging from high school students to university students and the general public. This competition aims to spur the enthusiasm of the younger generation in mastering the Arabic language and culture. The categories contested include:

1. SMA/MA/equivalent category:  

   – Taqdimul Qishoh (Storytelling)  

   – Arabic Language Olympiad  

   – Calligraphy  

2. Student Category:  

   – Arabic Debate  

   – Presentation Essay  

3. General Category:  

   – Musabaqah Qira’atul Kutub (MQK) 3.  

   – Videography (conducted online)

# Arabic Market Day: A Celebration of Taste and Music

From October 19 to 20, 2024, “Arabic Market Day” enlivens the atmosphere with a bazaar featuring a variety of Middle Eastern delicacies. The event came alive with musical performances from local bands that entertained visitors throughout the day. The food and beverage stalls were packed with participants and the general public who wanted to get a taste of the Arabic market.

# FKA Talks: Inspiration from Outstanding Students

One of the most anticipated events was “FKA Talks”, held on October 19, 2024 at Soegondo Building, Faculty of Arts UGM. With the theme *”Ideas and Perspectives of Students with Character towards Development and Change in the Era of Disruption ”*, five talented students provided insights related to social, psychology, and education. Their innovative ideas and critical perspectives were enthusiastically welcomed by the participants, creating an in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities in this modern era.

# Theater “Arabian Night”: The Starry Story of the Sahara

The festival concluded with a spectacular theater performance of “Arabian Night” that took place on the evening of October 20, 2024. Set under a starry sky, the performance blends Arabian culture and the local richness of the archipelago. The theme “Gemintang Padang Sahara di Ambara Nusantara” successfully brought the audience into a magical and enchanting atmosphere, with a message of friendship and togetherness packaged in a captivating storyline.

The event was the culmination of the 2024 Arab Cultural Festival celebrations, which not only celebrated cultural diversity but also connected various elements of creativity and achievement at the national level. With great enthusiasm from participants and visitors alike, the 2024 Arab Cultural Festival once again demonstrated the important role culture plays in strengthening relationships across communities and promoting pride in diversity.

Yogyakarta, October 16, 2024 – The Master of Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held a Public Lecture and Book Launch with the theme “Revealing the Veil of Trauma and Memory in Literature” on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The event took place in Room S709 Soegondo Building, 7th floor of the Faculty and was attended by academics, students, and literature lovers.

The event began at 08.30 WIB with a public lecture session that explored the important theme of trauma and memory in literary works. This topic discusses how literature can be a medium to reveal traumatic experiences and collective memory in a social and historical context. The participants seemed enthusiastic in attending the lecture and discussing with the speakers.

Not only a public lecture, this event was also coupled with the launch of four new books that will soon be published. The books include:

1. Being Women in Literature  
2. Indonesian Postcolonial Literature 
3. Trauma and Memory Literature  
4. Popular Literature with a Sociological Approach

The launch received high appreciation from the participants because the books present new and important perspectives in the study of literature in Indonesia, especially related to social issues, trauma, and memory.Despite the limited quota of participants, the event was successful and provided deep insights for all participants who attended. Many of them hoped that similar events could continue to be held as a venue for critical discussions about literature.

“This public lecture provided a very interesting perspective, especially on how literature can deeply represent trauma and memory. The books launched are also very relevant to current social issues,” said one of the participants. With the success of this event, the Master of Literature Program at Faculty of Arts UGM once again proved its commitment in encouraging innovative and impactful literary studies for the academic community and the public.

Yogyakarta, October 17, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again welcomed educational visits from two schools, namely SMAN 1 Pagak, Malang, and SMAN 1 Glenmore, Banyuwangi. The event that took place in the Auditorium of Soegondo Building was attended by students and accompanying teachers, with the aim of introducing the world of higher education, especially UGM and Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

In his speech, the representative of SMAN 1 Pagak, Mr. Wawan Harjito, explained that the vision and mission of this visit was to explore as much information as possible about Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, in order to give insight to the students about the study programs offered. Meanwhile, a representative from SMAN 1 Glenmore, Mr. Satrio Hario Utomo, mentioned that UGM is a top university, not only in Yogyakarta and Indonesia, but also in the world. He hoped the students would be inspired to continue their education at this renowned university.

What made this visit special was the presence of lecturers and student representatives from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Faculty of Arts UGM, who gave a presentation on the introduction of the study program to the students. In their presentation, they explained the curriculum, academic activities, and opportunities that students can get while studying in this study program.

The Q&A session was interactive, with students asking questions about career prospects for graduates of the Korean Language and Culture program. One of the questions asked was what percentage of graduates of this study program managed to get a job. The faculty explained that all graduates are required to fill out a survey to report their workplace, so that the faculty can monitor the progress of graduates. “Alhamdulillah, the results are satisfactory,” replied Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S, M.A, Ph.D as the lecturer who presented the material. He emphasized that many graduates have successfully entered various job sectors.

Students also asked how to balance language and culture learning, as well as opportunities to study in Korea through student exchange programs. The study program explained that the balance between language and cultural studies is taught comprehensively, and there are many opportunities to join exchange programs in Korea for outstanding students.

The event ended with a group photo and expressions of gratitude from the students and teachers who felt the visit provided valuable insights into their educational future. This visit is expected to motivate the students to continue their higher education and open their minds about the various study opportunities offered by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

Yogyakarta, October 15, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) received a visit from MAN 2 Cianjur on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The event took place in the Auditorium of Soegondo Building, FIB UGM, attended by students and accompanying teachers from MAN 2 Cianjur. The activity began with an official opening, followed by the presentation of the vision and mission of the visit by the school. They expressed the hope that this visit can provide a deeper insight into the role of universities, especially UGM, in the field of cultural sciences and the contribution of students in society. 

After that, the participants were treated to a video that introduced Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. To enliven the atmosphere, the event continued with a quiz session about the information that had been conveyed in the video, which was greeted enthusiastically by the students. They actively answered the questions posed and competed healthily in a spirited atmosphere. Continuing to the main session, the students received a more in-depth presentation about FIB UGM. The question and answer session was interactive, where the students did not hesitate to ask about student life at FIB UGM, how they are involved in cultural preservation, and how students maintain religious values in the campus environment.

Uniquely, after the official event ended, the students carried out an assignment from their teacher to interview students of FIB UGM. The questions asked revolved around the role of students in preserving culture and religion. This task aims to make students not only listen to the material, but also directly interact with students to get a more real and personal perspective, and MAN 2 Cianjur gave a token of gratitude to the speakers for the knowledge and experience that had been shared. This activity not only provides academic insights to students, but also instills the importance of cultural and religious preservation in everyday life, especially among the younger generation.

Yogyakarta, October 15, 2024 – TUESFORIA, an exciting collaboration event between *Creative Day* and *Panggung Kansas*, was successfully held and captivated the attention of many students at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada. Located in Soegondo Courtyard, the event, which took place starting at 16.00 WIB, became a place of artistic expression and creativity for students who wanted to unwind in the midst of busy academic activities.

Organized by the Ministry of Creative Economy, Ministry of Interest and Talent, Abra Nirmala Cabinet, TUESFORIA offers a variety of interesting activities. The ‘Bead Knotting’ and ‘Clay Painting’ workshops were the highlights, where participants had fun creating with art materials while being accompanied by a refreshing afternoon atmosphere. These two workshops not only attracted participants because of their affordable price-only Rp 10,000-but also because they provided practical experience in producing artworks.

Photobooths with interesting backgrounds also became one of the visitors’ favorite spots. Students who attended captured their moments with friends, creating beautiful memories of this event. In addition, a number of FIB student tenants offered creative products that made the atmosphere more lively. Visitors can enjoy food that also enriches the event with the nuances of creative entrepreneurship.

The highlight of the event was the amazing performance of the Panggung Kansas talents, who mesmerized the audience with music and art stage acts. Melodious voices and energetic music filled the area, creating a warm and energetic atmosphere. Students in attendance seemed to enjoy every moment, singing along and clapping along to the beat.

The success of TUESFORIA cannot be separated from the full support of LEM FIB 2024 and the extraordinary spirit of student participation. This event is clear evidence that art and creativity collaboration can be an effective means of building togetherness and expressing oneself. With the success of this event, many participants hope that TUESFORIA can be an agenda that continues to be developed, as a space for gathering, expressing, and sharing creativity between students. “This event is very exciting! I hope it can be held again next year with more creative activities,” said one of the participants enthusiastically.