Friday, November 8, 2024 The Cultural Anthropology Student Family (KEMANT) UGM held a discussion session in Rembukant#4 entitled “Navigating the Journey: Building Self-Awareness of Positioning in Ethnographic Fieldwork”. The event was hosted by Keisia Haneswari, a Cultural Anthropology student class of 2022 with Dr. Elan Lazuardi S.Ant., M.A. as the guest speaker. Located in Room 523 Soegondo Building, Faculty of Arts UGM, this event was attended by cultural anthropology students from various generations.

Reflecting on the fieldwork experience of anthropologists, this discussion explored the journey of anthropological researchers which is not always smooth. Awkwardness, fear, rejection, loneliness, and even failure often haunt ethnographers’ fieldwork. Therefore, Rembukant#4 is here to provide a space for anthropology learners to reflect on issues that have not been widely discussed in the classroom.

The discussion opened with a question from the moderator related to questioning the position of researchers when doing fieldwork. The question was then thoroughly discussed by Dr. Elan Lazuardi related to the multiple identities that each researcher brings when in the field greatly affects the relationship between researchers and researchers which will then also affect the ethnographic knowledge produced. In the event, Dr. Elan also shared his fieldwork experience when researching the use of HIV health services, how his identity as a researcher determines his positionality towards his research. By realizing his positionality, the researcher can not only successfully complete his research but also build a reciprocal relationship with his researcher, as stated by Dr. Elan Lazuardi.

In the question and answer session, a number of participants asked questions and shared their experiences when facing confusing circumstances regarding their positionality in the field. After that, the discussion was closed with a group photo which also marked the end of the KEMANT Rembukant series this period.

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Author: Keisia Haneswari, Photo: Hawa Muzayyinah Niswah & Kinanti Rahmi Khoiri, Editor: Sandya]

On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program welcomed guests from PT Rupa Raya and Marumori Company Co., Ltd. Both companies are companies engaged in architectural design of Japanese houses.

PT. Rupa Raya is an Indonesian company founded by Bustanil Yasir in 2022 in Makassar. Although it is an Indonesian company, PT. Rupa Raya is a company that works in the field of Japanese architectural design. Therefore, 100% of the clients of PT Rupa Raya are from Japan. In running the business. PT Rupa Raya cooperates with a company that works in the same field, namely Marumori Company Co., Ltd. Marumori Company acts as an intermediary and ’employer’ for PT Rupa Raya.

PT Rupa Raya, represented by CEO Bustanil Yasir, opened the presentation by introducing the company’s vision and mission to the Japanese Language and Culture lecturers and students present. Then, CEO Bustanil Yasir also explained the flow of work at PT Rupa Raya. Design work is carried out after receiving a house design from Muromari Company. Based on the design, PT Rupa Raya will then produce 2D, 3D, and designs that can be seen using VR (Virtual Reality) technology. On this occasion, PT Rupa Raya also introduced the internship program to the participants.

After the presentation, the activity then continued with a question and answer session about job openings because the arrival of PT. Rupa Raya was also to inform the opening of vacancies that opened on November 1, 2024 related to the opening of their branch in Semarang. After that, various other questions were also asked by the participants. The activity then ended with a group photo.

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Author: Valentina Pramahita Iswari, Editor: Yulia Agustiani]

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Dr. Sita Hidayah Ph.D as the representative in charge of the Independent Campus 2024 Competition Program conducted a half-time evaluation of the implementation of research in Pandansari Village, the discussion which was held in the PTPN IX Kaligua Agrotourism area was attended by ten PKKM research and village development scheme participants. The research scheme participants who had departed earlier on October 9 presented findings related to each topic studied ranging from agriculture, tourism, education, irrigation, and forestry, this progress according to Dr. Sita Hidayah is very interesting and can be further developed into research that has novelty.

As for the participants of the village development scheme, this opportunity will be used to realize a program entitled Waste Management Mapping in Pandansari Village: Solutions Based on the Use of Titen Application. This program will specifically be implemented in Dukuh Kalikidang and Embel, through this program it is hoped that the community can participate in mapping waste management problems in the surrounding environment with the “Titen” software application developed by the Anthropology Department.

Pandansari Village itself is not the first time to become a research locus for UGM anthropology students because of its complex and very interesting agricultural culture dynamics to be studied anthropologically, the results of the research that have been carried out are expected not only to fulfill writing assignments, but also to benefit the local community. By focusing on environmental, economic, and inequality issues, the research seeks to achieve sustainable goals in accordance with SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 15.

[HUMAS FIB UGM, Author: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani, Editor: Sandya Kirani]

Yogyakarta, Monday, November 11th, 2024. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the Regional Planning, Development, Research and Development Agency (Bappeda) of Siak Regency, Riau Province, in the context of planning the development of a Malay cultural center by Siak Regency. The implementation of the activity began at 10.00 WIB to 14.00 WIB in the Multimedia Room Gd. Margono 2nd floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, inviting representatives from Bappeda Siak and a number of lecturers from FIB UGM as presenters.

The activity began with remarks from representatives of Bappeda Siak Regency which were then followed by remarks from the Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., as an opening for FGD activities. Next, the handover of souvenirs as a symbolic series guided by Mrs. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., as Master of Ceremony. The activity was divided into two material sessions, with the first session filled by presenters such as Agus Indiyanto, S.S., M.Si., Dr. Sailal Arimi, S.S., M.Hum., and Dr. Arif Akhyat, M.A.. The second session was then continued by the speakers, namely, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., Dr. Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., and Dr. Widya Nayati, M.A..

The implementation of the Siak Regency Bappeda Focus Group Discussion with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is an important moment of cooperation between the two agencies. FIB UGM through its academics can provide solutions and reference material that can help Bappeda Siak Regency in the plan to build a Malay cultural center.

Yogyakarta, November 6, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) received a visit from Majapahit Technology Islamic Boarding School and SMAK Penabur Harapan Indah on Wednesday morning. The event held at the Auditorium on the 7th floor of Soegondo Building was attended by around 190 students, consisting of 100 students from Majapahit Technology Islamic Boarding School and 90 students from SMAK Penabur Harapan Indah, along with accompanying teachers.

The visit was warmly welcomed by representatives of undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as staff of Public Relations and Cooperation of FIB UGM. In their remarks, teacher representatives from both schools expressed the purpose of their visit, which was to introduce students to the UGM campus environment and explore information about educational opportunities at the Faculty of Arts.

The question and answer session was interactive, with student representatives from Majapahit Technology Islamic Boarding School asking what technology is used in studying culture and the existence of a double degree program at FIB. Meanwhile, student representatives from SMAK Penabur Harapan Indah focused more on asking about the job prospects of graduates and how FIB graduates can compete with other faculties in the world of work.

The event ended with the handover of souvenirs from both schools to FIB UGM, followed by a group photo session. This moment was closed with a casual conversation between students and students, creating an atmosphere of intimacy before the group left the room. This visit is expected to motivate students to continue their higher education at UGM, especially at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences.