The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, provided training to students, especially the 2023 linguistics master study program on academic writing. The activity was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and was opened by remarks from the Head of the Linguistics Master Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, Dr. Suhandano. He also introduced the speakers and activities that would be delivered by the speakers to students. He expressed his gratitude to the speakers who had been willing to share their knowledge. In addition, he also gave advice to students about the importance of this activity to support academic careers, especially the requirements for thesis exams so that students must take a lot of knowledge from these activities.

The first speaker at the Academic writing workshop was Dr. Badli Esham Ahmad. He conveyed the importance of publishing journals for master students and shared tips on choosing journals to be published, namely as follows: Journals that match the theme of the article, be careful with predatory journals, and the need to pay attention to the open access offered by the journal, whether it is paid or not, what the index of the journal is, and how the review process is. In publishing a journal, what needs to be done first is to complete the journal article first, then search and find a suitable journal as a place for publication of the journal article. After finding a suitable journal, make sure the topic, theme, and scope are appropriate, follow the journal’s provisions, and can also send an email to the editor to ensure the topic or theme of the journal article matches the scope requested by the journal.

The second speaker was Prof. Madya Dr. Kamisah Binti Ariffin (S.A.P.). She motivated the students to stay in the process of writing and publishing journals. Her tips were that first, in choosing the title (topic) of the article, we need to see something that is still less researched on the topic, so that the topic will be interesting and unique, different from the research that has been done. Second, we can search for previous research related to the topic through Google to find out the gaps that are still under-researched from the topic. Third, we must look at the scope of a journal, find the appropriate one, and follow the writing guidelines. The event was closed by handing over souvenirs from the Head of the UGM Master of Linguistics Study Program and a group photo.

On May 17, 2024, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UGM held another offline class in collaboration with the Korea Foundation. Every semester, they routinely organize classes in cooperation with the Korea Foundation. This semester’s offline lecture was the Korean Business course.

Halfway through the semester, Prof. Kim Su-Eun, the course instructor from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, came directly to the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM to conduct the class in person. The lecture lasted for two hours from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM WIB in room 114 of the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM.

This course focuses on the Korean language commonly used in the Korean business world. The material delivered was highly relevant because the instructor is a native Korean speaker. Therefore, this class was organized to enhance the Korean language skills of students in the Korean Language and Culture program, which will be beneficial for their future careers.

A total of 30 students were enrolled in the course. The lecture proceeded smoothly and constructively. As a memento, the program presented flowers to Prof. Kim Su-Eun at the end of the lecture. After the flower presentation, the session continued with a group photo with Prof. Kim Su-Eun, Mrs. Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., the class coordinator, and all the course participants.

Professor of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., along with the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., accompanied the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr. Omar Alansari, the Rector of Qatar University. This collaboration celebration took place on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at Qatar University and was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, HE. Ridwan Hassan.

According to a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Qatar, this collaboration focuses on the enhancement of Arabic Language and Literature and Islamic studies. The MoU includes a series of collaborative initiatives, including the organization of Arabic for Non-Native Speakers (ANNS) at Qatar University, the exchange of professors, lecturers, scholars, and experts between the two institutions, as well as the organization of conferences, symposia, workshops, and joint lectures in the field of Arabic language and literature. Through this collaboration, both institutions are committed to promoting academic advancement in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Universitas Gadjah Mada won the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event. Sarasehan Nusantara XI was held at the State Hindu College Mpu Kuturan Singaraja (STAH N Mpu Kuturan Singaraja) on May 17-19, 2024 offline.  The three-day event raised the theme “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika: Harmony in Diversity” and included various events, such as various competitions, lontar seminars, and the culmination of the event in the form of the awarding night and the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024.

The competitions held during Sarasehan Nusantara XI were quite diverse. There were six (6) competitions, including the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN), the election of Putra and Putri Imbasadi 2024, national typography competition, poetry musicalization competition, cultural poster competition, and cultural documentary video.

The Universitas Gadjah Mada contingent represented by the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) sent eight (8) students to participate in the entire series of events. The eight students included Bima Muslih Wicaksono (class of 2022) as the head of the delegation, Haryo Untoro (class of 2022), Muhammad Siswoyo (class of 2022), Kintan Dewinta Putri (class of 2022), Ganes Larasati (class of 2023), Meifiri Arini Pitaloka (class of 2023), Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy (batch 2023), and Rafif Wicaksono (class of 2023).

After participating in a series of events, the delegation of Universitas Gadjah Mada brought good news by getting several nominations for champions in several competitions, namely:

• 1st place in the Cultural Poster Competition – Meifira Arini Pitaloka

The Cultural Poster Competition illustrates the diverse backgrounds of Indonesian society, namely ethnicity, religion, and race, which live in harmony.

• 1st Runner-up Putri Imbasadi 2024 – Ganes Larasati

The selection of Putra and Putri Imbasadi went through a rigorous selection, starting from filing, talent interest test, public speaking, to the grand final stage. After going through a long series of processes, Ganes Larasati paired with Reidha Prastya from Universitas Sebelas Maret Regional Literature Study Program was given the mandate as the 2nd Runner-up 1.

• 2nd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition – Haryo Untoro and Muhammad Siswoyo

The National Scientific Writing Contest that was written contained the title Representation of Jagat Harmony in Syair Drojogan Wayang Kulit Jawa Timuran Subgagrag Surabaya. This research raised the material object in the form of Drojogan poem, a suluk or sulukan that is developed by a puppeteer before the Surabaya subgagrade Timuran Javanese shadow puppet begins. The disclosure of the language style in the Drojogan poem which contains a description of the means, media, and actors of the shadow puppet performance and its preservation is the focus of this Scientific Paper.

• 3rd place in National Typography Competition – Muhamad Rafi Nur Fauzy

National Typography Competition in the form of a painting of Joglo, a Javanese traditional house, which is decorated with beautiful and precise Javanese script writing. 

• General Champion of Sarasehan Nusantara XI – Universitas Gadjah Mada

In addition to the four competitions above, Universitas Gadjah Mada was crowned the overall champion in the Sarasehan Nusantara XI Imbasadi event.

These achievements are inseparable from the spirit of the students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, in promoting, appreciating, preserving, and enlivening the various cultures that live in Indonesia in a bond of harmony. With the implementation of Sarasehan Nusantara XI and the title obtained, it is hoped that it can spark the enthusiasm of students to continue to maintain and promote existing cultural heritage and can strengthen relations between students of regional literature study programs throughout Indonesia.

Our gratitude goes to all parties who participated in supporting and organizing this event. We also ask for support and blessings so that the Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX activities held at Universitas Gadjah Mada can run successfully.

Indonesia is diverse, Imbasadi unites

Author: Haryo Untoro