The Journal Management Team of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Mid-Year Monitoring & Evaluation of Journal Management & Accreditation Preparation which was held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 9 am to 1 pm in Room R. Soegondo 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. On the agenda, the Journal Bureau of FIB UGM discussed matters regarding FIB journals that have been indexed by Garuda national, projected targets in 2025 so that all FIB journals are SINTA accredited, plans for Scopus resubmission poetics in 2024 and the end of 2025 Humanities, and appeals to new journals to keep running consistently. In the discussion led by the FIB UGM Journal Bureau, journal managers highlighted the importance of expanding the reach and quality of their publications to meet national and international accreditation standards. 

The projected target to achieve SINTA accreditation by 2025 was the main focus, with concrete efforts to increase the indexation of journals on the Garuda platform. The poetic planned to resubmit to Scopus within this year and focused on the Humanities by 2025 was a crucial strategy in reaching global markets and increasing the visibility of research in the humanities. The call for new journals reflected a commitment to fostering sustainability and quality in publication management, as well as ensuring that all publications remain relevant and impactful in the discipline of cultural sciences. This discussion was an important milestone in strengthening the role of FIB UGM’s scientific journals in supporting academic and intellectual advancement at the national and international levels.

SAGA Competition and SAGA Show 2024 are activities presented by the Postgraduate Arts Division of Universitas Gadjah Mada as a means to channel interests and talents in the arts. SAGA Competition and SAGA Show 2024 itself is a collaboration of 5 divisions in the Postgraduate Art Division of Universitas Gadjah Mada. The SAGA Competition itself competes in painting and photography, while the SAGA Show will feature dance, music, and theater. Both activities were held on the same day and for the SAGA Competition was carried out this afternoon and in the evening we will both witness the talent of UGM students. This activity was held on the 2nd floor of the Auditorium room, Campus V, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Kota Baru, Yogyakarta on June 9, 2024.

Approximately 3 months had been prepared for this activity, starting from the open recruitment stage, the inaugural meeting, talent training, until tonight we will present what had been prepared so far. The involvement of students in these 2 activities is not only limited to UGM S2 and S3 students, but there is also an important role from friends from the Vocational School and also friends from S1. Not a few students from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences joined and played important roles such as theater talents, dance talents, event committees, and so on. In the event, they performed their best. The activity also made them closer to each other even though they are from different majors.

Gadjah Mada Theater is one of the Student Activity Units under Gadjah Mada University. Its various sub-fields include acting, backstage (including lighting, costumes, makeup, and props), writing, and production. As part of the student activities at UGM, Teater Gadjah Mada acts as a place to channel talents and interests in performing arts. TGM actively contributes to the development of theater arts through performing arts activities and self-development. This process involves various competencies such as production, stage management, and stage art creation.

In line with its goals, Teater Gadjah Mada organizes their annual event, Studi Pentas, in order to be a means of education, improving social skills, and creativity for new members of Teater Gadjah Mada. The Gadjah Mada University students involved in the project come from various levels and study programs from various faculties at Gadjah Mada University, one of which is the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. Not a few students from the faculty joined and played important roles such as the main actor, director, treasurer, and so on. In this activity they performed their best. The activity also makes them closer to each other even though they are from different majors.

The Association of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Graduate Students at Universitas Gadjah Mada (IMABTA UGM) together with the Indonesian Students Association for the Middle East and Africa (PPIDK Timtengka) successfully organized the KBTT Expo: Sharing Session on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 16:00 online. The event featured two speakers: Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., Head of the Intercultural Department at UGM, and Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., Secretary of the Intercultural Department at UGM. Participants included students from Indonesian universities and several universities in the Middle East, namely Egypt and South Africa. They were very enthusiastic about the event, as evidenced by the many questions asked during the Q&A session.

The goal of the KBTT UGM Expo: Sharing Session was to provide detailed information and understanding to students, both in Indonesia and the Middle East, regarding the application process, courses in the KBTT UGM Master’s program, and scholarship opportunities. Prof. Sangidu mentioned that the requirements and application procedures can be accessed through the website um.ugm.ac.id. The KBTT UGM Master’s program has collaborated with several universities in Egypt, giving students the opportunity to participate in student exchanges with institutions such as Suez Canal University, Ain Shams University, and Benha University. Regarding the courses, Dr. Mahmudah presented the graduate profiles and research prospects in KBTT UGM. In the future, students in the program will not be limited to literary or linguistic studies but can also engage in intercultural studies, examining culture through the disciplines of anthropology, philosophy, or Islamic studies.

UGM Anthropology Department collaborated with Faculty of Social Science Chiang Mai University (CMU) Thailand to Organize Summer Course “Knowledge Enhancement Program” from June 8-14, 2024. The program, attended by 9 CMU students from Myanmar, China, Japan, Thailand, and 8 UGM Anthropology Department students, included activities such as lectures, fieldwork at three locations in Yogyakarta (Panggungharjo Village, Kaliurang, and Kali Code Village), and presentations of field findings.

The Summer Course aims to provide CMU and UGM students the opportunity to explain the conditions of their respective countries, particularly regarding economic, environmental, social, or cultural aspects of regional economic development. This is expected to foster sensitivity and critical thinking towards everyday issues through participation in field activities. Additionally, the program seeks to offer opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students and scholars from ASEAN countries to exchange and share their knowledge and culture with fellow students and academics, fostering inter-university regional relationships.

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, 9 CMU students arrived in Yogyakarta accompanied by Dr. Putthida. On Monday, June 10, 2024, the Summer Course was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM, Prof. Setiadi, followed by lectures from UGM Anthropology lecturers: Zamzam Fauzanafi, Ph.D., Prof. Pujo Semedi, and Dr. Pande Made Kutanegara, who provided an overview of the three fieldwork areas.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2024, CMU and UGM students, accompanied by Agung Wicaksono, Ph.D., and Dr. Putthida, began fieldwork in Panggungharjo with the topic “The Development of Yogyakarta’s Peri-Urban Regions.” At the site, students conducted observations and interviews with local residents about the changes in Panggungharjo over time, from land use changes to waste management innovations by the Panggungharjo Village Government, which has become a model for public service management.

The fieldwork continued to the second location in Kaliurang, specifically in Padukuhan Kaliurang Timur, with the theme “The Wealth and Poverty in Rural Yogyakarta.” Similar to previous activities, each CMU student was paired with a UGM student as a translator. In Kaliurang, participants received materials on the causes and impacts of poverty experienced by the local community and visitors.

On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Summer Course participants continued fieldwork in Kampung Kalicode. There, they met with Pak Totok, a tour guide, who explained the history of Kampung Kalicode. This fieldwork focused on the theme “Inter-Ethnicity Relations in Yogyakarta City,” observing the dynamics and relationships between ethnic and religious groups in Kampung Kalicode.

To conclude the Summer Course, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, students were asked to present their findings from the fieldwork. Each student offered their perspectives and reflections based on what they discovered in their country and fieldwork areas. Dr. Putthida, who accompanied the CMU students, hoped that the UGM-CMU Summer Course would contribute significantly to national and regional efforts toward development and tolerance of socio-economic, political, and cultural diversity, which are key to successful regional integration.

Authors: Bety Oktaviani & Vincamira Tasha Florika