Yogyakarta, 19/8/2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), opened the 2025/2026 academic year with a warm and meaningful gathering between Academic Supervisors and their students. This event served not only as an academic briefing but also as a space to strengthen personal connections, ensuring students have a clearer roadmap for their journey at Arabic Study Program UGM.

The Academic Supervisors personally greeted their mentees, fostering closer communication and interaction. The session continued with a review of students’ credit achievements (SKS) and a reminder of the academic credit system, encouraging students to design effective learning strategies for the semesters ahead. In addition, the supervisors introduced students to the projection of their final projects, giving them an early picture of the possible paths they could take in preparing for their culminating academic work.

Beyond academics, students were reminded of the importance of building a professional digital footprint during their time at UGM. They were encouraged to utilize platforms such as LinkedIn to record achievements, experiences, and personal growth. This simple yet strategic step is expected to lay a strong foundation for future careers while supporting the university’s Key Performance Indicators (IKU).

In line with this, the meeting also highlighted opportunities offered by the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, which enables students to strengthen both hard skills and soft skills through experiential learning beyond the classroom.

The session concluded with an emphasis on nurturing student achievement. The Arabic Study Program reaffirmed its commitment to fully supporting students in developing their potential—both academic and non-academic—so that they may grow into graduates who are excellent, competitive, and ready to contribute meaningfully to society.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

A youth-led, non-profit organisation, AIYA seeks to improve the connections between young Australians and Indonesians as well as the opportunities that exist between Australia and Indonesia through cultural and language exchanges, professional programs, and more. AIYA has chapters active in Australian states and territories, and also in Indonesia, including one in Yogyakarta. At the national level, AIYA is governed by an executive committee of early-career professionals.

Bathari Sekar Dewangga, also known as Atha, an English Literature student, secured an internship as an educational events organizer at AIYA. Atha went through two stages of selection for this internship at AIYA. The first was application screening/review, and the second was an interview. Since AIYA is an international organization, in the interview, she had to position herself as a delegate/representative of her country and have a mindset to grow, learn, be tolerant, and understand others.

As an education event officer, Atha’s main task is to organize language exchange events, starting from brainstorming topic ideas and questions related to the chosen topic, compiling event rundowns, surveying places to hold events, becoming MCs and facilitators during the event, and being an intermediary between AIYA and outside parties who want to collaborate with Education AIYA. Not only that, but sometimes Atha also assists the socio-cultural division in running events.

She also served as a link between AIYA and the external parties. Moreover, being part of AIYA allowed her to see the world through different perspectives, appreciating cultural differences and learning to manage her schedule more effectively, especially while balancing academic commitments and preparing for her community service (KKN). At first, she only wanted to strengthen her English skills and make global connections during her internship with the organisation. But she ended up with more than she had needed. She became more proficient in communication, time management, and decision-making. 

Meeting new people and learning about their cultures and languages at each event was both exciting and thrilling for her. Through collaboration, she gained experience in a professional environment and built her career path. “My participation in this organisation has increased my interest in pursuing an overseas job, getting a master’s degree, or establishing a career in Australia,” she shared.

Yogyakarta, 16/8/2025 — On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the Closing of the Translation Workshop and Author Talk of A Very Faint Light Though by Choi Eunyoung. The event took place at the Soegondo Building Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM, attended by workshop participants, UGM students, and the general public.

The program began with the closing session of the translation workshop, which had been previously conducted. In this session, all participants received certificates of participation and books as a token of appreciation for their involvement. This event was held in collaboration with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea) and received support from PT. Taekwang Indonesia.

Following the workshop closing, the event continued with a talkshow featuring Choi Eunyoung. During this session, Choi Eunyoung was introduced to the audience along with her published works. The talkshow proceeded with a lively Q&A and quiz session. Participants’ enthusiasm was evident through the many questions raised, and as a form of appreciation, those who actively asked or answered questions were awarded free books.

As the final part of the event, the series concluded with the presentation of souvenirs from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, group documentation, and a book signing session by Choi Eunyoung. Through this event, participants not only gained academic experience from the translation workshop but also the opportunity to engage more closely with the author and contemporary Korean literature. The event marked an important moment in strengthening appreciation for Korean literature while also fostering greater interest among students and the wider community in translation practice and translated works.

Author: Sherina Azmi A

Yogyakarta, 15/8/2025 – The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada, recently held an internal meeting as an initial step in the process of applying for Excellent Accreditation. The meeting, which took place on Friday, August 15, 2025, was attended by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum., lecturers of the Master’s Program in Literature, the accreditation team, as well as administrative staff of the program.

During the meeting, Prof. Wening emphasized the importance of synergy between lecturers and students in supporting the accreditation target. She encouraged lecturers in the Master’s Program in Literature to continue advancing their academic positions. “The promotion of lecturers, either to associate professor or senior associate professor, is one of the key indicators in accreditation assessment. It also reflects our commitment to maintaining academic quality,” stated Prof. Wening.

In addition to lecturers, student contributions were also highlighted. Prof. Wening underscored the need for increasing scientific publications by students of the Master’s Program in Literature. According to her, publications are not only essential for accreditation but also for the development of students’ academic careers. She expressed hope that students would be more active in writing articles and publishing them in academic journals, with support from the program through scientific writing workshops.

Prof. Aprinus Salam also provided strategic input regarding steps that could be taken by the accreditation team and the academic community in achieving Excellent Accreditation. The meeting took place in a dynamic atmosphere, with active discussions among lecturers, the accreditation team, and staff, all showing great enthusiasm, exchanging ideas, and offering constructive suggestions to strengthen the program’s preparation.

The meeting is expected to be a solid starting point for the Master’s Program in Literature in preparing for Excellent Accreditation. With the support of lecturers, students, and staff, the program is optimistic about achieving Excellent Accreditation as a form of recognition for the quality of education, research, and scholarly contributions it has produced. As a follow-up, the program plans to organize a series of academic activities to enhance research and teaching quality. One of these is a scientific writing workshop for Master’s students, which is expected to produce high-quality publications in reputable journals and contribute significantly to the advancement of knowledge as well as the academic reputation of the program.

Author: Marsya Kamila/Public/Public Relations, Master’s Program in Literature

Yogyakarta, 19/8/2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) held a special inaugural lecture for the new undergraduate students of the 2025 academic year. The event featured the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., who presented on the theme “Healthy Relationships, Strong Minds, Enthusiastic Learning.”

In her presentation, Prof. Wening introduced her book titled “Healthy Relationships,” which is based on the principles of positive thinking, collaboration, and inclusivity. She emphasized that collaboration is the key to mutual progress, while inclusivity means involving all parties without exception, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, remote areas, and friends with disabilities. She asserted that healthy relationships should not only be applied among students but also between lecturers and in external collaborations such as community service and internships.

Furthermore, Prof. Wening highlighted that diverse backgrounds could lead to conflicts or violence, making awareness of justice, equality, and democracy crucial for creating a safe and comfortable academic environment. She elaborated on various forms of violence that need to be watched out for, ranging from verbal, psychological, sexual, symbolic, to intellectual violence.

During this occasion, Prof. Wening reminded the new FIB students that their selection from a large pool of applicants is a significant achievement, but it must be accompanied by humility and respect for others. She emphasized that UGM should no longer be known for the term “killer lecturers,” but rather as a University that upholds healthy relationships.

The event was interactive, featuring a question-and-answer session between the new students and Prof. Wening. The discussion was lively, with questions coming from various majors within FIB. The critical inquiries from students enriched the collective understanding of the importance of building healthy relationships in both academic and social life.

The inaugural lecture concluded with a collective call to build awareness in creating security, comfort, and a positive learning spirit. It is hoped that all new FIB UGM students can embark on their academic journey with strong minds, healthy relationships, and a sustainable enthusiasm for learning.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this event underscores the importance of access to education and the establishment of basic living standards. By fostering an inclusive academic environment, UGM aims to ensure that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, have access to quality education and the necessary support to thrive.

Prof. Wening’s emphasis on collaboration and inclusivity resonates with the SDG goal of ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, as well as the need for development assistance in underprivileged areas. By addressing these issues, UGM is not only contributing to the academic growth of its students but also to the broader societal development.

As the new academic year begins, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM is committed to nurturing a culture of respect, understanding, and collaboration among its students and faculty. This commitment is essential for creating a conducive learning environment that promotes personal and academic growth.