Yogyakarta, July 2, 2025 — Muhammad Bagus Ulin Nuha, a 2023 student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, is a student who actively develops his potential in the fields of Master of Ceremony (MC) and public speaking.

Bagus’s interest in public speaking began at an early age. While in elementary school, he frequently participated in Indonesian speech competitions. His talent became even more prominent in junior high school, where he won first place in a speech contest. These experiences became the starting point of his journey into the MC world, which he continues to pursue to this day.

“For me, public speaking is not just about performing in front of others—it’s about learning from your surroundings and constantly improving yourself,” said Bagus.

Although academics remain his main priority, Bagus still makes time outside of class to practice and hone his voice. This commitment has given him considerable experience as an MC. One of his notable experiences was being entrusted as the MC for the Gadjah Mada Festival. He is also active as a volunteer, particularly in the event division.

Beyond MC work, Bagus also explores other forms of performing arts. He once studied dance at FIB and performed the traditional Jathilan dance at the 13th Gugur Gunung event organized by the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program in 2024. He considered this a new step in his personal development journey.

That same year, he was also entrusted to guide the Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 event, which further sharpened his public speaking skills. In addition, Bagus has served as MC for several UGM graduation ceremonies. This year, he was accepted as a part-time student staff at UGM’s Office of Public Relations and Protocol, assigned to the protocol division.

All of these activities align with UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which encourages the development of life skills and vocational training among students. Bagus exemplifies how students can grow beyond the classroom, proving that education is not only about academics but also about shaping character and practical competence.

Furthermore, his experiences in MC and protocol work also support SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by fostering early professional readiness during his studies. Through these experiences, students like Bagus are equipping themselves with relevant skills to face the future world of work.

Bagus emphasizes that everyone can develop their potential, as long as they have the willingness and consistency to grow. He also aims to prove that students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture have many opportunities to thrive in various fields.

“To all my fellow FIB students—get to know your potential and don’t be afraid to try. FIB and UGM provide platforms for us to grow and develop,” he concluded.

[Public Relations FIB, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, July 1, 2025 — Ardhanamesvari Nuringtyas Aji, fondly known as Vari, is a student in the 2023 cohort of the English Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada. Now entering her fifth semester, Vari continues to actively pursue her passion for music, writing, and exploring new creative experiences — all while juggling her academic responsibilities.

Vari’s talent and enthusiasm for music didn’t appear out of nowhere. From an early age, she was introduced to music, and during her junior high school years, she began collaborating with Kak Hamdani, a teacher who is also a music arranger. This creative partnership has continued to this day. Thanks to that connection, Vari was invited to join a music festival project titled Festaland, organized by a BTS fan community called BTS Homeground — a group of BTS-loving mothers who held a self-funded celebration in Prambanan to mark BTS’s comeback.

At the event, Vari performed BTS songs, including the powerful track “ON.” Her appearance was further elevated through collaborations with various performers, such as Key Dance Dynamic, The Seven Percussion, and the Belik drum group from Lombok. In addition to performing BTS songs, Vari also sang an original piece written by Bu Niken, one of the event’s initiators.

Her musical journey didn’t stop in Prambanan. Vari has independently released several original songs now available on digital music platforms like Spotify. Some of the songs the public can enjoy include “Right Time,” “Satu Cita,” “Kita Indonesia,” and “All On You.”

One of her proudest achievements came when she competed in the national song composition competition FLS2N (now FLS3N). Her song “Satu Cita” won first place at the Yogyakarta regional level and received a special award at the national level.

Vari also collaborated with local Yogyakarta musicians, including the band Langit Sore, through songs titled “Cinta Lainnya” and “Selamat Tinggal Sayang.” She also co-wrote “Kita Indonesia” with a fellow event division member named Cinta, which was specially composed and performed in a collaborative performance featuring various UGM student activity units during the Opening Ceremony of PIONIR Gadjah Mada 2024. This song holds a special place in her heart, as it was performed by more than 50 fellow UKM members and watched by over 10,000 participants of Gadjah Mada Muda 2024 at Pancasila Field, UGM.

Beyond music, Vari currently serves as the President of IMAJI (English Literature Student Association). She is also working on an album of original compositions and has recently begun exploring the world of filmmaking after being involved in a film production — a new creative field she is eager to develop further.

Despite her seemingly busy schedule, Vari believes youth is the best time to explore and try new things. “I just simply do the things that I love,” she said. Vari encourages her fellow students, especially those at FIB, to boldly try new experiences without being afraid of what others might think.

“Just go for the things you want to do. Don’t worry about what people say. While you’re still young and have the opportunity — why not?” — Vari

Vari’s story is a true reflection that being a university student does not mean you have to put your creativity on hold. With her exploratory spirit and fearless curiosity, she proves that limits only exist when we create them ourselves.

Her journey also embodies the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in education, creativity, and innovation. By inspiring others to do the same, Vari champions the value of education in developing talent and creativity in the arts.

[FIB Public Relations, Alma Syahwalani]

Amid the surge of technology and the rise of artificial intelligence capable of arranging sentences neatly, Kumala–student of Arabic Literature–chose writing as her path of expression and contribution. “AI-generated writing may be neat, but the emotion and meaning can only come from humans,” she said.

For Kumala, being a student of Arabic Literature is not just about reading classical works or understanding the Arabic language in depth, but also about learning how to voice stories powerfully. Content writing became the medium she chose to bridge theory with practice. She believes that good writing can serve as a bridge connecting emotion, information, and action.

From Interest to Action: How Kumala Began Writing Content

Kumala’s interest in content writing grew alongside her curiosity about the creative process behind content itself. For her, the brainstorming stage is the most crucial. “That’s where it all starts–before the visuals and editing, there’s an idea that needs to be packaged attractively and powerfully,” she explained.

Kumala also brings her academic passion for literature into the world of content. One of her favorite courses is Geoculture and Geopolitics of the Middle East, which opened her eyes to major issues that could be conveyed through writing. “One day, I want to write content that acts as a catalyst to voice issues in the Middle East,” she added.

First Steps at UNAI and Valuable Lessons from One Piece of Content

Although she’s still new to her role as a content writer at UNAI, Kumala has already experienced the challenges of this world. She started by writing carousel content for Instagram, a format that may seem simple but demands high precision. Her biggest challenge? “Finding ideas that are relevant, trending, and emotionally engaging enough to capture the audience’s attention. It’s not easy, but it’s very rewarding,” she said.

Of all the content she has created, her first piece remains the most memorable, not just because it was the first, but because she had to carefully listen to a speaker with an American accent, filter out many sentences, and condense them into a single impactful paragraph. “That’s where I learned how to craft a sentence that truly ‘says something’,” she shared.

The Content Writer as a Communication Bridge

According to Kumala, the role of a content writer is crucial within an institution. “At UNAI, content writing is part of the communications department. So we don’t just create content, we deliver the institution’s messages, vision, and values to the public,” she explained. This shows that good writing isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s also about strategy.

A Message to Students: Dare to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Amid her academic and non-academic commitments, Kumala continues to strive to stay motivated. She holds on to one principle: “The life we live today is the dream we had yesterday. So make the most of it and live it wholeheartedly.”

For students who still hesitate to explore beyond their field of study, Kumala has a message: “Being different isn’t bad. Try as many new things as possible, as long as they don’t harm others or yourself. Don’t reach old age with regret, be a youth who explores, and an elder with stories to tell.”

In this digital era, Kumala believes it’s essential for students to equip themselves with various skills. “We don’t know which skill will open the door to our future career. So don’t be afraid to explore. Technology may be advanced, but we humans must be even more advanced.”

And for fellow Arabic Literature students interested in content writing, Kumala ends with one practical tip: “Write what you think. Set small milestones for your skill development so you don’t get stuck in one place and can keep growing.”

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 12/06/2025 – The Department of Anthropology held a dissertation proposal seminar on June 12, 2025, featuring Tri Isnani’s research titled “The Existence of the Brandu Tradition Amid the Anthrax Outbreak in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).”

The brandu tradition is a community-based fundraising practice in which local residents collectively contribute money to ease the financial burden of livestock owners whose animals are either sick or have died. Livestock holds deep cultural and economic significance for the community. The term brandu originates from minterke anak—meaning “to support a child”—highlighting the role of animals such as cows and goats as a form of savings, often used to finance children’s education, weddings, and traditional ceremonies such as rasulan, ingkung sewu, nyumbang, and others.

However, Isnani noted growing public concern over the anthrax outbreak, which has become a serious public health crisis in the region. The issue has drawn the attention of not only the public but also government bodies and health agencies. In response, Isnani proposed a deeper investigation through the lens of medical anthropology.

Prof. Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A., as Isnani’s main supervisor, and Dr. M. Choirul Hidajat, SKM., M.Kes., both emphasized the need for anthropological research grounded in an emic perspective, employing ethnographic methods in the formulation of health-related programs and policies. They stressed that such an approach is crucial for effective disease control under the “One Health” framework—a multidisciplinary strategy encompassing both prevention and treatment.

The seminar also featured Dr. Elan A. Lazuardi, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology with a focus on health studies. He underlined the importance of researcher positionality in fieldwork. Additional discussants—Ahriyadi Sofyan, Rizqi R., Ayu F., and Dyah Ayu—offered constructive feedback to help strengthen Isnani’s research. The event was also attended by students from the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Anthropology, as well as from the Doctoral Program in Humanities.

In closing, Prof. Dr. Atik Triratnawati reminded participants that doctoral research should arrive at a philosophical understanding rooted in community values—specifically, exploring the deeper meaning behind the brandu tradition. Once such a philosophy is grasped, it can shape the direction of the research more profoundly.

Furthermore, Dr. M. Choirul Hidajat, a researcher at BRIN (National Research and Innovation Agency), highlighted the relevance of anthropological perspectives in medical studies. He emphasized that the novelty of such research lies in anthropology’s ability to interpret health phenomena in culturally grounded ways. “This is crucial,” he said. “Perhaps the true contribution of this study is its potential to offer input into health programs that empower, rather than intimidate, the community—ultimately supporting inclusive program development.”

[Cultural Anthropology, Dewi Widyastuti]

Yogyakarta, June 15, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an inspiring talkshow titled “From Language Major to the Professional World” featuring alumni from the class of 2010. This event was part of the learning series for the course Comprehensive Korean II, aimed at providing students with insight and motivation regarding various career opportunities after graduation.

The 90-minute talkshow featured three alumni who have built careers across different professional sectors. Angela Pehulisa Meliala, currently serving as Head of the Analysis Division for the Indonesia and Vietnam regions at PT Mitra Aktif Adiperkasa, Tbk., shared her career journey that began through a management trainee program. She highlighted the importance of communication skills and critical thinking as essential competencies in the workplace.

The second speaker, Rachmat Aditya Hutama, is now a public servant in the Government of Victoria, Australia. He spoke about how the networks he developed during his studies at UGM—both within and beyond the Korean language field—greatly influenced his career path. Adit also shared tips on accessing essential career-related information, including Working Holiday Visa (WHV) registration, which became the starting point of his international career.

The third speaker, Sukmawati Nur Salamah, currently a civil servant lecturer in the Tourism Program at Universitas Brawijaya, emphasized the need to develop both hard and soft skills beyond language proficiency. She reminded students that there are no shortcuts to success, and that achieving one’s goals requires dedication and effort.

The talkshow was moderated by Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., the course instructor. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of such forums to foster synergy between academia and the professional world. “Talkshows like this are important to broaden students’ perspectives. In the future, we hope to hold similar events regularly, in addition to organizing industry visits,” she stated.

Student enthusiasm for the event was notably high, with many sharing their impressions in the class group chat.

“We gained so many new insights and valuable lessons from this talkshow. It gave us a better idea of what to expect in the professional world, along with helpful career preparation tips. 감사합니다^^”

“Thank you so much for providing us with this opportunity to learn from insightful speakers. I’m so glad I joined!”

“This talkshow truly broadened our horizons. We feel fortunate to have participated in this class and to have gained so much knowledge and experience. 감사합니다! ”

Through this event, students of the Korean Language and Culture Program are expected to become more prepared and confident in navigating the professional world, equipped with both academic knowledge and relevant skills.

[Author: Alfiana]