Yogyakarta, 26/8/2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, proudly graduated 35 students at the Undergraduate and Diploma Graduation Ceremony for Period IV of the 2024/2025 Academic Year. This milestone marks a special achievement for the program, as it is the highest number of graduates produced in a single academic year.

At this ceremony, the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) among Arabic Study Program graduates was achieved by Amalia Faradilla, S.S., class of 2021, with a remarkable GPA of 3.92. Her accomplishment stands as a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and consistency throughout her undergraduate studies in Arabic Study Program at UGM.

Meanwhile, the fastest completion of study was recorded by Nada Utami Rianti, S.S., class of 2021, who successfully completed her undergraduate education in only 3 years, 9 months, and 11 days—a noteworthy achievement that reflects both discipline and academic excellence.

This graduation serves as a historic milestone for the graduates, who have completed a transformative journey of learning, research, and community engagement. The presence of these graduates reaffirms the program’s commitment to producing outstanding scholars in the field of Arabic language, literature, and culture—graduates who are well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to society.

Congratulations to all graduates of the Arabic Study Program UGM! May this achievement be the first step toward a brighter and more impactful future.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

The English Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences recently hosted a seminar on academic ethics and the integrity of scientific work. Held as part of a series of welcoming activities for new students, the event’s goal was to equip them with the essential knowledge needed for responsible academic writing.

The seminar featured speakers Mia Riane Bird and Ella Eardahl, fellows from Oberlin Shansi, an organization dedicated to fostering cross-cultural understanding between Asia and the United States. Their participation offered valuable, real-world insights for the students.

Mia and Ella addressed crucial topics in the academic landscape, including the definition and various forms of plagiarism, practical strategies for avoiding it, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) in writing. They provided students with actionable tips and tricks for processing information correctly, such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and using quotations.

A key takeaway was the emphasis on using AI as an ethical tool, not a replacement for original thought and critical thinking. The speakers underscored that while technology can assist in the writing process, it should not compromise a student’s originality.

By holding this seminar, the English Literature Study Program aims to ensure its new students begin their academic journey with a strong foundation in ethical practices, a commitment to originality, and the skills to responsibly utilize modern technology.

Author: Rifqi Wahyu Ilham

Yogyakarta, 21/8/2025 – The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS), in collaboration with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), held the 2025 NGO Fair at the Greenland Courtyard of the Margono Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Gadjah Mada University (UGM). The event ran from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM and was open to students and the general public.

This event aimed to introduce various organizations and communities in Yogyakarta and provide opportunities for students interested in volunteering or participating in internship programs. More than 20 organizations were in attendance, including Animal Friends Jogja, Rifka Annisa Women’s Crisis Center, WALHI Yogyakarta, Trash Hero Yogyakarta, the SATUNAMA Foundation, and several other communities and empowerment institutions. Through this activity, students were expected to not only learn about social, environmental, and humanitarian issues but also take an active role in making a real impact on their communities.

ACICIS has been strengthening Indonesia-Australia relations in education and culture with various partners for over 30 years. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), is one of ACICIS’ partners, facilitated by the Faculty’s Supporting Work Unit, INCULS, which focuses on teaching Indonesian Language and Literature (BIPA).

Through activities such as the NGO FAIR, ACICIS and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), hope that this collaboration will continue and have a positive impact on the wider community.

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.