Yogyakarta, 8/5/2025 – Rr. Rachma Amalia Putri, a student of English Studies Program UGM, was enrolled in Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) 2024. IISMA is a mobility program under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. After a rigorous selection process, Putri was accepted for IISMA at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Lithuania. 

Putri was very enthusiastic for this studying opportunity. “Studying abroad is a stepping stone towards greater opportunities in academics and non-academic fields. I want to get firsthand experiences from the professors, as they are not only experts in their fields but also active practitioners,” she mentioned.

Putri noted that the experience studying abroad was beyond her expectations. At VMU, she took four courses: Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Media and Popular Culture, Creative and Feature Writing, as well as Lithuanian as a Foreign Language A1. Putri enjoyed her learning process, especially due to the dedication of lecturers at VMU. She was also grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with other international students. 

Outside the classroom, Putri encountered many valuable experiences. She joined Kaunas Muslim Sister, a community for muslim women in Kaunas to share their experiences as a minority. During her stay at VMU, Putri was also given the opportunity to share Indonesian culture in Lithuanian schools. She was also appointed as the moderator in the Alumni Day event to celebrate the re-establishment of VMU. Putri and her IISMA fellows also held a charity event to promote Batik, Weaving Cultures: Batik Day and Charity Gala. 

From the exchange at VMU, Putri learned many things: how to survive in a new environment, be independent in any situations, and be an ambassador of Indonesian culture. After graduating, Putri planned to pursue a master’s degree abroad in order to fulfil her dream of being a lecturer, a way to dedicate her knowledge for Indonesia.

[Public Relation of English Literature, Sekar Ajiningsih]

Yogyakarta, 16 April 2025 — The Unit of Public Relations and Cooperation of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM) visited the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL UGM) with the aim of increasing the capacity and insight of public relations. This sharing study activity was designed as a learning and discussion forum focused on best practices in public relations management, social media handling, and partnership collaboration. The event held from 10.00-12.00 WIB.

From the Faculty of Arts UGM, there were seven representatives from the Public Relations and Cooperation Unit who were accompanied by the Head of the Administrative Office Erika Purnawati, S.Kom., M.Cs. While from FISIPOL UGM, the visit was received by Paminto, M.Si, as the Head of Administrative Office who represented the Dean along with two representatives of the media relations division of FISIPOL UGM. The meeting was characterised by a spirit of creativity and innovation, where participants exchanged ideas and experiences that could improve practice in their respective fields.

During the session, participants engaged in discussions on the importance of effective communication strategies in public relations. They explored various methods to enhance outreach and engagement with the public, highlighting the role of creativity in crafting compelling and relevant narratives for diverse audiences.

The discussion also addressed the challenges of managing social media platforms, emphasising the need for adaptability and continuous learning. Participants acknowledged that while social media is a powerful tool for public relations, it requires strategic planning and execution to fully maximise its potential. The event concluded with a Q&A session, where both sides were encouraged to exchange innovative ideas for future partnerships and public relations projects.

Overall, the sharing study on public relations and collaboration between FIB UGM and FISIPOL UGM served as a valuable opportunity to learn from each other’s strengths. The event not only provided meaningful insights into best practices but also fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation among participants. It reflected the commitment of both faculties to enhance their public engagement efforts and to contribute positively to society through effective communication and collaboration.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 6 May 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), officially inaugurated Prof. Dra. Anggraeni, M.A., Ph.D. as a Professor in the field of Prehistoric Archaeology. The inauguration ceremony took place on Tuesday (6/5) from 09.00 to 10.00 WIB at the UGM Senate Hall, attended by family members, academic colleagues, and invited guests from various institutions.

In her inaugural speech titled “Adaptive Strategies in Prehistoric Societies and Their Relevance Today”, Prof. Anggraeni delivered an in-depth reflection on how prehistoric communities—particularly hunter-gatherers and early village societies—developed adaptive strategies to survive in response to various environmental and social challenges.

She emphasised that these strategies were not only shaped by regional trends that occurred thousands of years ago but were also passed down and remain recognisable in contemporary Indonesian life. “Today, we admire the beautiful, colourful woven fabrics, yet few may realise that the art of weaving in Indonesia has roots dating back at least two millennia,” she noted.

Prof. Anggraeni highlighted that weaving patterns and colours are not chosen arbitrarily; rather, they are shaped by collective social agreements that reflect local values and social structures. She cited the Sekomandi weaving tradition from Kalumpang as an example, where the motifs symbolise the human life cycle—from birth to death.

Through her inauguration, Prof. Anggraeni reaffirmed the importance of prehistoric archaeological studies in understanding cultural roots and local wisdom that remain relevant in addressing modern-day challenges. She encouraged the public to appreciate and study cultural heritage as part of a collective strategy toward a more adaptive and sustainable future.

This inauguration marks a significant milestone in Prof. Anggraeni’s academic journey, known for her extensive contributions to prehistoric research and the preservation of Indonesia’s cultural heritage.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 24/4/2025 — The Tourism Study Programme at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), welcomed an academic visit from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Johor, Malaysia on Thursday (24/4). The visit marked a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange and the strengthening of international networks in the fields of tourism and culture.

In a warm and engaging session, both institutions presented their academic activities and flagship programmes. Students and lecturers from both sides shared experiences on curriculum development, industry practices and research, as well as approaches to tourism education.

The event continued with an interactive bonding session. A relaxed atmosphere was created through ice-breaking activities involving all participants, followed by a traditional dance performance by students from Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, which received enthusiastic applause from the audience.

This visit is expected to be the starting point for further collaboration between the Tourism Study Programme of FIB UGM and Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, particularly in future capacity-building initiatives.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 24/3/2025 – On Friday, March 21st, 2025, Keluarga Mahasiswa Antropologi (Kemant) UGM went westward to the Faculty of Engineering, to visit the Library of the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (DTMI). DTMI has been sending invitations to student bodies all across the university to visit their library, to share what they’ve been developing these past few months: a library that provides a comfortable public space for students. The library sits on the southern part of the department building, right next to the parking lot. The space inside it is moderately big, about twice the size of the Anthropology Reading Room on the fifth floor of Soegondo. In front of the entrance, sits a locker for students to put their bags in.  Next to that is the receptionist table, and next to that are rows of tall bookshelves filled all the way to the top. Books of many different kinds can be found; from the typical engineering books about Autocad and metallurgy, to fictional novels and even some biographies. Beside these bookshelves, many students are sitting in an arrangement of tables – some are doing their homework, some are playing board games, and some are merely socializing with each other. The library has a built-in decibel-meter, used to measure the sound level in the room; it beeps loudly when the sound goes over a certain threshold, a reminder to the students to keep it down. Aside from the main room with shelves and tables, the library also holds two isolated rooms – walled up with glass – to serve as meeting/reading rooms, where students who need more silence can go and sit.

Dhika, a third-year mechanical engineering student serving part-time as the library keeper, explained that this vibrant atmosphere is a relatively new experience. Back then, the DTMI Library was a cramped space that seldom held visitors. With dreams of an easy and accessible public space for students, Dhika and a few friends of his then advocated for the improvement of the library. The space was renovated, lifting up the ceiling and widening the interior. The book collection was expanded to hold more kinds of books, not just limited to engineering guides. Some professors also donated to the library’s collection; not just books, but also board games to enrich the place. Another thing that changed was the opening hours. Whereas back then the library was only open during working hours on Monday to Friday, nowadays the place can be accessed by students from morning until night, seven days a week. With these changes, the library became a gathering place where students can spend their time on campus, facilitated by the existence of myriad books and games in the library. The once-barren place is now filled with student activity, and the whole place became more lively.

After the tour, the Kemant representatives were free to explore the library by themselves. Some read the new book additions that haven’t been sorted into shelves, but most tried to play the board games that are available. While accompanying the excited students, Dhika reiterated the point of this visit: spreading awareness to students from all over UGM about the importance of a common space such as the DTMI Library, and to help realize the dream of a public space for students from all faculties and departments.

[Public Relations of Cultural Anthropology, Amadeus Abhirama Paramanindita]