Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM participated in a webinar on the Kick-Off of Micro Credential Development for University Leaders through UGM Online organized by the Directorate of Academic Studies and Innovation, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This activity aims to introduce the term Micro Credential which is a certificate or recognition given to individuals after completing a course or learning module that focuses on certain competencies or skills. In conjunction with the learning management system portal through UGM Online, to form a new educational ecosystem to support continuing education and lifelong learning for students and alumni by obtaining online learning resources. Microcredentials that are delivered through the types of online learning classes offered are usually short in duration and highly focused. They are designed to enhance certain skills or master specific competencies to the point of recognition for learning credits.

Microcredentials are divided into six different classes, namely:

• Technical Skills Class
• Professional Development Class
• Soft Skills Class
• Compliance and Regulatory Class
• Entrepreneurship Class
• Industry Specific Classes

Each class is designed with a specific focus to develop different skills. This specific skill development is able to support each individual to deepen their knowledge and insight in a specific focus for career advancement and improve individual competence. Module or course development of micro credentialing modules is developed from courses that are then packaged and reproduced according to the principles of micro credentialing. Lecturers can develop micro credential modules from their expertise, which has strategic value in the community/market to be accessed widely and massively. The module may be different from the material in the course and what is taught to students.

The evaluation and preparation of the BPK Region X Technical POS was held on April 23-26, 2024 at the Solia Zigna Hotel, Surakarta. This activity is part of the 2024 work program of BPK Region X, which in the previous year had compiled POS Technical Activities for several types of main tasks and functions of the working groups within BPK Region X. Participants who attended were all staff from the BPK Region X office from each working group. The activity began with a presentation from a resource person related to the main task of the BPK (Cultural Preservation Center), namely the Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Promotion Objects, especially the Protection aspect which includes Cultural Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Given that the Development and Utilization tasks are currently under the newly inaugurated MCB (Museum and Cultural Heritage) office. On this occasion, material was presented on aspects related to preservation activities in accordance with academic principles and rules according to the scientific field of archaeology. At the beginning of the presentation, the challenges of the field of archaeology in the future, especially those related to the preservation of cultural heritage, the parties who are stakeholders and have an interest in cultural heritage, were presented.

Changes in the scientific paradigm and also the condition of society also affect the scheme of involvement of stakeholders with an interest in cultural heritage. The development of research methods in the academic world needs to be conveyed to the participants in an effort to maintain the scientific spirit of each working group’s activities at the CPC. The presentation was closed with discussion and questions from the participants.

Sunday, January 28, 2024, Lecturer of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum., was present as a guest speaker in one of the Dimyati Podcast episodes entitled, “Manuscripts as a Window to the Past”. Dimyati Podcast is one of the American podcasts that talks a lot about Indonesian studies from art, culture to politics. Manuscripts as one of Indonesia’s traditional cultural products are raised as one of the themes discussed, because the cultural products of manuscripts contain the mindset of the people of that time. The text contained is data and documentation of past culture which, if revealed, we can also benefit from.

In the context of telling the past of Javanese society at that time, the recording of a series of events, recording of treatment, and the values disguised in a story in the manuscript can reveal civilization, thinking, and even the technology used in past life. Various kinds of manuscripts and their functions are briefly conveyed on the Dimyati Podcast. In addition, the podcast tool is also one of the media to raise one of the cultural products such as manuscripts and increase the reputation of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, to be better known internationally.

The podcast video link is as follows:

• Manuscript as a Window to the Past by Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum

Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Archaeology students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM conducted a field study activity with a visit to Istura Gedung Agung or known as the Presidential Palace of Yogyakarta. As a fulfillment of the mandatory Basic Conservation and Restoration course, this visit involved two batches of Archaeology students, Class of 2021 and Class of 2022, totaling more than 70 students who were guided by the Head of the UGM Archaeology Department, Dr. Mahirta, MA… The students each departed and arrived at the location at 08.30 WIB to gather and give directions by the mentors and instructors regarding matters that need to be considered during the visit.

The tour of the visiting group began with an introduction to the outside of the complex building around Istura Gedung Agung such as the guesthouse and the main building of Istura Gedung Agung along with a brief introduction to the three main rooms where the President welcomed guests. Next, the group of students was directed to the museum building, the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace Museum, to conduct an exclusive tour of the museum’s historical object collections with the art object management guide of the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace Museum, Theresa Sekar Wening, who is also an alumni of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Undergraduate Study Program.

While visiting the museum, the group was shown collections of art objects painted by famous artists such as expressionism or abstract paintings by painter Affandi Koesoema as well as a number of ceramic pottery artifacts, necklaces, and others. Not only seeing paintings and historical artifacts, the students also analyzed the conservation methods and techniques of historical objects according to the objectives of the courses studied. Through interactive museum visits, students are expected to gain knowledge that can be practiced when managing historical and archaeological objects as part of museum management.

Friday, May 17, 2024, the Literary Library Community of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM together with Kognisi, a learning platform from Kompas Gramedia, held a literacy gathering entitled, “Arriving in Yogyakarta” in the green open courtyard of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This literacy gathering coincides with the commemoration of National Book Day which occurs every May 17. Participants who took part in the activity did not only come from UGM students, but students from other universities such as Yogyakarta State University and the general public also attended the literacy meeting of Perpustra UGM with Kognisi.

The literacy activity began with the “Celoteh Buku” session, which is sharing stories about books from each participant of the community to be told in front of other participants to hone storytelling skills. Each participant not only explained the summary of the book’s story, but also raised personal opinions from the book he read. After a number of participants told their books, the “Silih Gilir” session began, where each participant packed their respective books into a brown envelope and gave the book to the right side participant continuously until the signal stopped from the moderator, then they would open the envelope containing the book that had been given by the participant next to them randomly and read the book which was then interspersed with a “Read Together” focus time session from the book he got.

On the same occasion, Perpustra also opened a book donation drive open to the community and students with the aim of donating to those in need to help improve regional literacy.