Yogyakarta, Monday, November 11th, 2024. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the Regional Planning, Development, Research and Development Agency (Bappeda) of Siak Regency, Riau Province, in the context of planning the development of a Malay cultural center by Siak Regency. The implementation of the activity began at 10.00 WIB to 14.00 WIB in the Multimedia Room Gd. Margono 2nd floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, inviting representatives from Bappeda Siak and a number of lecturers from FIB UGM as presenters.

The activity began with remarks from representatives of Bappeda Siak Regency which were then followed by remarks from the Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., as an opening for FGD activities. Next, the handover of souvenirs as a symbolic series guided by Mrs. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., as Master of Ceremony. The activity was divided into two material sessions, with the first session filled by presenters such as Agus Indiyanto, S.S., M.Si., Dr. Sailal Arimi, S.S., M.Hum., and Dr. Arif Akhyat, M.A.. The second session was then continued by the speakers, namely, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., Dr. Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., and Dr. Widya Nayati, M.A..

The implementation of the Siak Regency Bappeda Focus Group Discussion with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is an important moment of cooperation between the two agencies. FIB UGM through its academics can provide solutions and reference material that can help Bappeda Siak Regency in the plan to build a Malay cultural center.

Yogyakarta, Thursday, October 31st 2024. Directorate of Partnership and Global Relations (DKRG) UGM through UGM Buddy Club Community under the  UGM Office of International Affairs, organized Malam Kliwon – The Indonesian Halloween Experience. This activity is to introduce and preserve Indonesian local culture that is rich in spiritual values and local beliefs to international students. Held at Kolektif Collaboration Space, students consisting of international exchange students from various study programs and INCULS participated in this activity from 18:00 WIB to 22:30 WIB.

Night Kliwon activities began with an open gate at 18:00 WIB until 19:00 WIB, international students and local Buddy students from the UGM Buddy Club Community took attendance first outside the room where the activity was held. Next, the students had a sharing session about mystical or horror stories from their respective countries. After that, a movie watching session titled, “Pengabdi Setan 2” as the work of director Joko Anwar, was shown as an introduction to the intricacies of horror films with an Indonesian atmosphere. Not to forget, after the joint viewing session ended, the international students and local students along with the representative guests present shared their impressions from watching the movie.

On this occasion, Takeru Homma, an exchange student from Japan to the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, shared his impressions. “The event was really fun, I enjoyed eating with my friends, chatting, watching the movie, and showing each other our costumes. Although with the movie viewing session, everyone was just glued to watching, so there wasn’t much chance to interact. I think it would be better if there were programs that allowed more interaction among international students.”.

From the implementation of this activity, Malam Kliwon – The Indonesian Halloween Experience is expected to be a forum for introducing Indonesian culture between local students and international students. Building a memorable experience and a means of learning about Indonesia’s unique culture.

Yogyakarta, Sunday, November 10th 2024. The Suar Asa organization of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) held a Psychological First Aid Workshop and Peer Training, as well as the inauguration of new SUAR ASA members. Mental health is an important aspect of human life, as important as physical health. Mental health of students, especially in the UGM campus, is currently a serious problem. According to mental health data from the UGM Academic Hospital (RSA) presented at the Mental Health Competency Improvement for Ambassadors of Health Promoting University (HPU) at RSA UGM, from 2022 to 2023, there was an increase in the number of cases of student hospitalization with mental health problems, namely 21 and 51 cases respectively. In 2022, the gender percentage of mental health cases was most often found in female students compared to male students at 9.4% and females at 90.6%.

The Psychological First Aida and Peer Training was opened by the Head of the Administrative Office, Erika Purnawati, S.Kom., M.Cs. who in this case represented the Chairperson of FIB UGM, in her remarks Erika said that the mental health problems of students at FIB UGM face various challenges, both academic and social that can affect students’ mental well-being. Transition from high school to university, high academic pressure, and personal problems often trigger stress and anxiety among students. Mental health issues at FIB UGM have become a serious concern. Mental health problems experienced by students are usually caused by personal and family problems.

In various mental health situations faced by FIB students, there is the Suar Asa organization which is a forum for students who play a direct role in supporting mental health services for FIB UGM students. Suar Asa is a student organization that focuses on mental health issues and prevention of sexual violence in FIB. In carrying out its function as an organization that deals with mental health issues, Suar Asa has a Teman Cerita program. Teman Cerita is a service opened by Suar Asa for FIB students who want to talk about their lives or to express what they are feeling. This service also collaborates with peer counselors in FIB as facilitators in this service who provide story sessions for FIB students. This service also collaborates with HPU FIB where reports on mental health cases and their follow-up also involve HPU FIB.

The Teman cerita program that has previously been implemented will be developed into a service that focuses on emotional support, namely through the Teman Sehat and Berbudaya (Peer Friends) mental health service. Teman Sebaya offers services as a story friend for students who want to share their problems. Suar Asa is undergoing regeneration of new members, so mental health services at FIB are not yet optimal. Therefore, Peer Friend training is needed to improve their knowledge and skills, in order to optimize the promotion, prevention, and mental health services of FIB UGM through Suar Asa. The participation of various parties is needed to prevent and treat mental health problems.

Yogyakarta, Thursday, October 31, 2024. The Indonesian Literature Student Family (KMSI) of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM organized the annual UGM Bulan Bahasa (Language Month) event held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The event, held at Soegondo Courtyard, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, is open to the public and presents various activities such as Unjuk Kebolehan, food bazaar, language exhibition, Serap Book, Suar Memoar, music band performances, and others. Of the various activities, one of the activities that attracted the attention of visitors because of its uniqueness was a board with pasted paper containing writings of hope called, Suar Memoar.

The Suar Memoar board is displayed in the hallway and front yard of the Soegondo Building, with the aim of attracting the attention of general visitors. On the Suar Memoar, students and visitors can write their hopes and stories by writing on sticky notes which are then attached to the board. A number of papers containing hopes, dreams, complaints, and motivational messages, written by students and visitors. This is unique, because the Suar Memoar board does not only contain papers on one board, but also on several other boards, so that Suar Memoar becomes one of the favorite objects during Language Month.

Yogyakarta, Saturday, 2nd of November 2024. The Korean Language Student Association organised an event entitled, ‘Women’s Film Festival: The Voices from South Korea and Indonesia’ as one of the 19th Korean Day series on 2 November and 3 November. This activity aims to explore the issue of women’s careers through films directed by women from both countries. Both Indonesia and South Korea share many similarities on this issue, including women’s opportunities to access education, employment, and politics. Typical cultural challenges still pose barriers, such as the normalisation of double burden, discrimination, and the threat of violence. The event was held at Soegondo Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and was divided into two sessions on the first day, starting in the morning and afternoon.

In the morning, the event started with the screening of Kim Ji-Yong’s film: Born 1982, which is an adaptation of the novel by Cho Nam-joo, following the life of Kim Ji-young, an ordinary South Korean woman who faces the pressures and gender biases that permeate a patriarchal society. The story delves into the sensitive issue of Ji-young’s gradual struggle with societal expectations placed on women, especially in terms of career, family, and identity. Participants watched Cho Nam-joo’s adaptation of the novel, at the two-hour film screening. After the film screening session, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions guided by a moderator and presented by film director Kim Ji-Yong: Born 1982, Kim Do Young, via Zoom.

In the Q&A session, various participants asked director Kim Do Young a number of questions, such as the challenges and difficulties in making the film, the film’s contribution to feminism, criticism that arose, and others. The participants then ended the Q&A session with a group photo with Kim Do Young.