Yogyakarta, Friday, 1st of November 2024. The English Literature Department Student Association (IMAJI) held English Days 2024. This event is an annual event that has a series of activities to enliven the 78th Dies Natalies of the English Literature study programme. One of the series of English Days 2024 activities is a theatre performance held on 1 November 2024 at Soegondo Auditorium, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, from 18.00 WIB to 21.30 WIB.

Before going to the the main performance, the event began with a speech from Florinesya Zahwa Raihania, as the Chairperson of the English Days 2024 Committee. On this occasion, Flori expressed her gratitude to the audience and those involved in supporting the success of English Days 2024. The speech was then continued by English Literature Lecturer, Hasyim Kurniawan, S.S., M.App.Ling.. Mr Hasyim conveyed the importance of student organisation events as a great source and learning experience. He said experiences in organisational activities train skills and leadership and problem solving and will help every aspect of students’ future.

After the speeches ended, the theatre performance titled, ‘The Front Stage Facade’ began, telling the story of the dark side of the entertainment industry. The show began with a dance music performance which would then accompany certain moments during the show. The reveal of the main players in this theatre is the character Jackie (Rizqi) as, ‘Starboy’ who plays the role of an American entertainment industry figure who is famous abroad, followed by Avery (Dewi) playing the role of the main manager of the theatre talent from the French owner of a company engaged in the entertainment industry, Jacques (Aimar). In addition, there are major characters who appear after the first part of the show which further increases the tension and excitement of the theatre with the appearance of Rita (Tyaz) and Pamela (Vari). Meanwhile, supporting characters such as Boy 1 (Nida), Boy 2 (Ipeh), Girl 1 (Felice), Girl 2 (Zahwa), Girl 3 (Nia), and Girl 4 (Chu), liven up the atmosphere of the theatre performance with various unique moments.

The English Days 2024: A Step Into the Centre Stage theatre performance was one of the amazing theatre performances in early November. It was a closing event that was well attended by the general public and students. Congratulations on the event success!

The journey within the 1000 Digital Startup Movement began with enthusiasm and hope for a group of participants involved. This program offers an extraordinary opportunity for them to establish a startup intensively over six months. The program combines online and offline meetings in a hybrid format, allowing participants to connect and collaborate effectively. Their first meeting took place at the Hack4ID event, held at the TILC building, Vocational School, Universitas Gadjah Mada. There, the team members—Adri, Ahmad, Boby, Padma, and soon-to-join Alfin—met for the first time, forming a group that would later become their comrades-in-arms. This Hack4ID event spanned two days, from Saturday, March 2 to Sunday, March 3, 2024, and was filled with valuable learning experiences. Participants were taught to be more aware in identifying problems and proposing solutions based on solid data, not just assumptions.

In this meeting, they were also challenged to quickly decide on the type of startup they wanted to establish and the field they would focus on. After intense discussions, they agreed to create HaloCats, a startup in the pet care industry. Their goal was simple but significant—to make it easier for cat owners to sterilize their pets safely and comfortably. However, this meeting wasn’t just about work. It also marked the beginning of a friendship they built together, forming a strong foundation for facing the long and challenging journey of building this startup. HaloCats now stands as a tangible proof of the team’s collaboration and hard work, and they are ready to face the next challenges with full enthusiasm.

[Public Relations, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Written by: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Editor: Aldiza]

The Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a Cultural Anthropology Proposal Seminar as an essential step for students before conducting fieldwork. The seminar was divided into 10 clusters, including Care and Health, Economy, Environment and Humanity, Infrastructure, Arts & Media, Youth, Gender, Farmers, Communities, and Popular Culture, with a total of 58 participating students. This open forum was attended by examiners, and graduate student mentors (Master’s and Ph.D.), and was also open to the public.

Each day, 10 to 20 students presented their research proposals, where they received feedback and constructive suggestions from faculty and mentors. The seminar took place over three days—Thursday, September 19, 2024, Friday, September 20, 2024, and Monday, September 23, 2024. It was held in three rooms (Soegondo 511, 514, and 709), with 12 faculty members serving as examiners and 9 graduate students as mentors. In the seminar, each student presented their research proposal in front of the examiners and mentors, followed by a discussion session to provide suggestions and critiques. The goal was to help students refine their research plans before heading into the field.

One of the examiners, Dr. Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi, S.Ant., M.A., or more commonly known as Mas Zamzam, emphasized that the beginning of research stems from our curiosity or the questions we want to answer. He stressed the importance of thoroughly reviewing research questions before starting a project. This was intended to ensure the alignment of the title with the question, define the research boundaries, and deepen the students’ understanding of their chosen topic. Throughout the discussions, Mas Zamzam consistently asked students to further explain their research questions, urging them to reflect critically on their research approach. The hope was that by the time they enter the field, students will have a clear grasp of the data needed and the appropriate boundaries based on their research topic.

The Cultural Anthropology Proposal Seminar was not only a critical academic milestone for students but also supported several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequality). Through mentoring and open discussions, students were trained to gain a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and cultural issues they were investigating. The aim is that their research will make meaningful contributions toward addressing societal challenges such as social inequality, health problems, environmental issues, gender, and community concerns—ultimately contributing to more inclusive and sustainable development.

[FIB UGM PR, Writer: Bonifacius Edo, Editor: Aldiza, Translator: Aldiza]

Yogyakarta, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of History, featured at the workshop titled Mapping the Internationalization of Art in the Global South Context – Collaboration Among Art Institutions. Organised by the Biennale Foundation Discussion, the event aimed to disseminate ideas on why the values of the Bandung Spirit remain relevant in international politics and Indonesia’s foreign policy. It also served as a reflection on the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference next year, and how to revive the Bandung Spirit at the grassroots level.

Dr. Wildan delivered his presentation at the historic Savoy Homann Hotel, one of the accommodations used by Asian and African leaders attending the 1955 Bandung Conference. During the workshop, he analyzed key values from the Asia-Africa Conference that are still important to promote and spread at the grassroots level today. These values include decolonization, world peace, and international cooperation—three principles from the Bandung Spirit that remain highly relevant. The Asia-Africa Conference Museum, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regularly organizes discussions to keep the spirit of the Bandung Conference alive, recognizing its continued significance in today’s global political context.

The presentation was followed by contributions from representatives of the National Archives of Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lecturers from UNPAD’s International Relations department, cultural figures from Bandung, and heritage activists.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 – “Be A Good Exporter” is an Independent Study program organised by the National Export School Foundation. This semester-long program is part of the *Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka* (MBKM) initiative. One of the key activities in this program involves developing export-ready products, carried out in collaboration with the Export Start-up Team (TSE), formed at the beginning of the program. The goal is to create products that meet international market demands and have the potential to become successful export items.

Together with TSE, the author worked on developing a dried cardamom product sourced from local Indonesian farmers. Throughout the development process, the author and the team conducted market research and devised strategies tailored to relevant target markets. They then worked on product development, brand building, and digital marketing strategies suited to international markets. Additionally, the team simulated business matching sessions, studied payment methods and required documentation, and explored logistics options for exporting products. Through this comprehensive process, the author gained insights into the full cycle of preparing a product for export. Furthermore, the program provided valuable knowledge on national and international export-import regulations.

The “Be A Good Exporter” program contributes to the SDGs, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By empowering local farmers and developing cardamom products for international markets, this program supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth, while also promoting fair and responsible trade practices.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Author: Katherine Valencia Pangestu, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Aldiza Pramudhita]