On October 19, 2024, the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program held the opening ceremony of Abhiseka Kramasisya and a talk show with lecturers and alumni who became speakers for new students. Abhiseka Kramasisya is a routine event organized by the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. In 2024, Abhiseka Kramasisya invited speakers who have a lot of experience that can be shared with new students. All invited speakers have extraordinary careers in their respective fields. New students get motivation and an overview of the various professions undertaken by alumni. Starting from being a courtier to entering the entertainment world, the diversity of professions of alumni of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program shows that Javanese Literature and Culture can develop in any field.

Picture 1 Lecturers on study program workshop

Before entering the talk show with alumni, new students were first introduced to departmental materials delivered by lecturers who were present, both offline and online. The lecturers who attended offline included Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum., Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum., R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., Imam Prakoso, S.S., M.A. delivered departmental material in accordance with their respective majors. Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., accompanied by Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum., explained the philology section. Starting from the definition of philology to the process of learning philology. Followed by a presentation by Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum., explaining the specialization of linguistics, and the last one was delivered by R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., who explained the literature section. Then there were several lecturers who joined online because they were continuing their studies abroad, including Yosephin Priastuti Rahayu, S.S., M.Hum., who was continuing her studies at Leiden University. Nurmalia Habibah, S.S., M.A., who is in France to continue her studies at PSL University, and finally there is Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A., who is in Germany and studying at Universitat Hamburg.

Picture 2 Lecturers who attended online

This departmental session was well received by all Abhiseka Kramasisya participants. “The material makes me more familiar with the study program, so I understand more about the majors tomorrow, it’s also fun to get to know all the lecturers,” said Andini Nuraini, one of the new students participating in Abhiseka Kramasisya. With this session, it is hoped that new students can find out information about the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, be able to guide their knowledge to achieve noble goals, and always preserve Javanese culture.

The event continued with an alumni talk show delivered by 3 speakers namely Sukma Putri, Razan Bahri, and Rizky Inggar. The first speaker, Sukma Putri, conveyed information related to her current profession as a servant of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Palace. Sukma also conveyed the message and impression of being a student of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. The motivation given by Sukma to new students is very interesting, “Thank you for choosing Javanese Literature, because your first step in choosing here can already create a big step in the future. Cheer up to all of you, be healthy and sane always because you deserve a beautiful miracle from what you have chosen,” she wrote in one of the powerpoint slides shown.

Picture 3 Sukma Putri delivered her material

Razan Bahri as the second speaker, he attended this event online because he was abroad, to be precise he worked as a staff of the Indonesian Consulate General in Melbourne. Some new students get the view that being a student of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture does not limit them from having a job outside their major. Razan Bahri said that mastering English at this time is an important thing that must be done, without excluding the use of mother tongue and Indonesian. Using English to introduce Javanese culture in the international arena can initiate steps to preserve Javanese culture and promote it further.

Picture 4 Razan Bahri delivered his material

The third speaker was an alumni student of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, which was then still called Sastra Nusantara class of 2003, she plunged into the world of Indonesian entertainment. She has participated in many television programs, she is famous as a female comedian who is very multitalented, in addition to her jokes that always succeed in making people laugh, she is a singer who can also play roles. Rizky Inggar Lukitovati, who is often called Mbak Kiky, was the speaker at the Abhiseka Kramasisya 2024 alumni talk show. Entered in several award nominations and won one of them, Rizky Inggar told the beginning of her career until she could reach her current life. Rizky Inggar gave many views that the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program will one day create many great people who can be influential for the future. In fact, the image as a Javanese with his medhok dialect was able to bring Rizky Inggar to become a famous artist who has a strong identity and characteristics today. This shows that the existence of Javanese culture is valued and should be empowered, so that it does not become extinct. Rizky Inggar also emphasized to continue to be enthusiastic about achieving dreams even though there are many obstacles in the way, with confidence and determination, everything can be achieved.

Picture 4 Rafael Raga’s conversation as moderator with Rizky Inggar

In the talk show with alumni, students get provisions to undergo the world of lectures. The three speakers also provided some motivation to students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program who might feel pessimistic about their job prospects after graduation. Emphasizing that Javanese Satra students must believe that their expertise is needed in various sectors, especially in the creative industry, media, and education. The warm and insightful discussion provided many valuable lessons for all participants, especially in facing an increasingly competitive professional world. The speakers who shared their experiences, challenges, and successes provided a broad perspective on the various opportunities that students can take advantage of after graduation. Through this talk show, it is hoped that students can be motivated to continue working and prepare themselves to face future challenges that are full of opportunities.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science UGM, Sandya Kirani]

In order to celebrate 40 years of Sister Province relations between the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Japanese Speech Contest with a free theme. Therefore, participants who are active UGM students can present speeches with themes that are not limited to one topic. The competition will be held on November 15, 2024 in Multimedia Room 1, UGM Main Building, 3rd Floor, North Wing.

Prior to the competition on November 15, participants were required to submit a 3-minute video speech at the registration link. Based on the submitted videos, eight people were selected who got the opportunity to deliver speeches offline on Friday, November 15, 2024. The Governor of Kyoto surprised the participants by being present to witness the competition.

At the end of the competition, Ananda Fajar Ayu Kinanti from the Japanese Language and Culture program was chosen as the first winner and Muhammad Iska Alif An Naksabandi from the Vocational School was chosen as the second winner. Both winners received prizes in the form of an opportunity to participate in the International Student Summit which will be held in August in Kyoto. Hopefully both winners will make the best use of this opportunity and return with new knowledge that is useful for themselves and those around them.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science, Author: Valentina Pramahita Iswari, Editor: Yulia Agustiani, Translator: Sandya Kirani]

The Roadshow of Master of American Studies UGM to the City of Heroes, Surabaya, which was held on November 28-29, 2024, successfully became an important momentum in expanding academic networks. In addition to carrying out the study program promotion agenda, visits to Airlangga University (UNAIR), as well as the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia, Surabaya also reflects the commitment of the Master of American Studies Program to continue to advance the field of transnational studies and strengthen collaboration between institutions.

The UGM delegation made the first visit to the Master’s Program in Literature and Cultural Studies, UNAIR on Thursday, November 28, 2024. On this occasion, 13 students of Master of American Studies were accompanied by the Head of Study Program, Dr. Aris Munandar, M. Hum. Upon arrival at UNAIR, the group was warmly welcomed by the Head of Master of Arts in Literature and Culture, UNAIR, Mr. Edi Dwi Riyanto, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., who is also an alumnus of Master of Arts in American Studies, UGM, as well as several representatives of lecturers and students of Master of Arts in Literature and Culture and English Literature, UNAIR. The meeting began with the presentation of information on the excellence and curriculum of the Master of American Studies, UGM by Dr. Aris Munandar, M. Hum. Then, this presentation was continued by several students who shared their academic and non-academic experiences while studying at the Master of American Studies, UGM.

This visit also resulted in productive discussions through Forum Group Discussion (FGD) between lecturers and students. In particular, the lecturers collected stakeholder aspirations in the context of the 2025 Curriculum review. For students, this meeting not only strengthened the relationship between students of Master of American Studies UGM and Master of Literary and Cultural Studies, UNAIR, but also resulted in initiatives for collaborative work programs in the academic field for 2025 through the student associations of Master of American Studies, UGM and Master of Literary and Cultural Studies, UNAIR. By sharing insights about their respective curricula, scientific publications, and excellent programs, both study programs have opened up opportunities for broader joint development.

Picture 1 Forum Group Discussion of UGM and UNAIR lecturers

On Friday, November 29, 2024, the group visited the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia, Surabaya to conclude the roadshow series. This visit became a valuable experience for Master students of American studies. The talk show session with Kayla M. Smith, Foreign Service Officer, provided a new picture of various American cultural traditions, especially related to the Thanksgiving celebration. In addition, the discussion with a warm and intimate atmosphere with Kayla, who also relates some Indonesian cultural traditions, also adds to the experience of cultural dimensions that are relevant to the context of transnational American Studies for students.

Picture 2 Group Photo at the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Indonesia office, Surabaya

This series of roadshows provides experience of synergy between academic institutions and external parties to encourage inclusive, cross-cultural, and contextual learning for students. The success of this event is expected to be a foothold for deeper collaboration in the future, strengthening the position of UGM Master of American Studies as an innovative, adaptive, and globally oriented study program.

On Monday, November 25, 2024, students of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), conducted a field study to PT Rupa Raya Indonesia, a company engaged in the field of Japanese home architecture design.

This activity is a direct learning event for students to understand the application of creative technology while seeing opportunities for cooperation between Japanese culture and technological innovation in Indonesia. PT Rupa Raya Indonesia, which has a reputation for excellence in the field of design, was the perfect location to broaden the students’ knowledge of culture and technology.

The event began with a warm welcome from the CEO of Marumori Company Japan, PT Rupa Raya Indonesia’s international partner, who explained the company’s vision in supporting collaboration. The speech was followed by the CEO of PT Rupa Raya Indonesia represented by Mr. Irzam Sarif, underlining the importance of HR development to support the company’s development.

Picture 1 Japanese Counselling Study Programme Students Conduct Field Study at PT Rupa Raya Indonesia, Semarang

Students then followed an in-depth presentation of the company profile by PT Rupa Raya Indonesia staff. In this session, students were invited to explore the company’s superior products and services, including 3D animation and virtual reality-based innovations.

As a token of appreciation, UGM presented souvenirs to PT Rupa Raya Indonesia, which ended with a group photo session. Furthermore, students had the opportunity to visit the production office of PT Rupa Raya Indonesia. On this tour, they witnessed every process that goes into working on design orders from Japan.

This activity is expected to inspire students to continue learning and innovating, combining the advantages of Japanese language and culture with the creative spirit of Indonesia. With this visit, it is also hoped that students will not only gain new insights, but also be motivated to contribute to the development of the creative industry in the future.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Science UGM, Author: Yulia Agustiani, Editor: Valentina Pramahita Iswari, Translator: Sandya Kirani]

Philology, as the study of manuscripts and classical texts, plays an important role in preserving the cultural and historical heritage of a nation. One of the interesting aspects of philology is the effort to understand and translate manuscripts, which means transforming ancient texts from their original format to new forms that are more accessible and easier to learn, such as in the form of illustrated stories, batik cloth, and so on.

Paleography is a scientific discipline that studies the character of ancient writings in manuscripts. As a science that supports the specialization of Philology, Paleography is a compulsory course for the Language, Literature and Culture Study Program.

Picture 1 Excerpted in full from: hystoryana.blogspot.com

On Friday, December 6, 2024 the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program held an exhibition initiated by the lecturers of the Philology course, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya M.Hum,. and Dr. Arsanti Wulandari M.Hum,. The exhibition involved Master of Literature students in the Philology course and the undergraduate students of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program for the Paleography course. The philological exhibition “Mengalih Wahana Naskah” aims to introduce the public to the importance of ancient manuscripts in the formation of Indonesian history and culture. The manuscripts not only serve as historical documents, but also as a means of understanding the noble values and wisdom passed down by our ancestors. This exhibition also explores how these manuscripts transformed from handwritten texts into more attractive illustrated texts and wearable batik cloth. It is a means to introduce to the public that ancient manuscripts are not just text documents, but also works of art that contain high aesthetic value.

Picture 2 Students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program in the Philology Exhibition

“Very happy to be able to organize this exhibition, previously we, the class of 2023, were asked to make batik cloth, then it will be exhibited today, it’s fun to try making batik cloth and at the same time get a grade for the Final Semester Examination” said Muhammad Rizki, one of the students of the Language, Literature and Culture Study Program.

The exhibition showcased batik cloths that had previously been made by students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program in the Switching Workshop. The long sash batik cloths were written based on the interests of each student. There are 3 scripts that can be chosen to write the proposition sentences that have been made. Javanese script, Pegon script, and Balinese script, each has its own uniqueness and beauty. Dr. Arsanti Wulandari M.Hum, revealed that this project will be taken as the fulfillment of the Final Examination of Paleography course in 2024. There are also illustrated stories made by Master of Literature students.

Picture 3 Students of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program Make Batik for the Exhibition

It is hoped that the Philology exhibition: Alih Wahana is able to introduce many people to the existence of Philology as a useful science for life. Ancient manuscripts can be absorbed with the science of Philology to prepare for present and future life. In addition, this exhibition is one way to preserve ancient manuscripts in Javanese culture.

Picture 4 Group photo at the Philology Exhibition

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Sandya Kirani]