As part of the Professional Japanese Language course, third-year students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, conducted a field study at PT Bengawan Solo Garment Indonesia (PT BSGI) in Boyolali on October 8, 2025. The activity was attended by 36 students and three accompanying lecturers, who were warmly welcomed by PT BSGI President Director Mr. Hiroyuki Tsutsumi, along with PPIC Manager Ms. Shoko Nakata, HRD staff Ms. Yuni and Ms. Wahyu Indriani, and other company representatives.

This visit aimed to provide students with firsthand experience of how Japanese is used in professional environments while introducing them to the work ethic and corporate culture of Japanese companies operating in Indonesia. Established in January 2001, PT BSGI is a Japan-based Foreign Investment Company (PMA) specializing in garment production, with all its products exported to Japan. PT BSGI serves as an ideal learning site for students to observe authentic Japanese workplace settings and explore potential career paths within Japanese-affiliated companies.

The program began with a presentation session delivered in Japanese by Mr. Tsutsumi and Ms. Nakata, covering the company’s profile, work culture, and key principles of professionalism upheld by PT BSGI. This was followed by an interactive discussion session, where both lecturers and students engaged directly with company executives and staff to discuss career opportunities for Japanese Studies graduates and gain deeper insight into working in a Japanese company environment.

After the discussion, participants were given a guided factory tour to observe the garment production process and the daily operations across several divisions. During this session, students witnessed firsthand how values such as discipline, work ethic, and kaizen (continuous improvement) are implemented in practice—hallmarks of Japanese corporate culture.

This field study provided students with valuable, real-world exposure to the professional use of Japanese language and work practices. Beyond expanding students’ academic and cultural understanding, the visit also strengthened the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program’s partnership with the industrial sector, particularly Japanese enterprises operating in Indonesia.

Writer: Barra Taura Nursa’id

Editor: Stedi Wardoyo

Yogyakarta, 21/4/2025 – Nadia Ayu Berliana, a fourth-year student in the Japanese Language and Culture Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has been granted a valuable opportunity to participate in the Spring 2025 Exchange Program at Kobe University, Japan. The Faculty of Global Human Sciences, one of the faculties at Kobe University, caught Nadia’s attention as someone studying the humanities, allowing her to explore how Kobe University examines various aspects of humanity such as culture, society, and social interactions.

By participating in this program, Nadia hopes to learn about cooperation, discipline, daily life ethics, and social dynamics among individuals in different societal environments. This will deepen her understanding of the social aspects and thought patterns of Japanese society. Additionally, Nadia also hopes to gain a new perspective on social and cultural interactions in the global world by experiencing firsthand the various traditions and customs of Japanese society.

Nadia is preparing herself for a smooth adaptation process both in the campus environment and daily life by carefully reviewing the details of the program she will undertake and improving her overall Japanese language skills. Nadia also shared that she has read and watched various resources about the ethics and social norms in Japan, as well as deepened her understanding of the differences in values and thought patterns in Japanese society in preparation for facing cultural differences.

Regarding her views on the importance of student exchange programs, Nadia expressed her opinion that student exchange programs are valuable opportunities that can have a significant impact on personal and academic development. These programs allow students to learn from different perspectives, hone critical and analytical thinking skills in a new academic environment, and train students to become more independent, adaptive, and open to other cultures, thereby enhancing personal quality. The opportunity to expand one’s horizons and build relationships is also an important point explaining why student exchange programs have a significant impact on personal development both as individuals and as students.

Finally, Nadia conveyed a message to her peers who are also pursuing opportunities to study in Japan to prepare with strong determination because the process is not easy and to actively seek information about exchange programs, such as those available through the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Another message Nadia shared is to never give up in pursuing opportunities that will become valuable life experiences.

“…Failure is not the end; it can be a lesson to try again with better preparation. And most importantly, never be afraid to try…”

[Public Relation of Japanese Literature FIB UGM, Yulia Agustiani]

Yogyakarta, April 14, 2023 – A proud academic achievement has once again been made by Hadijah Rima, a student of the Master’s Program in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), who has been selected as a presenter at the 2nd International Conference on Debate & Dialogue (ICDD2). This prestigious conference will take place in Doha, Qatar, on May 19–20, 2025, organized by QatarDebate under the auspices of the Qatar Foundation. This accomplishment stands as a testament to Rima’s perseverance and dedication in the field of debate and academic research.

Having been actively involved in Arabic-language debate since 2020, Rima has an impressive track record in various competitive forums. She previously participated in debate competitions organized by QatarDebate during the 2021–2022 period, an experience that broadened her perspective and honed her argumentative skills. The selection of her research paper to be presented at ICDD2 was the result of a highly competitive process, with over 300 abstracts and 100 full papers submitted by academics and practitioners from around the world. Meeting rigorous academic standards and undergoing thorough review by experts, the paper she began writing in August 2024 finally earned international recognition after passing multiple selection phases and was officially accepted in 2025.

QatarDebate, the main organizer of this conference, is Qatar’s national debate center established by the Qatar Foundation in 2008. This institution serves as a platform for promoting a culture of critical thinking, open dialogue, and constructive debate both in the Arab world and internationally. With the vision of “Enriching Dialogue, Empowering Minds,” QatarDebate equips young generations with in-depth argumentative skills and facilitates exploration of global issues from broader perspectives. As a part of the Qatar Foundation—a non-profit organization focused on education, research, innovation, and community development—QatarDebate strives to make a meaningful impact at local, regional, and global levels.

ICDD2 is a continuation of the inaugural conference held in 2023 and aims to strengthen interdisciplinary academic networks in the fields of argumentation, rhetoric, linguistics, dialogue, critical thinking, education, and Islamic philosophy. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and debate and dialogue enthusiasts, the conference serves as an important forum for advancing intellectual discourse on a global scale. Its organization also highlights the growing expansion of debate and dialogue culture within modern academic contexts, which has developed significantly over the past decades.

In addition to her accomplishments in debating, Rima is also active as an academic translator, working with conference documents translated from Arabic to English, English to Indonesian, and Arabic to Indonesian. She frequently participates in various academic competitions and has received multiple awards. This year, she earned the prestigious LPDP Scholarship (PK 222) to continue her studies at UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature—an achievement that further solidifies her status as a talented young academic.

In an interview, Rima expressed her gratitude and disbelief at her achievement. She admitted that she never imagined her journey in Arabic-language debate, which began in 2020, would take her to the international stage. “It started as just trying out competitions, but it brought me this far,” she said. Rima also shared the major challenges she faced, including debating against native Arabic speakers. “I felt insecure and almost gave up, but I kept learning and sharpening my argumentation skills,” she explained. She emphasized that perseverance and genuine dedication to one’s field are essential, as opportunities often come from unexpected places. “If we are truly diligent, there’s always a way—and that’s where all the possibilities begin,” she concluded.

With her success in this academic event, Rima not only brings pride to UGM but also strengthens Indonesia’s representation in the international academic arena. Her participation in ICDD2 is expected to contribute significantly to the development of debate and dialogue studies, and to inspire younger generations to continue creating and exploring their academic potential at the global level.

[Public Relation Master of Literature, Anisa Dien Rahmawati]

Yogyakarta, 27/3/2025 – In a remarkable achievement, Bulan Churniati, a student of the English Literature program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has been awarded the title of Outstanding Student for two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025. This prestigious recognition was conferred during a ceremony held at the F11 Student Creativity Building on March 22, 2025, organized by the UGM Outstanding Student Community.

The evaluation criteria for this competition included a creative proposal, English language proficiency, and a portfolio that encompassed eight aspects: achievements/competitions, recognition, awards, organizational career, works, community service, and entrepreneurship. Bulan’s innovative proposal, titled “LitLingua (Literature and Linguistics Area): Reviving English Literature Literacy through Interactive Digital-Based Learning,” stood out among numerous submissions.

Bulan’s project aims to enhance access to education by utilizing digital platforms to make English literature more engaging and accessible to students. The prototype of the project can be accessed through the link bit.ly/LitLingua, showcasing her commitment to promoting literacy in a modern context. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

The selection process for the Outstanding Student competition involved several stages, including document selection, faculty-level presentations, and a supercamp presentation at the university level. Out of the many students from FIB who registered, only two were selected to represent the faculty: Bulan Churniati and I Ketut Aditya Prayoga from the Tourism program.

Bulan expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the importance of creativity in education. “I believe that literacy should be accessible to everyone, and through innovative approaches like LitLingua, we can inspire a love for literature among students,” she stated during her acceptance speech.

The competition not only highlights individual achievements but also reflects the commitment of UGM to foster a culture of excellence among its students. The university has been actively promoting initiatives that encourage students to engage in creative and critical thinking, which are essential skills in today’s rapidly changing world.

The recognition of Bulan Churniati as an Outstanding Student serves as an inspiration for her peers and highlights the importance of access to education in fostering talent and innovation. UGM remains committed to supporting its students in their academic and creative endeavors, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities to succeed.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 27/3/2025 – Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture student of 2024 batch, Ghibran Arsha Daffa (NIM 24/543974/SA/23427) or familiarly called Ghibran, made it to the final stage in the Dimas-Diajeng contest of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Dimas-Diajeng itself is the term for a pair of male and female teenagers who are officially appointed as DIY tourism ambassadors. For men, it is called Dimas, and for women, it is called Diajeng. The selection of Dimas-Diajeng is under the auspices of the Tourism Office. Meanwhile, the most important task of Dimas-Diajeng itself is to promote tourism and culture in their respective regions.

To start Dimas-Diajeng’s journey, Ghibran went through file selection, semifinals, psychological tests, deep interviews, then entered the final stage consisting of 15 men and 15 women. After the file selection stage, participants were given the task of creating video content about promoting tourist attractions in the city of Jogja and Ghibran chose to discuss Pasar Ngasem, which turned out that no one of the other participants chose that topic.

If selected and crowned as Dimas, Ghibran must be a representative of the dynamic and cultured youth of Jogja and actively participate in tourism promotion activities.

In the process, one of the things Ghibran remembers most is when collecting files because Ghibran collected the files 7 minutes before the registration deadline. This is because Ghibran actually intended to register for Dimas-Diajeng Bantul City, but it turned out that this year it was not going to be held. Therefore, Ghibran immediately prepared himself in a short time to register for Dimas-Diajeng Jogja City.

In addition, in the process of making video content, Ghibran found things that moved and impressed him. One of them was when he met a grandmother selling traditional toys. Ghibran said that even though her merchandise was quiet, the grandmother looked happy when she was invited to interview. According to the grandmother, she had been selling toys since she was little. The grandmother also prayed for Ghibran so that his steps would be smooth in undergoing the Dimas-Diajeng contest.

After the final, the Top 3 Dimas-Diajeng will be selected to represent the city of Jogja in the election of Dimas-Diajeng Yogyakarta Province. So if Ghibran is selected in the Top 3 list, Ghibran must compete again in Dimas-Diajeng Yogyakarta province.

However, even though Ghibran will be busy with Dimas-Diajeng activities in the city of Jogja, Ghibran still wants to contribute as a student in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture study program at UGM, one of which is in the field of storytelling. Ghibran intends to take part in a national-level storytelling competition, or even a monologue.

Ghibran’s hope for the future is that this Dimas-Diajeng program can help and educate many people, especially in the field of tourism. Let’s pray that all of Ghibran’s goals and aspirations will be achieved!

[Public Relations of Javanese Literature, Fega Achillea Maydena]