Yogyakarta, 18/2/2025 – In a remarkable initiative to promote education and awareness about archaeology, the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) will hold the 7th Archaeology Festival on 18 to 20 February 2025. The annual event aims to engage the public and students in Indonesia’s rich history and cultural heritage.

The festival will take place at the Margono Djojohadikusumo Building, with exhibitions spread across the first and second floors. On the first floor, visitors will be presented with an exhibition showcasing prehistoric times in Indonesia, including various artefacts and relics from ancient times. The exhibition aims to educate visitors about the importance of Indonesia’s prehistoric past and its impact on the present.

Moving on to the second floor, the focus will shift to maritime archaeology, a field that has grown in importance in recent years. Here, visitors will learn about underwater archaeology, which involves the study of submerged sites and artefacts that have crossed oceans. Researchers in this field must have A1 to A3 certification, highlighting the specialised skills required to conduct underwater excavations safely and effectively.

In addition to the exhibitions, the festival will also feature various interactive activities designed to engage participants of all ages. One of the highlights will be pottery painting, where visitors can express their creativity and learn about traditional pottery-making techniques. This hands-on experience not only encourages artistic expression but also deepens understanding of the ancient craft. Another exciting activity is tying jewellery, a traditional craft that has been practised for centuries. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own jewellery while learning about the cultural significance of beads in various Indonesian communities. This activity emphasises the importance of preserving traditional crafts and passing them on to future generations. The festival will also include food and beverage tenants. This aspect of the event aims to create a festive atmosphere, encouraging visitors to relax and enjoy the festivities while learning about Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.

Archaeological Festival #7 is not just an exhibition; it is a celebration of education, culture and community engagement. By bringing together students, researchers, and the general public, the event aims to foster a greater appreciation of archaeology and its role in understanding our past.

As part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the festival aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. By educating the public about archaeology, the festival contributes to a more informed society that values its cultural heritage.

In conclusion, Festival Archeologi #7 at FIB UGM promises to be an enriching experience for all visitors. With a wide array of activities and exhibitions on offer, the festival serves as a platform for education and cultural exchange, inspiring future generations to explore the fascinating world of archaeology.

[Public Relations Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 13/2/2025 – On 4 February 2025, two student representatives from the Korean Language and Culture study programme of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) showed their skills in a competition that celebrates education and cultural exchange in the K-Newscasting Competition organised by the Korean Culture Center Indonesia (KCCI).

The event began with the opening and technical competition for this final round. After the opening remarks, the final round of the competition began. Participants were tasked with presenting a pre-made news segment in Korean, demonstrating their language skills and ability to convey information effectively.

The atmosphere was electric as each contestant performed, showcasing their unique style and perspective. After all participants had delivered their segments, the judges provided comments for each contestant. This judging session was very important for the students, as it provided insight into their performances and areas for improvement.

While waiting for the announcement of the winners, the audience was entertained with a lucky draw, which added an element of fun and engagement for the audience. The atmosphere was festive, with participants and spectators alike hoping for a chance to win exciting prizes.

Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived. The announcement of the winners was met with cheers and applause. To the pride of the UGM delegation, one of the two student representatives, Mulya Ghefira Azzahra, was declared the first winner of the K-Newscasting Competition. This outstanding achievement not only highlights the hard work and dedication of the students, but also confirms the quality of education provided by UGM.

Let’s take a look at the impressions of our two students about this competition:

“Do it scared” is a slogan that encourages me to keep going and dare to try new things. I believe that courage does not mean not feeling fear, but to keep going despite doubts or even lack of confidence. I am very happy to be able to participate in this race because I do like challenges. Through this valuable experience, I was able to meet many cool people and learn many new things from them. Although I didn’t win, I see this as the first step to opening up more opportunities and continuing to grow. Of course, there is a slight sense of disappointment, but I have no regrets because I have tried to give my best. Going forward, I will continue to try other opportunities and stay excited for the next challenge. Lastly, I would like to thank my prodi and family for their support because it means a lot!!! -Adzini

Initially, I was quite confident about participating in the final, but after seeing the other participants’ abilities, I didn’t really expect to win. Even so, I still tried to perform as much as possible by learning from the judges’ feedback from the first session. While performing, I mispronounced some words and felt that my gestures were not good enough, even so, I hoped that I could at least win the runner-up or third place. When second place was mentioned, I finally gave up and continued eating snacks. However, when my name was suddenly called as the first place winner, I was shocked, and came forward while still chewing my food. That will be a memorable moment for me. This experience is a good start for us to continue challenging ourselves in the next opportunity. I’m very grateful for the support from 교수님 and Prodi, not to forget my supportive family, I can get to this point thanks to them. -Mulya

This win can be an inspiration for other students in the programme, encouraging them to pursue their interest in language and culture with passion. The success of UGM students in the K-Newscasting Competition is a moment of pride for the university and a significant contribution in promoting Korean culture in Indonesia. It highlights the role of educational institutions in developing talent and encouraging cultural appreciation, ultimately contributing to a more interconnected world. Competitions such as this play a huge role in promoting education and cultural exchange, aligning with sustainable development goals.

[Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 30/1/2025 – Jatingarang Fest is a joint program with the theme Steps of Citizens, Preserve Beloved Culture which was held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 in Padukuhan Jatingarang Lor, Nanggulan, Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta. Carrying the spirit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on points (3) health and welfare, (4) quality education, and (2) food security. This event is an effort to increase residents’ awareness of healthy living, education, and social resilience. This program was initiated by the UGM SCS-CEL team Period 3 Jatingarang Lor Sub Unit with field supervisor, Dr. drh. Yuli Purwandari Kristianingrum, MP, and in collaboration with the local rismas.

Coordinated by Bulan Churniati from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (21/477380/SA/20963), the event consisted of Dhiaksa Adhi, Zahra Nabila, Andreas Niko from FKKMK, Austien Elsa from Pharmacy, Tenriola Ramizah from FISIPOL, and Adelia Rizqa from Psychology. The event included gymnastic activities, healthy walking or eco-trekking, children’s Gambang Suling dance performances and Banyumas Massatria dance, tourism education, anti-hoax, and food security which are a combination of several different work programs, especially interdisciplinary.

Source: KKN-PPM UGM Sub Unit Team Jatingarang Lor, Nanggulan, Kulon Progo, DIY

In the anti-hoax education, participants were invited to understand how to sort out the right information in a digital era full of fake news. The food security material emphasized the importance of applying simple tips for small, independent farms. Meanwhile, tourism education provides insights related to regional potential that can be developed. The event was also enlivened with dance entertainment and energizing door prizes. A total of 26 prizes were prepared thanks to well-planned management and sponsor support, with the grand prizes being standing fans, irons and premium pots. The excitement and joy was evident when the grand prize winners were announced, which was greeted with cheers from the community. Enthusiastic community participation added to the festivities, with more than a hundred people attending.

Overall, Jatingarang Fest went smoothly and was full of warmth. “It was unexpected that the enthusiasm of the residents exceeded our expectations, which initially planned for only one padukuhan, but it turned out that many from other padukuhans wanted to participate,” said Bulan as the person in charge of Jatingarang Fest. The success of this event shows the spirit of gotong royong and strong collaboration between KKN students, rismas, and residents of Jatingarang Lor, leading to the development of a more prosperous and sustainable community.

[Public Relations Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Bulan Churniati]

Malaysia, 7/12/2024 – Two students of the Arabic literature study program successfully presented their essays related to women’s empowerment in the Asean Muslimah Exposure 2024 (AME 2024) event in Malaysia. The program organized by the Qurthubiyah Institute organization was held from December 6 to 8, 2024. As an organization, Qurthubiyah Institute aims to be a forum for empowering Muslim women with character, knowledge, and skilled personality by internalizing Islamic values in life. Thus, the Asean Muslimah Exposure program is designed to increase Indonesian Muslimah’s understanding of social issues through hands-on learning experiences in Asean countries.

In the AME 2024 program, there are three main activities held on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The three activities are Essay Presentation, Panel Discussion, and Campus Tour which took place at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and University Malaya (UM). Essay Presentation and Panel Discussion activities held at IIUM were not only attended by AME 2024 participants, but also attended by IIUM students who are members of the Islamic Studies Forum Indonesia (ISFI) organization.

In this activity, there were several delegates who presented their papers, and two of them were students of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The first student was Vanisa Putri Andarista with her essay entitled The Trend of Delaying Marriage “Waithood” In Indonesian Women and How Islam Views It. The essay was awarded The Best Analytical Perspective. While the second student, Ragil Samas Khofifatunnur conveyed ideas in his essay entitled The relevance of “Risalah Perempuan Berkemajuan” to Increasing The Inclusiveness of Women’s Empowerment In Village, and won The Best Delegates Paper award.

From the series of AME 2024 activities, students not only gain experience in making and presenting their essays, but also gain abundant knowledge through the discussions that have been held. In addition, students are also more familiar with the dynamics of lectures in Malaysia, the socio-cultural conditions of the local community, and how Islamic values are implemented there. With the many experiences and insights that have been gained, students are expected to play an active role in disseminating these insights so that the benefits are received by more people, as is the goal of the Qurthubiyah Institute.

[Public Relations of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Sandya Kirani]

A total of six students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences underwent a Certified Cultural Internship program placed at the Balai Pelestarian Kebudayaan region X (Yogyakarta – Central Java), this internship is part of the Certified Internship and Independent Study activities. They came from several study programs namely Cultural Anthropology (Amandha Eva, Gemma Padira, Via Vitarina, and Widya Pandega), History (Duhita Prananing Tyasayu), and Arabic Literature (Salma Shidqiyah). The six students were divided into two fields, namely Assistant Cultural Heritage Recorder and Assistant Recorder of Cultural Promotion Objects. For four months from September to December 2024, they had the opportunity to expand their knowledge related to cultural heritage preservation, starting from multi tagging analysis, documentation, the process of determining cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage, data collection, to interviews.

Documentation of internship students while exploring Ijo Temple

Not limited to data collection, interns also have the opportunity to participate in the process of the Cultural Heritage Expert Team hearing and play a direct role in the formation of Regional Cultural Thoughts (PPKD). Before collecting data directly in the field, they were introduced to the Directorate General of Culture and its duties and functions, they also received briefings related to the types and legal protection of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Promotion Objects,

As a final project, they translated the cultural heritage into a magazine entitled Tracing the Charm of Ijo Temple: Civilization Above the Clouds, a “Cultify” podcast inviting KI Gondo Suharno, and flashcards containing several Objects of Cultural Advancement as learning media for students in kindergarten. In addition, they also worked on individual assignments in the form of scientific papers on critical reviews of various aspects of cultural heritage.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Sandya Kirani]