n commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UGM held various events and activities. One of the events was a wayang kulit performance titled “Banjaran Dwijawara”. The performance was a cross-style collaboration, combining the Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Banyumasan, and East Javanese styles in one wayang performance. The event was held on Saturday (16/12/2023) at Grha Sabha Pramana.

The story “Banjaran Dwijawara” is a compilation of the biographies of Rama Bargawa, Resi Dorna, and Arjuna. These three characters are faced with various complex problems. Rama Bargawa faces the oligarchs who act arbitrarily, Resi Dorna faces the issue of inclusivity, while Arjuna is in an era of gender equality.

In the implementation, students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in enlivening and making the wayang performance a success. Their participation was manifested in their roles as the crew, the performers as musicians and singers who are members of the Keluarga Kesenian Mahasiswa Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Muhammad Siswoyo, a 2022 student, who became the dalang (puppeteer) of the East Javanese wayang kulit performance.

The story “Banjaran Dwijawara” is not only a form of entertainment, but also a means of learning through moral messages about how to behave and make decisions when facing a problem. In addition, this wayang kulit performance also serves as a medium to introduce and preserve wayang kulit art and its various styles, which are a form of cultural wealth in Indonesia. The introduction and preservation of Indonesian culture through this wayang performance is in line with point four of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Quality Education.

Nine students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have successfully implemented a teaching program for students at SMA Negeri 1 Seyegan. This teaching program is a collaboration with the principal of SMA Negeri 1 Seyegan, as a joint effort to preserve Javanese culture, particularly the use of Javanese script. The program was held from December 12 to 21, 2023, and concluded with a competition on December 22, 2023.

Nine students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in this program. They are Sindi Virninda, Nanda Nursa Alya, Rafael Raga B.P., Faradila Putri M., Ahmad Nur Astha, Enjang Prasetyo W., Fazi Arifian Pradara, Novita Nurhasanah, and Inayah Milati. The teaching was conducted using creative methods, with the hope that students could understand Javanese script comprehensively.

Nanda Nursa Alya, one of the teaching participants, expressed her joy in an interview, “It was very exciting because we were able to interact with the students.” Nanda explained that this program not only benefits students but also develops their skills of students, “This program trains us as students to be able to become teachers as well as friends for the students. In addition, this program also demands the creativity of students in creating good and enjoyable learning methods and media for students.”

With the implementation of this teaching program, Nanda hopes that the activity can be carried out every year. “I hope this program will always be there every year,” she said. This teaching program is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the fourth point, Quality Education, which aims to improve the quality of education.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada UGM sent a student representative named I Putu Adhimas Radiansyah Aryawan to participate in the Pojok Bulaksumur dialogue session. Pojok Bulaksumur is a casual dialogue session held by UGM that involves the university’s leadership and the media, aiming to provide information transparency to the general public. At this Pojok Bulaksumur event, three main speakers were invited to discuss the latest issues in the general election and the role of students as youth in exercising their right to vote and making their choices for the future of the nation and state. The three speakers were: Alfath Bagus Panuntun El Nur Indonesia, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer in the Department of Politics and Government UGM, Laksito Lintang Kinanthi, the Chairman of the Student Element Board of Trustees, and Linda Kristiani Sianturi, Law Student from Faculty of Law Batch 2022.

Pojok Bulaksumur was opened with a speech by the University Secretary, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M., who gave a message to the university’s public relations and staff to communicate information transparently, both in the front office and back office, especially during moments when issues surrounding Single Tuition Fees (UKT) and PTN-BH status are starting to emerge. Dr. Andi Sandi also opened the Pojok Bulaksumur dialogue by giving a brief introduction to the general election, specifically the theme of first-time voters for the election of legislative candidates and executive candidates.

After the opening speech, the event continued with a casual dialogue session with the three speakers about the performance of the presidential and vice presidential candidates in the debates, which represented the discussion of the executive branch, and a discussion that highlighted the legislative election, which also plays an important role in the current general election atmosphere. The discussion then continued with the speakers’ hopes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates regarding universities, inclusive digital spaces for voters, the trend of youth commodification, and green elections, which are a concern for environmental issues after the campaign.

“This Pojok Bulaksumur discussion was very beneficial and opened up a space for education about the general election, especially the discussion about first-time voters, which was the subject of the theme that became the circle of discussion this time,” expressed Radiansyah Aryawan, the student representative from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

The discussion at Pojok Bulaksumur on January 25, 2024, opened the eyes of students, invited media, and the university and faculty leadership and representatives to the transparency of information from UGM and the general election matters that are currently underway. As Linda Kristiani Sianturi said, all presidential and vice presidential candidates have a vision and mission for Indonesia Emas 2045, so we need to highlight each one’s vision and mission. This aligns with the implementation of SDG 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

To deepen the study of Southeast Asia and deepen academic cooperation with Indonesia, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held a special visit to the NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature on December 15, 2023 (Friday). The delegation on this visiting team was Prof. Setiadi, M. Si., dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, SS, M. Hum, dean of academic and student affairs, and Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A., a representative from the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies.

First of all, the Dean of NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature, Zheng Jiayu, gave the opening speech. He thanked the group of guests from Indonesia who had come to visit. Next, the conversation was continued by Vice President Zhao Jingqi who gave a brief explanation about the NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature. After that, we continued with Assistant Professor Cheng Ji Shiwei and Assistant Professor Bao Qiyun from the Bachelor of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures who each introduced plans regarding Indonesian language courses and academic activities.

In the next material presentation session, Prof. Setiadi, M. Si., gave a presentation on the internationalization of Indonesian. Then Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, SS, M.Hum explained the academic environment of Gadjah Mada University by explaining the INCULS program owned by FIB UGM. The presentation from the FIB UGM team was closed by Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A. explained that ASEAN Identity consists of politics and security, economics, society, and culture. The community supports Southeast Asia’s plan to build a community of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” in the future.

Finally, Dean Zheng Jiayu and Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M. Si signed a cooperation agreement between the two institutions and exchanged copies. The agreement aims to increase academic cooperation between the two parties, including student exchanges, double degrees, consistent five-year bachelor/master plans, exchange of teachers and researchers, cooperation in organizing lectures, seminars, workshops, etc. .,. With the signing of this MOU, it is hoped that it can further enhance cooperation and exchanges between schools, enrich teaching and research material resources in Southeast Asia, provide more international exchange channels for teachers and students, and foster international professional relations.

At the same time, Zhao Jingqi, deputy dean and program director, signed an academic cooperation plan agreement between the program and the Southeast Asian Social Research Center with Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, MA, to promote cooperation in teaching and research between the two parties, such as summer course programs, internships, cooperative research, and publishing, etc.

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Departing from concerns about the inadequately facilitated rights of people with disabilities, both as performers and art viewers. As artists, Muhammad Jhony Fonsen (Tourism) and the team consisting of Reva (Nursing Science), Hatta (Indonesian Language and Literature), Eqi (Psychology), and Thomas (Chemistry) who were accompanied directly by Dr. Hayatul Cholsy, S.S., M.Hum worked together to initiate the PKM Community Service program with the program title “TOK-SHOW OBAH: Self-Actualization of Disabled People in the Arts through Dance Accompanied by Traditional Toys at the Bina Siwi Orphanage, Yogyakarta”.

Not necessarily causing personal unrest, the initiation of this program was aligned with the problems of the partner, namely the Bina Siwi Orphanage. The existence of a vision and mission that is not in line with implementation is a problem that must be resolved. Even though there are programs that refer to arts activities, these activities are not sustainable due to the high costs that must be incurred to bring in practitioners who are experts in their fields.

The “TOK-SHOW OBAH” program, turns out to be a beacon for our friends with disabilities at the Bina Siwi Orphanage. It can be seen that there are significant changes that can facilitate them. The synergy between the team and the caretakers of the orphanage was able to create a space for self-actualization through a collaboration of works of art with the traditional “Otok-otok” toy. These changes can be seen in increasing self-confidence, increased creativity through movement exploration, a level of happiness that slowly begins to emerge through smiling expressions, as well as their understanding of what art is.

Through a program that ran for approximately 6 months (June-November), of course, it did not continue to run smoothly. There were several obstacles that Jhony and the team were able to overcome in solving the problem. One of them is providing understanding to people with disabilities who have different characteristics. Low intellectual ability affects memory in memorizing dance movements and music tempo. However, the implementation of critical thinking practices, problem-solving, brainstorming with the team and accompanying lecturers, as well as the application of leadership are solution steps in solving problems.

That’s the long process that has been going on for the past year or so, starting from searching for a team and accompanying lecturers, preparing proposals, funding, and preparing progress reports, to qualifying for the 36th National Student Science Week (PIMNAS).

Even though Jhony and the team did not succeed in winning a medal at the prestigious PIMNAS-36 event which was held at Padjadjaran University on 26-30, Jhony managed to achieve an award as PIMNAS-36 Talented Student. Even though they were not successful in donating a medal, the TOK-SHOW OBAH Team also participated in bringing Gadjah Mada University back to winning the overall champion title and escorting the “PIALA ADIKARTA KERTAWIDYA” back home after stopping at another campus.