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.

Jepara, (01/11/2023). A total of 25 sixth and eighth-semester students taking the Professional Japanese Language course in the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University visited PT. Autocomp Manufacturing Indonesia Jepara Semarang Factory (PT SAMI JF) on Jl. Raya Jepara – Kudus, Sengonbugel, Kab. Mayong, Jepara Regency, Central Java on Friday 1 December 2023. PT SAMI JF is a Japanese PMA under the Yazaki Indonesia Group which is affiliated with Yazaki Corporation, Japan. PT SAMI JF operates in the automotive components industry, namely the production of electrical distribution systems (wiring harnesses) for motor vehicles, especially cars.

This field study is part of the Professional Japanese course in the form of a visit to Japanese industry which aims to introduce students to the world of work, especially the culture and work ethic in the Japanese manufacturing industry directly. After 1-semester students study Japanese communication patterns and business ethics in lectures, at the end of the lecture students are invited to see and experience firsthand the world of work related to the Japanese language, especially in Japanese companies in Indonesia.

The group of students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program was received by the Vice President of PT SAMI JF Hidehisa Kurihara and Factory Manager Kazuhiro Fujita along with several staff. On this occasion, Kurihara welcomed this visit event positively and provided the widest possible opportunity for students to learn and gain experience through this activity. He also opens opportunities for students who want to do internships or apprenticeships at his company before graduating from college.

The visit began with remarks from Mr Kurihara, followed by a presentation about PT SAMI JF by Bagus Kusuma Putra as Senior Manager, as well as an explanation of the work ethic and ups and downs of working in Japanese companies by PT SAMI JF. Staff who are also UGM Japanese Literature alumni. Gantira Akbar and Muhammad Fatkul, followed by a visit to the factory area to see firsthand the production process at PT SAMI JF. During the visit to the factory, the group was divided into 4 teams guided by PT SAMI JF staff. After the break, Friday prayers, and lunch, the event continued with questions and answers, discussions and presentations by each team in Japanese regarding what they saw and observed as well as their message impressions during their visit to PT SAMI JF guided by the HRD Supervisor from PT Mrs. SAMI JF Listia. The event closed with judging and announcing the best student presenter team and continued with the presentation of prizes and group photos.

This visit activity was initiated by Stedi Wardoyo, S.S., M.A., and Najih Imtihani, S.S., M.A as course lecturers. The aim of this field visit activity is to encourage students to actively practice Japanese language skills for the business and professional world, as well as to provide concrete descriptions and information about the world of work, especially at Japanese companies in Indonesia. This field study activity was fully supported by the Head of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Drs. Tatang Hariri, M.A., Ph.D. as one of the programs to support the Ministry of Research, Technology and Culture’s policy regarding Independent Learning Campuses and support the achievement of Main Performance Indicator (IKU) 1: Graduate Work Readiness and is also included in the SDGs indicators, namely SDGs 4 and 17: Quality Education and Partnerships to Achieve Goals. By referring to one form of implementation of Merdeka Belajar, students not only learn theoretically in class or on campus, but also go directly into the field to see, observe and experience directly the things they have learned during lectures. Furthermore, through this program it is hoped that it can bring closer, link and match between the academic world and the world of work, as well as provide input for the UGM Japanese Language and Culture Study Program to improve the learning process so that it is even better, able to produce graduates who are qualified and ready to work with good hard skills and soft skills expected by the business world.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is proud to announce the latest achievement achieved by one of its lecturers. On the peak night of the 2023 Indonesian Cultural Awards (AKI) which took place in Jakarta on Friday, 27 October 2023, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek) Nadiem Anwar Makarim represented President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). ) to give the Cultural Satyalancana award to the FCS UGM Archeology lecturer, namely Prof Dr H Timbul Haryono, MSc.

AKI is a prestigious event held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) to appreciate individuals, communities, and institutions who have achieved achievements or made extraordinary contributions to advancing Indonesian culture. The theme of the 2023 edition of AKI is “Nursing Harmony”. This theme is very relevant and has deep meaning because it emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between humans and nature through the cultural work that has been carried out.

The Satyalancana Culture Award given to Prof Dr H Timbul Haryono, MSc, is a recognition of his dedication to the field of culture. Prof Dr H Timbul Haryono, MSc, has made a significant contribution to the development, maintenance, and preservation of various aspects of Indonesian culture. In addition, the theme “Nurse Harmony” promoted in AKI 2023 emphasizes the important role of all levels of Indonesian society in caring for and maintaining harmony between humans and nature, through cultural practices that preserve local wisdom values.

Yogyakarta, which is nicknamed the City of Students, has excellent quantity and quality of education. Many students make Yogyakarta a destination to continue their educational studies, including Batak youth. Continuing life with the aim of education in one of the big cities which is also known for its strong culture, requires Batak youth to adapt to new environments more quickly and effectively in various areas of life so that Batak youth are successful in achieving what they strive for. Problems such as cultural dissimilarity are a big challenge that must be resolved immediately with good adjustment by Batak youth, especially those who are migrating for the first time. Thus, knowledge from your hometown is needed to be able to survive in the overseas world.

Based on this adaptation problem, the UGM Student Creativity Team for Social and Humanities Research (PKM-RSH) recently conducted research. The team consisting of Geraldo Situmorang (Forestry 2020), Julian Dwi Efendi (History 2020), Fahri Reza (Literature 2021), Hendra Prasetya (Public Policy 2022), and Iqbal Sinulingga (Agricultural Industrial Technology 2022) has successfully researched the topic “Dalihan Na Tolu: Life Survival System for Overseas Batak People in the Toba Yogyakarta Batak Student Community.”

From the results of the research that has been carried out, it is revealed that the Dalihan Na Tolu philosophy, which is a kinship system, is capable of bringing change in the adjustment of Batak students overseas. The existence of clans is the basis for the system to bring students into the community, both inside and outside the campus. The existence of a community of Toba Batak students is an implication of the adaptation problems faced by Batak students plus interactions between Batak people who are overseas.

Dalihan Na Tolu is defined as three stoves consisting of Manat Mardongan Tubu, Somba Marhula-hula, and Elek Marboru. These three constitute the core trilogy which serves as the basic theme of Dalihan Na Tolu. Dalihan Na Tolu’s role in making it easier for Batak students to adapt to Yogyakarta is implemented with tarombo. Tarombo is a system formed on the principle of kinship which shows a person’s rights and obligations towards his family by underlining a person’s role and function in the family structure, namely through part speech (greeting). That way, students are taught how to behave, to whom, for what reasons, and not just limited to family structure.

The Dalihan Na Tolu system, which teaches social interaction in Batak culture, has an impact on the formation of Batak communities on and off campus. Several communities such as the Batak Student Community (Atma Jaya University Yogyakarta), Imbada (Duta Wacana University Yogyakarta), Sada Pardomuan (Sanata Dharma University Yogyakarta), and Marga Sumut (Gadjah Mada University) in Yogyakarta help students in social adaptation. Motivations for joining a community vary, and activities held by the community can help maintain Batak’s cultural heritage.

Outside campus, clan-based communities such as Situmorang and Parna as well as church youth groups also provide support and expand students’ social networks. However, there are several shifts from the Dalihan Na Tolu system, such as the use of the Batak language calling system which is limited to fellow Batak communities, and a decrease in understanding of the Partuturan system. Students felt embarrassed or lacked education in using the Batak language, and the traditional address system began to shift to using common language such as “Mas” and “Mbak.” This indicates a change in learning Batak culture among overseas students.

In implementing the Dalihan Na Tolu concept, there are two factors that influence Batak students in Yogyakarta. Internal factors are influenced by a lack of knowledge inherited from the closest family, a lack of concern for traditional traditions, a high curiosity about local culture, and a lack of participation in traditional events overseas. External factors are influenced by cultural differences between Toba Batak and Yogyakarta City, which are dominated by Javanese culture and other cultures. The diversity of students from various regions also contributes to a mix of cultures.

Thus, the Dalihan Na Tolu system and tarombo as its implementation help Batak students adapt. Batak clans and communities inside and outside campus become a forum that facilitates the adaptation process and allows students to build social relationships. However, the research results identified a shift in the application of Batak culture, especially in the use of the Batak language and the spoken system. Internal factors, such as a lack of knowledge inherited from the family, and external factors, such as the dominance of Javanese culture, influenced this change. In a deeper analysis, shifts in language use and speech indicate a cultural adjustment that occurs among Batak students in Yogyakarta. Although Dalihan Na Tolu remains the guide, its implementation can change according to the cultural environment faced.

The phenomenon of self-improvement books is mushrooming among early adult readers or students. Many students spend their time reading self-improvement books as a way to improve their self-quality. For this reason, the Student Creativity Program (PKM) team in the field of Social Humanities Research (RSH) Gadjah Mada University researched the effectiveness of self-help books and their influence on readers with members Annisa Safira Azzahra (Psychology 2021), Bolivia Rahmawati (FIB 2021), Lazuardi Choiri Imani (FIB 2021), Ridho Alfadri (FIB 2022) and Hilmy Azka Zul Amali (Psychology 2022) accompanied by Ardian Rahman Afandi, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist.

Annisa, as chairman, admitted that this idea emerged from her observations of her friends in the lecture environment who were increasingly reading self-improvement books. “Many friends even claim to feel development or change after reading self-improvement books,” he added. Lazuardi, as a student of the Indonesian Language and Literature study program, said, “My friends are also starting to follow the trend of reading self-improvement books under the pretext of developing themselves.” Apart from that, Ridho, one of the team members admitted that his friend could even spend millions of rupiah to buy self-improvement books.

The team with the research title “Illusion of Progress: The Effectiveness of Self-Help Books and Its Implications for Early Adult Readers” carried out a research process on UGM students in August-September 2023. The effectiveness of this self-improvement book was assessed using the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. In the research process, this five-member team received full support from accompanying lecturers, faculty, and the university. The team also targets to be able to submit their scientific articles to be uploaded to the Q1 journal.