Yogyakarta, October 24, 2025 – Two students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) — Sultan Amirul Muttaqin and Jibriel Sayyid Ishaq — have successfully advanced to the semifinal round of the Al-Istiqama International Arabic Public Speaking Competition 2025. They are two of only 17 participants selected from various countries who made it through after an intense and highly competitive preliminary stage.

In the semifinal round, the competition continues to be held online, with participants required to submit a new video speech addressing a different theme from the previous round. This stage serves as a crucial opportunity for Sultan and Jibriel to demonstrate their analytical depth, creative thinking, and contextual argumentation skills on pressing global issues.

The Arabic Study Program continues to provide comprehensive support for Sultan and Jibriel during this phase, including guidance in speechwriting, training in articulation, intonation, and body language, as well as assistance with video recording and editing. This ongoing support reflects the program’s strong commitment to nurturing students’ linguistic, rhetorical, and cultural competencies on the international stage.

Sultan and Jibriel’s participation in this competition also exemplifies the Arabic Study Program’s contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Their success not only brings pride to the university but also serves as an inspiration for fellow Arabic Literature students to continue developing their potential, engaging in international arenas, and representing Indonesia through language, intellect, and culture.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

Banjarmasin, October 5, 2025 — Three students from the Arabic Literature Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, proudly represented UGM as delegates in the 18th National University Qur’an Recitation Competition (MTQMN XVIII), held at Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

The delegates were Muhammad Candra Solihin (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Contemporary Calligraphy Male category), Pandhita Hapsari (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic), and Hasifa Zara (Arabic Literature, Class of 2024, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic). In addition, Muhammad Shofyyulloh (Cultural Anthropology 2023) as an official, also accompanied the group from UGM.

Before advancing to the national stage, the three students had to undergo a series of rigorous selection processes. These included internal selection at UGM, followed by an online pre-national selection involving hundreds of students from various universities across Indonesia, before finally being chosen as UGM’s official representatives.

The 18th MTQMN brought together around 1,500 students from universities throughout Indonesia, with the competition running over five days. The event featured an opening ceremony, preliminary rounds, final rounds, and a closing ceremony.

This prestigious competition aims to strengthen students’ Qur’anic character, nurturing a generation with noble character, academic excellence, and the ability to contribute to the nation.

UGM provided full support for its delegates, including regular training, academic guidance, and full facilitation of competition needs. Such support reflects the university’s commitment to fostering achievements while upholding UGM’s reputation on the national stage.

The participation of Arabic Literature students in categories such as Qur’anic debate in Arabic highlights the strong relevance between academic learning and competition. It not only sharpens language mastery but also broadens networks and strengthens the tradition of Islamic scholarship on campus.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, September 27, 2025 – The collaboration between the Arabic Literature Student Association (Ikmasa) UGM and the Department of Village Community Development of BEM KM UGM brought forth an inspiring event titled the SEDASA Educational Talkshow (Suara Pemuda untuk Kemajuan Desa / Youth Voices for Village Advancement), as part of the Gemilang Desa 2025 series. Held at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, the event was lively and full of enthusiasm, attended by high school students as well as university students from across Indonesia.

The talk show featured distinguished speakers, including Joko Susilo, Founder of Gunungkidul Menginspirasi and Head of Training and Consultancy at the Nalar Institute; Prof. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM; and keynote speaker KPH H. Yudanegara, Ph.D., Head of the Office of Village Community Empowerment, Population, and Civil Registration of Yogyakarta Special Region. The session was moderated by Antonia Elena Listya Araminta, Environmental Ambassador of DIY 2025, who guided the discussion warmly and interactively.

This activity served as a vital dialogue space to address modern challenges faced by villages, ranging from limited access to information, insufficient utilization of technology, to the lack of open dialogue between young people and community leaders. Through the talk show, participants gained direct insights from real-life case studies and practical strategies to optimize village potential. This aligns with the spirit of the Kongres Abdi Desa 2025, carrying the theme “Light from the Village, Weaving Hopes for Indonesia.”

General coordinator of the event, Faris Zakiy Ramadhan, highlighted the remarkable enthusiasm of the participants from the very beginning. “Today we will hold the second and third activities, namely the Gemilang Desa Competition and the SEDASA Talkshow. The Gemilang Desa Competition successfully carried out its series of contests, with the final day being held today. Thank you to the 377 registrants of the Gemilang Desa Competition, which consists of 12 teams in the Business Plan Competition, 101 teams in the Essay Competition, and 26 participants in the Poster Competition. Today we will hold the final round featuring the top 10 individuals and 10 teams from each branch, representing their institutions from all over Indonesia,” he explained.

Through this talk show, young people were encouraged not only to understand village issues but also to foster awareness of realizing village potential and addressing the challenges villages face in the modern era. Moreover, the event created an inclusive and interactive platform to share perspectives, innovative ideas, and cross-regional experiences.

This initiative also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in reducing inequality (SDG 10), improving the quality of education (SDG 4), and strengthening sustainable communities (SDG 11). Villages are positioned not merely as objects of development but as sources of inspiration and drivers of national progress without losing their cultural identity.

The festive atmosphere peaked when the session concluded with the announcement of the winners of the Gemilang Desa competitions. The participants responded with great enthusiasm, taking home new inspiration on how the real contributions of young people can be the key to advancing villages. With the spirit of collaboration, Gemilang Desa 2025 proved that Indonesian students and youth can play an active role in building villages that are both competitive and sustainable.

[Public Relations of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Candra Solihin]

Behind the spotlight of national and international achievements lies a long journey of perseverance lived by Haris Arfakhsyad, a student of Arabic Literature of FIB UGM who has become known for his outstanding performance in Arabic public speaking. He has won first place in the Arabic Fair organized by UNS Surakarta, second place at the international level in GEKA 7 held by UMY Yogyakarta, and second place in FIKAR 12 hosted by UPI Bandung. But beyond the trophies and podiums, his story is about the courage to rise again after an early setback.

That journey began back in the third grade of elementary school at a Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. During a Qur’anic preaching competition organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangkalan, his teachers and parents encouraged the shy and timid boy to compete. He agreed. He trained diligently, memorized his speech, and prepared himself for the stage. Yet, fate took a different turn. Halfway through his performance, he suddenly forgot his lines and had to end his speech abruptly. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered to his father, “Dad, I want to go home. I must have lost.”

The experience left him shaken, and for a time, he refused to enter any competitions. But a year later, encouraged once again by his mother, he decided to give it another try. This time, he placed third, a small victory that reignited his spirit. From that moment on, his passion for public speaking slowly grew stronger. By the time he entered high school, he had developed a deep interest in Arabic speeches. Failures came often, but each setback taught him resilience and shaped the speaker he would become. Eventually, he claimed his first victory in an Arabic speech contest organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jember—an achievement that fueled his path toward national and even international stages.

His success, however, did not come by chance. It was the product of discipline and consistent preparation. He began every competition by carefully crafting a script that matched the given theme. Once the text was ready, he memorized it word for word, practiced his gestures and intonation, and rehearsed in front of teachers, friends, or family to gather feedback. This routine became his formula for growth, one he still relies on today.

The road to victory, of course, was not without obstacles. In fact, failures far outnumbered his wins. “I always believe that every difficulty comes with ease. Never think poorly of your own effort,” he said. For him, failure was not the end, but the best teacher and the foundation for future achievements.

Support from his parents, teachers, and friends also played a pivotal role. “The prayers of my parents are the key,” he stated firmly. Competitions also gave him the opportunity to meet new peers—talented, inspiring individuals who became part of his journey. For him, those connections are among the most meaningful rewards.

When asked what qualities are most important to compete at the national level, his answer was straightforward yet powerful: a willingness to keep learning and improving. “Never be satisfied too soon. Those who want to grow will not stop at a single achievement,” he explained. Humility and optimism, he added, are equally vital pillars for success.

The toughest moments came when he lost repeatedly, with no victories to hold onto. At times, he thought about giving up. But again, the faith and encouragement of his parents lifted him back up. “Great people are not those who never fail, but those who refuse to quit despite repeated failures,” he reflected.

As he closed his story, he shared a message for fellow students: that every person is born with their own strengths and weaknesses, and what sets us apart is our willingness to keep improving ourselves. “Whoever strives with sincerity will succeed,” he said, quoting the well-known Arabic proverb, man jadda wajada. 

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, September 23, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program Association IKMASA UGM held its second Raudhah Al-Kitabah discussion forum, this time focusing on “The Role of Media in Information Dissemination and Provocation: A Critical Discourse Analysis Perspective.” The event brought in expert speakers who explored how media shapes the flow of information, influences public opinion, and even carries the potential for provocation within society. The forum was actively attended by Arabic Study Program students as part of their effort to deepen their understanding of contemporary issues in the Arab world.

Through this discussion, participants were invited to examine the relationship between media and the social, cultural, and political dynamics of the Middle East. The speakers emphasized the crucial importance of media literacy and the ability to conduct critical discourse analysis to distinguish between valid information and misleading provocation.

As an outcome of the forum, students produced a discussion summary that not only serves as a reference for further academic study but also provides recommendations on how media should ideally function—as a tool for education and knowledge dissemination rather than mere propaganda.

Beyond the topic itself, the forum strengthened the academic culture among students, encouraging them to read critically, conduct research, and exchange ideas in a constructive and reflective way.

Author: Ikmasa UGM