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, October 13, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the improvement of educational quality through the KAGAMA Korea Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The event was held in Room 305, Building F, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, from 08.30 to 09.00 WIB, and was attended by all scholarship recipients as well as students enrolled in the course Cross-Cultural Understanding Between Korea and Indonesia.

The program began with an opening by the master of ceremonies, followed by a welcoming speech from Achmad Rio Dessiar, S.S., M.A., Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation and congratulations to the scholarship recipients for their hard work and academic achievements. He also gave a brief introduction about KAGAMA Korea and provided information about the scholarship programs offered by the study program.

The event continued with the presentation of scholarship certificates to ten outstanding students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, namely:

1. Naufal Java Fakhriansyah (GPA 3.88)

2. Vira Ardiana Puspaningrum (GPA 3.87)

3. Rohadatul ‘Aisy Hamdaini (GPA 3.85)

4. Safrina Kurnia Dewi (GPA 3.78)

5. Nayla Nur Shadrina (GPA 3.85)

6. Lian Lina Purnama (GPA 3.85)

7. Sofia Rahma Ismulyanti (GPA 3.82)

8. Tamara Nasrina Prameswari (GPA 3.94)

9. Irene Xaviera Lovryna (GPA 3.90)

10. Theresia Chindyawati (GPA 3.87)

The awarding of this scholarship not only served as a form of recognition for students’ academic excellence but also as an encouragement to foster continuous learning and active contribution in the field of Korean language and culture. Through this support, students are expected to further develop their personal and academic capacities in a holistic manner.

In addition to providing direct benefits for the recipients, this event also strengthened the collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and KAGAMA Korea. The partnership stands as a tangible example of shared commitment to creating equal and sustainable educational opportunities, while fostering the improvement of human resource quality.

The event concluded with a group photo session involving the scholarship recipients, lecturers, and representatives from the study program.

Through this initiative, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program reaffirms its dedication to creating an inspiring and collaborative learning environment, while contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals through the enhancement of educational quality and the strengthening of academic partnerships.

Author: Aura Adiba WIjaya

Yogyakarta, September 2, 2025 – The Undergraduate Tourism Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an international guest lecture under the ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility program with the theme “Sustainability and Sustainable Practices in Tourism Enterprises.” The lecture featured Assoc. Prof. Halime Göktas Kulualp from Karabük University, Turkiye, shared valuable insights through the case study of Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage City recognized since 1994.

In her presentation, Prof. Kulualp described Safranbolu as a small but historically rich town in Karabük Province, located in the Black Sea region of Turkiye. For centuries, it served as an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, a trade route connecting Asia and Europe. The town has witnessed the presence of great civilizations, including the Hittites, Romans, and Byzantines, and reached its golden age under the Ottoman Empire. During this period, caravanserais such as the famous Cinci Han were established to host merchants and travelers passing through the region.

What makes Safranbolu truly unique is its remarkable Ottoman architecture. The town is renowned for its traditional houses, many of which are more than 300 years old, characterized by whitewashed walls, wooden frames, large windows, and private courtyards. These houses are living examples of how Turkish people once lived. Beyond its architecture, Safranbolu is also surrounded by natural beauty, with stunning sites like Tokatl Canyon and Bulak Caves attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The name Safranbolu comes from “saffron,” a rare and precious spice that grows in the area, combined with the name of the nearby region, Bolu. This name reflects the city’s cultural identity and historical wealth. UNESCO’s recognition highlights Safranbolu’s authenticity, integrity, and its importance as a living heritage for humanity. According to Prof. Kulualp, Safranbolu’s success in preserving its cultural legacy while embracing tourism offers an inspiring example of how heritage conservation and sustainable development can go hand in hand.

Through this guest lecture, UGM Tourism students were encouraged to see tourism not only as an economic activity but also as a responsibility to safeguard cultural heritage. The story of Safranbolu reminds us that sustainability in tourism is essential to protect history while ensuring benefits for local communities and future generations.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, September 19, 2025– The vibrant atmosphere filled the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK) UGM as the Gamarupa Art Exhibition took place from September 14–20, 2025. Organized by the UGM Fine Arts Unit, the exhibition became a platform for artistic appreciation and a stage for students from various faculties, including those from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, to present their works.

One of the highlights was “One Thousand and Wish” by Claudius Genesius Hartoko, a student from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, FIB UGM. The artwork tells the story of Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old girl who suffered from leukemia caused by the Hiroshima bombing. Inspired by the legend of a thousand paper cranes, Claudius’ piece symbolizes resilience and hope in the face of hardship.

In addition to Claudius, several other FIB UGM students contributed their creative works to the exhibition, including Marinie Alina Fadila, Nisa Safira, Devina Hanin Natasyha, H. D. Putri, Wanita Perkasa Bijaksana, Hida Cintia Putri Nugroho, Sabrina Azmi Shafa Az Zahro, and Rania Adawia Yasin. Their presence enriched the exhibition and demonstrated how humanities students can merge cultural insight with visual art to convey powerful messages.

Throughout the week-long event, visitors not only enjoyed the displayed artworks but also engaged in a series of activities such as the opening ceremony, talk shows, artwork discussions, workshops, and collaborative drawing sessions. The open-for-public event attracted enthusiastic audiences and created an interactive space between artists, students, and the community.

The exhibition highlights that FIB UGM students are not only focused on studying culture, language, and history but are also capable of expressing ideas through visual art. Their participation reflects the creative spirit of FIB UGM and its meaningful contribution to the public sphere.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, September 11, 2025 – The Center for Language and Literature Development, under the Agency for Language Development and Cultivation of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, through the Language Office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, held the UKBI Adaptive Trial on Thursday (9/11/2025). The event took place at Riss Hotel Malioboro, Yogyakarta, from 07.30 to 16.00 WIB.

The program aimed to test the Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI) questions that had previously been validated in the standardization process. UKBI is a national standardized test designed to measure Indonesian language proficiency, both spoken and written.

The event opened with remarks from the Head of the Center for Language and Literature Development or the Head of the Language Office, followed by technical guidance delivered by the UKBI team. Throughout the day, participants took part in two trial sessions: the first in the morning and the second in the afternoon.

This activity was attended by a wide range of participants, including lecturers and university students, high school and junior high school teachers and students, researchers, journalists, hotel staff, education office employees, translators, and legal practitioners. From Universitas Gadjah Mada, two Arabic Literature students from the 2023 cohort, Muhammad Candra Solihin and Pandhita Hapsari, also took part in the event. Their participation highlights the important role of young generations in maintaining and enhancing the quality of the Indonesian language.

It is expected that the results of this trial will provide valuable input for improving UKBI questions in the future, making them more adaptive and reflective of comprehensive standards of Indonesian language proficiency.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]