Friday, November 8, 2024 The Cultural Anthropology Student Family (KEMANT) UGM held a discussion session in Rembukant#4 entitled “Navigating the Journey: Building Self-Awareness of Positioning in Ethnographic Fieldwork”. The event was hosted by Keisia Haneswari, a Cultural Anthropology student class of 2022 with Dr. Elan Lazuardi S.Ant., M.A. as the guest speaker. Located in Room 523 Soegondo Building, Faculty of Arts UGM, this event was attended by cultural anthropology students from various generations.

Reflecting on the fieldwork experience of anthropologists, this discussion explored the journey of anthropological researchers which is not always smooth. Awkwardness, fear, rejection, loneliness, and even failure often haunt ethnographers’ fieldwork. Therefore, Rembukant#4 is here to provide a space for anthropology learners to reflect on issues that have not been widely discussed in the classroom.

The discussion opened with a question from the moderator related to questioning the position of researchers when doing fieldwork. The question was then thoroughly discussed by Dr. Elan Lazuardi related to the multiple identities that each researcher brings when in the field greatly affects the relationship between researchers and researchers which will then also affect the ethnographic knowledge produced. In the event, Dr. Elan also shared his fieldwork experience when researching the use of HIV health services, how his identity as a researcher determines his positionality towards his research. By realizing his positionality, the researcher can not only successfully complete his research but also build a reciprocal relationship with his researcher, as stated by Dr. Elan Lazuardi.

In the question and answer session, a number of participants asked questions and shared their experiences when facing confusing circumstances regarding their positionality in the field. After that, the discussion was closed with a group photo which also marked the end of the KEMANT Rembukant series this period.

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Author: Keisia Haneswari, Photo: Hawa Muzayyinah Niswah & Kinanti Rahmi Khoiri, Editor: Sandya]

On Friday, September 27, 2024, the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program welcomed guests from PT Rupa Raya and Marumori Company Co., Ltd. Both companies are companies engaged in architectural design of Japanese houses.

PT. Rupa Raya is an Indonesian company founded by Bustanil Yasir in 2022 in Makassar. Although it is an Indonesian company, PT. Rupa Raya is a company that works in the field of Japanese architectural design. Therefore, 100% of the clients of PT Rupa Raya are from Japan. In running the business. PT Rupa Raya cooperates with a company that works in the same field, namely Marumori Company Co., Ltd. Marumori Company acts as an intermediary and ’employer’ for PT Rupa Raya.

PT Rupa Raya, represented by CEO Bustanil Yasir, opened the presentation by introducing the company’s vision and mission to the Japanese Language and Culture lecturers and students present. Then, CEO Bustanil Yasir also explained the flow of work at PT Rupa Raya. Design work is carried out after receiving a house design from Muromari Company. Based on the design, PT Rupa Raya will then produce 2D, 3D, and designs that can be seen using VR (Virtual Reality) technology. On this occasion, PT Rupa Raya also introduced the internship program to the participants.

After the presentation, the activity then continued with a question and answer session about job openings because the arrival of PT. Rupa Raya was also to inform the opening of vacancies that opened on November 1, 2024 related to the opening of their branch in Semarang. After that, various other questions were also asked by the participants. The activity then ended with a group photo.

[Public Relation FIB UGM, Author: Valentina Pramahita Iswari, Editor: Yulia Agustiani]

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, Dr. Sita Hidayah Ph.D as the representative in charge of the Independent Campus 2024 Competition Program conducted a half-time evaluation of the implementation of research in Pandansari Village, the discussion which was held in the PTPN IX Kaligua Agrotourism area was attended by ten PKKM research and village development scheme participants. The research scheme participants who had departed earlier on October 9 presented findings related to each topic studied ranging from agriculture, tourism, education, irrigation, and forestry, this progress according to Dr. Sita Hidayah is very interesting and can be further developed into research that has novelty.

As for the participants of the village development scheme, this opportunity will be used to realize a program entitled Waste Management Mapping in Pandansari Village: Solutions Based on the Use of Titen Application. This program will specifically be implemented in Dukuh Kalikidang and Embel, through this program it is hoped that the community can participate in mapping waste management problems in the surrounding environment with the “Titen” software application developed by the Anthropology Department.

Pandansari Village itself is not the first time to become a research locus for UGM anthropology students because of its complex and very interesting agricultural culture dynamics to be studied anthropologically, the results of the research that have been carried out are expected not only to fulfill writing assignments, but also to benefit the local community. By focusing on environmental, economic, and inequality issues, the research seeks to achieve sustainable goals in accordance with SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 15.

[HUMAS FIB UGM, Author: Novilatul Ananda Ramadhani, Editor: Sandya Kirani]

Thursday, October 10, 2024, Wonosobo Regency Bappeda Team held a meeting to explore research cooperation with UGM. The exploration targeted the Center for Rural and Regional Studies (PSPK) and the Department of Anthropology UGM for research programs related to SDG 1 (no poverty) and SDG 2 (zero hunger). The Bappeda team was received by the deputy head of PSPK and the staff of the UGM Anthropology Department represented by Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A. and Dr. Muh. Zamzam Fauzanafi, M.A.

The research was motivated by the high stunting rate in Wonosobo Regency, which is 29.2%. This is the highest rate in Central Java. In addition, the poverty rate in Wonosobo has not moved from 15.28% and remains above the average of Central Java Province. Seeing the concerns of the local community, Bappeda tried to partner with universities and study centers to overcome the stunting and poverty problems that plagued the community. Bappeda wanted the PSPK team to go to the field to reduce the poverty rate, while the Anthropology Department was expected to send its team to reduce the stunting rate.

From various stunting and poverty data presented by Bappeda Wonosobo, UGM (PSPK and Anthropology) agreed to conduct research in the area with an estimated time around the beginning of 2025. During the meeting, the Anthropology Department also explored sending student interns (independent research) in 2025. It is hoped that with these researches, new innovations will emerge to reduce stunting and poverty so that the Wonosobo Regency area can be free from them.

Author: Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A.
Editor: Sandya Kirani

Yogyakarta, Monday, November 11th, 2024. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the Regional Planning, Development, Research and Development Agency (Bappeda) of Siak Regency, Riau Province, in the context of planning the development of a Malay cultural center by Siak Regency. The implementation of the activity began at 10.00 WIB to 14.00 WIB in the Multimedia Room Gd. Margono 2nd floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, inviting representatives from Bappeda Siak and a number of lecturers from FIB UGM as presenters.

The activity began with remarks from representatives of Bappeda Siak Regency which were then followed by remarks from the Dean of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., as an opening for FGD activities. Next, the handover of souvenirs as a symbolic series guided by Mrs. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., as Master of Ceremony. The activity was divided into two material sessions, with the first session filled by presenters such as Agus Indiyanto, S.S., M.Si., Dr. Sailal Arimi, S.S., M.Hum., and Dr. Arif Akhyat, M.A.. The second session was then continued by the speakers, namely, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., Dr. Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., and Dr. Widya Nayati, M.A..

The implementation of the Siak Regency Bappeda Focus Group Discussion with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is an important moment of cooperation between the two agencies. FIB UGM through its academics can provide solutions and reference material that can help Bappeda Siak Regency in the plan to build a Malay cultural center.