Yogyakarta, September 11, 2025 – Students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), took part in an Interfaith Prayer event held at UGM Religious Facilities, Jalan Podocarpus I, Sendowo, Sleman. Carrying the theme “Ruwat Bumi: Manunggaling Manah Kagem Rahayuning Nagari” (Purifying the Earth: Uniting Hearts for the Prosperity of the Nation), the event became a space of togetherness to pray for peace in Indonesia amidst a tense social and political climate.

The event was attended by interfaith leaders: Romo Prasetyo representing Hinduism, Reverend Risang Anggoro Elliarso representing Christianity, Romo Pasadhi Lan Pasani representing Buddhism, and Joko Purwono representing Islam. Each took turns leading the prayers in solemnity, accompanied by the symbolic lighting of candles by the participants.

The program began with opening remarks from the committee, followed by joint prayers, a discussion session (sarasehan), and a communal meal in a warm and friendly atmosphere. In addition to the UGM academic community, the event also involved local residents and representatives from the Yogyakarta Palace (Kraton).

From FIB UGM, two students—Bernadetta Rahayuning Tyas (Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture 2023) and I Putu Purnama Wisnu Aji (History 2023)—served as part of the Logistics Division, ensuring the smooth running of technical needs, from venue arrangements and sound system setup to other logistical preparations.

Bernadetta shared her positive impression of joining the event:

“It was a pleasant experience to take part in this activity, as I could interact with friends from different faiths. In response to the current tense situation, it is not only about voicing concerns through stories on social media but also through shared prayers. Our differences in faith do not prevent us from praying for and strengthening one another. My hope is that there will be no more bloodshed, and that the government will wisely use its authority by enacting policies that truly serve the people’s welfare,” she expressed.

This event stemmed from concerns over national incidents in late August 2025, when student demonstrations in Jakarta and Yogyakarta ended in violence, casualties, and damage to public facilities. The interfaith prayer gathering at UGM was initiated as an effort to unite hearts in maintaining peace, fostering solidarity, and reminding the government of its role as a servant of the people.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this activity reflects a commitment to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Through interfaith prayer, UGM’s academic community and the public demonstrate tangible efforts to strengthen peace, prevent conflict, and nurture inclusive dialogue spaces amidst diversity.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

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]

On 23-24 September 2025, the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Programme, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, held a Scopus-indexed scientific article writing class with the theme ‘Urban Spirituality and the Reformulation of Sufi Rituals’, led by Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina binti Sa’ari, a leading expert from the University of Malaya in the study of Islamic creed and thought. This class aims to provide practical insights on how to write quality scientific articles for Scopus-indexed international journals, with a focus on the topics of urban spirituality and the reformulation of Sufi rituals.

Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina explained the importance of choosing relevant and contemporary topics in the academic world, as well as how urban spirituality and Sufi rituals can be used as interesting subjects of study. She shared strategies on how to write a good scientific article, from topic selection to effective writing techniques, with an emphasis on the importance of clear methodology and valid references.

Participants were also provided with guidance on selecting the appropriate journal and structuring an article systematically, as well as tips for crafting an engaging and persuasive abstract. Prof. Zarrina also discussed common challenges in writing articles, such as dealing with criticism from journal reviewers and how to respond to feedback constructively.

The class concluded with a question-and-answer session that offered participants the opportunity to learn more about the process of writing scientific articles. It is hoped that this class will enrich participants’ skills in writing articles ready for publication in Scopus-indexed international journals, while also deepening their understanding of the importance of urban spirituality and Sufism studies within an academic context.

Author: Amanda Jesisca

September 26, 2025 – The Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada held the Korindo Foundation Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year. The event was opened by the MC and the Talchum performance, followed by welcoming remarks from Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, and Setiyono, General Manager of the Korindo Foundation.

The ceremony continued with the announcement of the names of Korean Language and Culture students from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences who were selected as recipients of the Korindo Foundation Scholarship for the 2025/2026 academic year. The following students were awarded the scholarship:

1. Alma Naya Kamila
2. Anisa Setya Utami
3. Febryani Dhea Khusnulia
4. Mulya Ghefira Azzahra
5. Oryza Sativa Rosyadi
6. Raissa Aneswari

In addition to the announcement, the scholarship recipients also shared their gratitude and reflections:

“I am deeply grateful to the Korindo Foundation for its support. This scholarship is not only a financial aid but also a reminder and motivation to always study diligently. I hope the Korindo Foundation will continue to provide this valuable opportunity to other outstanding students in the future.” – Alma

“I sincerely thank the Korindo Foundation for this meaningful scholarship. This support motivates me to complete my studies with the best results, pursue my dreams, and make my parents proud. The scholarship will truly benefit my education and future career.” – Anisa Setya

“I feel very grateful and proud to be chosen as one of the Korindo Scholarship recipients. This support is a great motivation for me to study harder, develop my potential, and gain valuable experiences. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Korindo for the trust and support given. May this program continue and bring greater benefits to more students in the future.” – Febryani

“My deepest thanks to the Study Program and the Korindo Foundation for this precious opportunity. For me, this scholarship is a form of trust as well as a reminder that every small step I take matters. Although my journey is currently a bit slowed down due to health conditions, I want to keep moving forward with gratitude and responsibility, so that greater dreams can be achieved.” – Mulya

“I am very grateful to be selected as one of the scholarship recipients, and I truly appreciate the Korindo Foundation for providing this award. For me, the scholarship is not only financial support but also a form of encouragement and trust. This opportunity motivates me to keep learning and achieving. I hope this scholarship program will continue and inspire more students in pursuing their education.” – Oryza

“I feel proud and thankful to be chosen as one of the Korindo Foundation scholarship recipients. For me, this scholarship is not just financial support, but also a form of motivation and trust that drives me to study harder. I hope that in the future more students will benefit from Korindo’s scholarship program.” – Raissa

The event concluded with a group photo session featuring all scholarship recipients, representatives from the Korindo Foundation, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences’ leadership, and the Talchum performers. Through this event, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program hopes to continue strengthening its partnership with the Korindo Foundation in the years ahead.

(Aura Adiba // Sherina Azmi A.)