Universitas Gadjah Mada held the graduation ceremony for Bachelor’s and Applied Bachelor’s degree programs for the third period of the 2025/2026 academic year on Thursday (May 21, 2026). During this period, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences saw 11 students graduate; two of them, Endar Sasmito Aji and Haryo Untoro, were recipients of the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) scholarship. Both successfully completed their studies with cum laude honors in less than four years.

Endar Sasmito Aji is a graduate of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program who was frequently active in various Javanese arts and cultural activities. Hailing from Kulon Progo, he participated in several campus-based arts communities, such as the Gamelan Mahasiswa Sastra Nusantara (Gamasutra) at the study program level and the Unit Kesenian Jawa Gaya Surakarta (UKJGS) at the university level. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Aji gained professional experience through an internship at the Cultural Office (Kundha Kabudayan) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Regarding organizational involvement, he served in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Student Association (HMJ Kamastawa) during the Candrabirawa Cabinet (2023/2024) and the Ancalaloka Cabinet (2024/2025) terms. He was also involved as an organizer and performer for the 12th Gugur Gunung, as an organizer and gamelan musician for the 13th Gugur Gunung, and as an organizer for the 30th Temu Budaya Nusantara (TBN), an event held by the Association of Regional Language and Literature Students of Indonesia (Imbasadi) at the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Endar’s thesis focused on Javanese performing arts. His research examined the humor within the Dhagelan Mataram (Javanese comedy) performance titled Umuk Keblasuk, featuring renowned Yogyakarta comedians Gareng Rakasiwi, Jonet, and Ari Purnomo. He successfully completed his studies in three years and seven months, graduating cum laude.

Meanwhile, Haryo Untoro was a student in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture program, actively engaged in Javanese studies, particularly regarding the Javanese language. Despite hailing from Bekasi, he completed his degree in three years, eight months, and seven days, also graduating cum laude. During his time as a student, he was active in various organizations; he served as a member of the HMJ Kamastawa under the Candrabirawa Cabinet (2023/2024) and Ancalaloka Cabinet (2024/2025), and held membership and leadership roles in the Cultural Sciences Muslim Family (KMIB) under the Badr Cabinet (2023/2024) and Tajdeed Cabinet (2024/2025). Additionally, he was an active member and administrator of the Indonesian Regional Language and Literature Student Association (Imbasadi) during the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 terms. Beyond organizational involvement, he gained experience working part-time in administration for the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. His active engagement was accompanied by various academic achievements, including winning First Place in the 2023 Humanika Essay Competition and First Place in the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN) at Imbasadi’s Temu Budaya Nusantara XXX (Archipelago Cultural Gathering). Furthermore, he was a student in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences’ “Fast Track” program and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Linguistics at the same faculty, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Their theses also focused on linguistic studies, specifically analyzing the translation structure of the anthology Jenggala: Kumpulan Puisi Dwibahasa (Jenggala: A Bilingual Poetry Collection). originally written in Indonesian by Monika N. Arundhati and translated into Old Javanese by Y. Novi Marginingrum.

The graduation of these two students is expected to inspire other students to pursue their studies diligently and play an active role in preserving Javanese culture. Furthermore, collaboration among various stakeholders must be strengthened to preserve and embed Javanese culture within society. A prime example is the role of the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation through its student scholarship program. The foundation’s commitment to supporting both education and cultural preservation represents a tangible contribution toward intellectually enriching the nation and strengthening national identity through culture.

Author: Prodi Sastra Jawa FIB UGM

“Sometimes, to see ourselves, we need a mirror. And in some ways, Mas Ariel’s book serves that purpose,” said Ramayda Akmal during a discussion titled “Ramayda Akmal Membaca Ariel Heryanto” on Monday, June 29, at the Soegondo Building Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Science, UGM. This discussion was a collaboration between KPG Publishing and the Master’s Program in Literature, featuring Ramayda Akmal—a lecturer in Indonesian Language and Literature and an author—as the speaker, Ariel Heryanto as the guest speaker, and Giandra as the moderator.

Through her analysis of the books Huruf Demi Huruf and Nasib Publik dalam Republik, Ramayda highlighted a common thread in Ariel Heryanto’s thought: the effort to position Indonesia as the starting point for understanding itself. According to her, Ariel’s writings not only offer a critique of established perspectives but also question why the production of knowledge about Indonesia remains so dependent on Western perspectives and theories.

One of the ideas highlighted by Ramayda is “Asia as Method,” an approach that encourages scholars to engage in dialogue with the experiences, ideas, and theories of Asian countries whose contexts are similar to Indonesia’s. She explained that Ariel demonstrates how Indonesia’s relations with countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and India can serve as a foundation for understanding various social and cultural issues, rather than always relying on the West as the sole point of reference.

“We rarely cite the writings of our own peers. Theoretical and academic interactions among scholars within the same academic community remain unbalanced,” Ramayda stated while explaining one of the critiques raised by Ariel Heryanto in his works. According to her, this imbalance means that perspectives on Indonesia are often shaped by standards that do not necessarily stem from the experiences of Indonesian or Asian societies.

This issue extends beyond the selection of theories and is also evident in the system of knowledge production. Ramayda explained that measures of literacy, publication standards, and even methods for evaluating the quality of academic work still largely rely on global benchmarks that do not always align with local conditions. Through his book Huruf Demi Huruf, Ariel reflects on his personal experiences to demonstrate that the process of learning and constructing knowledge is always influenced by diverse social, cultural, and historical contexts.

In response to the reading, Ariel Heryanto commended Ramayda’s approach to connecting her ideas with the current academic landscape. For him, a work of literature continues to live on through new interpretations by its readers. Therefore, discussions serve as a vital space for broadening interpretations while simultaneously reexamining various assumptions that have long been accepted in the academic world.

The discussion then continued with a Q&A session that addressed a variety of issues, ranging from exile literature and democracy to the dynamics of knowledge production in Indonesia. Through this event, the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Science, UGM, in collaboration with KPG Publishing, created a space for dialogue that encourages critical reflection on how Indonesia produces knowledge while opening up possibilities for building a scholarly tradition more deeply rooted in the experiences and context of the Asian region.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]

Yogyakarta, June 5, 2026 – The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again held its Korean Language Comprehensive II (Korean Business) course in collaboration with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS). The class was taught by Kim Sueun, a lecturer from HUFS, and took place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (WIB) in Room S204 as part of the ongoing academic partnership between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM and HUFS.

The course has primarily been conducted online. However, in June 2026, a special in-person session was organized by inviting Kim Sueun to teach directly at UGM, providing students with a more engaging and interactive learning experience.

During the session, students delivered presentations in Korean on their product innovation ideas. This activity allowed them to apply the Korean language skills they had acquired in the context of business and professional communication.

Through these presentations, students not only demonstrated their creativity in presenting innovative product concepts but also enhanced their public speaking skills, critical thinking abilities, and confidence in using Korean. 

This activity is expected to further strengthen students’ Korean language proficiency while enriching their international learning experience through the continued collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Author: Aura Adiba Wijaya Litianko

Yogyakarta, May 21, 2026 – Lecturers from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, conducted a Community Service Program (Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat/PkM) at SMA Negeri 1 Teladan Yogyakarta. The program aimed to introduce the fundamentals of the Korean language and culture while providing students with an overview of UGM’s Korean Language and Culture Study Program. The participants were members of the school’s Korean language extracurricular club.

The program began with an introduction to the Korean alphabet (Hangeul), the foundation of learning the Korean language. Students were introduced to the shapes, pronunciation, and basic principles of the Hangeul writing system, enabling them to gain a fundamental understanding of Korean orthography.

The participants were then introduced to commonly used Korean vocabulary and expressions frequently encountered in everyday life. The session was delivered interactively, allowing students to connect the material with their prior exposure to Korean culture through popular media such as K-pop, Korean dramas, and other digital content.

To encourage active participation, the PKM team organized an interactive quiz on Korean culture. Through the quiz, students tested their knowledge of various aspects of Korean culture commonly encountered in daily life. Each answer was subsequently discussed, providing an opportunity to clarify misconceptions while expanding the participants’ understanding of Korean culture in a more comprehensive manner.

In addition to the language and cultural sessions, the program also included a socialization session on the Korean Language Proficiency Test. During this session, students received information on the importance of language proficiency certification, the benefits of taking the test, and an overview of its content as preparation for those interested in pursuing Korean language and culture studies at the university level.

Through this Community Service Program, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM hopes to foster students’ interest in and understanding of the Korean language and culture. The activity also served as an opportunity to introduce the study program to prospective students, enabling more high school students to become familiar with its academic offerings, competency development opportunities, and future career prospects.

As part of the university’s commitment to the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, this community service initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between the university and secondary schools while inspiring younger generations to develop cross-cultural perspectives and a strong enthusiasm for learning foreign languages, particularly Korean.

Author: Aura Adiba Wijaya Litianko

Yogyakarta — Ramayda Akmal, an author and lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), invited the public to revisit the ideas of Ariel Heryanto, Professor Emeritus at Monash University, during a discussion titled Ramayda Akmal Reads Ariel Heryanto, held at the Soegondo Auditorium, 7th Floor of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, on Monday (June 29), from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Moderated by Giandra Febrian, a graduate student in UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature, the event featured Ariel Heryanto as the keynote speaker. The discussion centered on two of his books, Huruf demi Huruf (Letter by Letter) and Nasib Publik dalam Republik (The Fate of the Public in the Republic), inviting participants to explore contemporary social, political, and cultural issues in Indonesia through these works.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Aprinus Salam, Head of UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature, reflected on his long intellectual journey with Ariel Heryanto. He also shared several archival photographs documenting their years of friendship, offering both a nostalgic recollection and a tribute to Ariel’s contributions to Indonesian scholarship.

Opening her presentation, Ramayda described Huruf demi Huruf as a collection of essays that encapsulates many of the most pressing issues confronting contemporary Indonesia. According to her, Ariel’s writings do more than address significant social and political questions—they encourage readers to reexamine assumptions that are often taken for granted. These include the notion of elections as a “democratic celebration,” the idea of the middle class, interpretations of the May 1998 mass rapes as a language of power rather than merely racial violence, and the extent to which Indonesia’s post-independence social structure continues to reflect the colonial legacy of the Dutch East Indies.

Ramayda also highlighted Ariel Heryanto’s distinctive intellectual approach, which does not rely exclusively on Western theoretical frameworks. Instead, many of his essays seek to understand Asian societies through the experiences, histories, knowledge, and intellectual traditions produced by fellow Asian societies—an approach often referred to as South–South knowledge exchange. In her reading, Ariel consistently situates Indonesian culture within its broader relationships with other Asian societies.

She further argued that one of Ariel’s greatest strengths lies in his ability to examine the increasingly complex relationship between popular culture, capitalism, and power. According to Ramayda, the rise of digital media has created various forms of alternative cultural production that appear open and inclusive while remaining embedded within capitalist structures.

“What makes Mas Ariel’s writings enduring is that they continue to invite new questions as the examples themselves become increasingly complex. Earlier, we discussed whether alternative literature belongs to pop culture or whether it should be understood as an alternative product. It is heavily facilitated by highly capitalist media. Although the space is remarkably diverse and inclusive—anyone can write and anyone can read—you still have to pay for the product. This makes the relationship between capitalism, popular culture, political power, and dominant forces even more complex,” Ramayda explained.

During the discussion, Ramayda also shared her personal appreciation for the essay “Huruf demi Huruf,” the title essay of the book. She described it as one of Ariel’s most memorable works because it begins with deeply personal childhood experiences before expanding into a broader reflection on Indonesia’s contemporary condition.

Meanwhile, Ariel Heryanto reflected on the question that has motivated his writing since around 1976. He explained that he has long been preoccupied with understanding why profound social inequality can persist within societies that nevertheless appear relatively stable, peaceful, and seemingly free of major upheaval.

The discussion became particularly lively when an audience member asked whether Indonesia might face national disintegration, referring to the title of Ariel’s book Nasib Publik dalam Republik. Responding to the question, Ariel argued that capitalism remains the most powerful force shaping the modern nation-state.

“In my view, the greatest force in the world today is capitalism—not radicalism, not separatism. Those forces certainly exist, but none surpasses capitalism. As long as a state operates within a capitalist system, it will endure—not only domestically but also internationally. In other words, nationalism is itself a product of, and serves the interests of, capitalism. The fate of a nation ultimately depends on whether it is constituted through a capitalist system,” Ariel said.

Through this discussion, the organizers hoped that both longtime readers and newcomers to Ariel Heryanto’s work would see the forum as an opportunity to critically engage with Indonesia’s contemporary challenges through the perspectives of literature, culture, and the social sciences.

The event concluded with a book-signing session by Ariel Heryanto. Many participants took the opportunity to have their books signed, take photographs, and engage in informal conversations with Ariel about the ideas discussed during the event. Their enthusiasm reflected the enduring interest in Ariel Heryanto’s works and intellectual contributions, which continue to offer relevant perspectives for understanding Indonesia’s contemporary social, political, and cultural issues.

Author: Khotibul Imam