The inter-staff (tendik) volleyball tournament featuring the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), the Faculty of Philosophy, the Faculty of Psychology, and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) was held once again. The event took place at the FEB South Volleyball Court on August 14, 2026, running from 07:30 to 09:30 WIB. Around 45 female staff members enthusiastically joined the competition, with each team consisting of 10 players.

This inter-faculty sports event was specially organized to celebrate the 71st Anniversary (Dies Natalis) of FEB.

From the opening round, the competition ran smoothly and full of excitement all the way to the final match, which brought together the staff teams of FIB and FEB. The final showdown delivered several intense rallies. Non-stop cheering from the FIB staff on the sidelines successfully brought a heated yet thrilling atmosphere to the court.

In the end, the FEB staff team emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 sweep over FIB. Although falling short in the final, the FIB staff remained joyful and immensely proud of their team’s improved performance.

“It’s alright to take second place; we are a completely different team compared to before,” said Vivin, one of the FIB staff members, after the match. This achievement serves as a memorable moment for the FIB staff to further strengthen inter-faculty camaraderie while boosting the athletic spirit across the campus.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

The first stage of the Community Service Program (PkM) entitled “Polite and Responsible Social Media Use among Adolescents,” organized by the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), was successfully held at SMA Negeri 1 Depok, Sleman. The activity was enthusiastically attended by students and featured a series of educational activities focusing on polite, wise, and responsible social media use.

The activity began with a report on the implementation of the program delivered by the Head of the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Dr. Hayatul Cholsy, S.S., M.Hum. The report outlined the implementation of the program and its objectives, particularly in raising adolescents’ awareness of the importance of politeness in communication on social media.

Following the report, Drs. H. Tri Nardono, Public Relations Vice Principal of SMA Negeri 1 Depok, expressed his appreciation for the implementation of the program. He also welcomed the collaboration between SMA Negeri 1 Depok and the Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, as a joint effort to provide students with guidance on using social media wisely and respectfully.

Before the main session, students completed a pretest designed to map their social media habits and experiences. The results provided an initial overview of social media use among the students and supported the delivery of materials that were relevant to their experiences and needs.

The main session on polite social media use was delivered by Prof. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A., with Dr. Wira Kurniawati, S.S., M.A. serving as the moderator. Through the session, students were encouraged to understand the importance of using polite, thoughtful, and responsible language when communicating in digital spaces.

The activity continued with group dynamics, during which students developed ideas and prepared creative follow-up projects. Working in groups, the students created flyers or videos under the theme “Jarimu Harimaumu!” (“Your Fingers, Your Responsibility!”). Through these works, students were encouraged to convey messages about the importance of thinking carefully before posting, commenting, or sharing information on social media.

All student works will be presented during the evaluation activity scheduled for 10 August 2026. The evaluation will form part of the PkM series and will provide an opportunity to assess the students’ understanding and creativity while allowing them to communicate messages about polite and responsible social media use through their own works.

Through this program, the Master’s Program in Linguistics, FIB UGM, continues to contribute to the development of language and digital literacy among adolescents. The collaboration with SMA Negeri 1 Depok is expected to serve as a meaningful step toward fostering a culture of polite, critical, and responsible communication in digital spaces.

The PkM program will continue with the next stage, featuring the evaluation and presentation of the students’ works. We look forward to seeing the students again in the next stage of the program!

Author: Magister Linguistik

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM welcomed Hesti Aryani, S.S., M.A., an alumna of the English Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, who is now the Senior Business Development Manager at JANZZ Technology Switzerland and Director of PT JANZZ Technology Indonesia, a BIPA instructor at the Indonesian Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, and a member of the APPBIPA Germany executive board for the promotion of the Indonesian language in Europe. Before returning to Switzerland that afternoon, Hesti took the time to visit the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM, where she received a warm welcome from the faculty leadership. Hopefully, Hesti’s visit to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences will help expand international networks and enhance the soft skills of UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences alumni.

Hesti Aryani, S.S., M.A.’s Journey to Success:

After graduating from high school in 2007, Hesti Aryani went on to study at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, majoring in English Literature. While a student at UGM, Hesti was active in student organizations and participated in youth exchange programs to Russia (2010) and Thailand (2011). Shortly after earning her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Hesti began her professional career as an instructor of English and BIPA (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers) at Chiang Mai University, Thailand, in 2012. At the same time, Hesti pursued her graduate studies and earned a Master of Arts degree from the English Language and Communication program at the Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Hesti’s career journey has taken her to study, work, and live in various countries for over 15 years, spanning from Asia to Europe. Her teaching experience later expanded to the international level, including serving as a lecturer at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, where she taught the course “Sprachkurs Indonesisch.” Since moving to Switzerland in 2019, Hesti has continued the mission of the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture to globalize the Indonesian language and culture through various language and cultural training programs at the Embassies of the Republic of Indonesia in Bern and Warsaw.

Armed with an academic background in language and literature, education, international communication, business development, and technology, Hesti joined a Swiss IT company in 2022 as an Ontologist (an expert in Artificial Intelligence) to develop artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the field of human resources. Currently, Hesti has been entrusted with the role of Managing Director for the company’s representative office in Indonesia. In carrying out her current role, Hesti not only leads the company but is also involved in the development and training of AI systems to provide solutions that benefit the modern workplace—one example being her active advocacy for the importance of human intelligence in AI technology development and regulation at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.

Hesti Aryani’s Journey in Teaching Indonesian to Foreign Speakers (BIPA):

For Hesti Aryani, teaching Indonesian to foreign speakers (BIPA) is not merely a profession, but a calling to introduce Indonesia to the world. A journey that began more than a decade ago has taken her to teach in various countries, build an international network, and earn awards for her dedication to Indonesian language education.

This journey began in 2011 when Hesti visited Thailand as part of the ASEAN Youth Friendship Network program. Recognizing market demand amid preparations for the ASEAN Economic Community, Hesti seized the opportunity to open the first BIPA class in Northern Thailand. In collaboration with the Language Institute at Chiang Mai University, she also initiated the establishment of the Indonesian Corner—a space serving as a hub for language learning, culture, and information about Indonesia, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bangkok. This initiative became a key milestone in the development of Indonesian language education in Northern Thailand.

This experience further strengthened her resolve to develop BIPA professionally by participating in a BIPA teacher certification training program with APBIPA Bali. After returning from Thailand, Hesti joined INCULS (Indonesian Culture and Language Learning Service) and the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (PSSAT) at Gadjah Mada University as a BIPA instructor. These experiences enriched her understanding of cross-cultural teaching strategies and the needs of adult learners from various parts of the world.

In 2019, Hesti continued her international career when she was given the opportunity to teach Indonesian as a Foreign Language (BIPA) at the University of Zurich (UZH) in Switzerland. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, she successfully adapted her teaching methods to an online format that was interactive, creative, and still focused on real-world communication.

This dedication earned her national recognition when Hesti received the Best Online BIPA Teaching Award from APPBIPA Pusat, an acknowledgment of her innovation and the quality of her online Indonesian language instruction. This award serves as proof that digital transformation can be an effective means of expanding access to Indonesian language learning worldwide.

Outside the classroom, Hesti actively contributes to the international BIPA professional community. She is a member of APPBIPA Germany, collaborating with Indonesian language teachers across Europe to share best practices, develop academic networks, and strengthen the presence of BIPA on the international stage.

His commitment to language diplomacy is also reflected in his official appointment as a BIPA instructor by the Language Development and Guidance Agency of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. In this capacity, she was entrusted to teach at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Bern, Switzerland, and later at the KBRI in Warsaw, Poland, introducing the Indonesian language to diplomats, students, professionals, and the international community as part of Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy.

Now, after more than a decade of dedicating herself to the world of BIPA, Hesti’s journey has expanded beyond teaching. With a background as an educator, linguist, and artificial intelligence (AI) practitioner, she is actively developing innovations in language learning, the digitization of education, and the use of technology to expand access to the Indonesian language on a global scale.

For Hesti Aryani, every BIPA class is a space for diplomacy. Every word learned becomes a bridge between nations. And every student who successfully speaks Indonesian is a new ambassador who carries stories about Indonesia to all corners of the world.

Author: Unit PkM, Alumni, dan CDC Fakultas Ilmu Budaya UGM

When you hear the term “Global China,” what comes to mind? Most people would probably answer immediately: the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, for Prof. Timothy Oakes of the University of Colorado Boulder, viewing Global China solely through the lens of BRI policy is an oversimplification. In his guest lecture at the Department of Anthropology, Prof. Oakes invites us to set aside Beijing’s “grand strategy” narrative and shift toward a human geography perspective. He views China not as a monolithic actor operating according to a single blueprint, but rather as a complex “field of power.” This guest lecture explored why China’s obsession with concrete, asphalt, and fiber-optic cables is actually far more profound.

Drawing on the work of sociologist Ching Kwan Lee, Prof. Oakes explained that China’s state capital embodies “Sticky Power.” Unlike Western private capital, which is fluid and easily withdrawn, China’s capital is “anchored” to permanent physical infrastructure. Infrastructure is crucial to a country’s territoriality; it enables the state to control civil society through resources, ranging from dam water flow to the volume of traffic on toll roads. Interestingly, this “Sticky Power” is a double-edged sword. It is true that recipient countries become vulnerable to China’s influence. However, because this capital is “place-bound” (tied to a specific location), China itself becomes vulnerable to local political dynamics. China cannot simply remove toll roads or dams that have already been built if the political situation in the host country deteriorates.

As future scholars, we must view infrastructure projects not merely as bridges or ports, but as configurations of power that are determining who will control our space, data, and mobility in the future.

Author: Humas Departemen Antropologi 

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada held a welcoming ceremony for students participating in the Exchange Program and the Independent Student Exchange (Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka / PMM) for the 2026/2027 Academic Year. The event took place in a warm atmosphere at the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, FIB UGM.

The activity was attended by representatives of the FIB UGM Academic Team and was officially opened by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.E.A. This semester, FIB UGM welcomes 20 exchange students from various partner universities abroad, two of whom are enrolled in joint/double degree programs. Additionally, 10 PMM students from Faculties of Cultural Sciences at universities across Indonesia are joining the faculty.

In her remarks, the Vice Dean extended a warm welcome to all students, expressing her hope that they will easily adapt and make the most of their learning experience at UGM. The ceremony then proceeded with a technical guidance session on course registration (KRS) conducted by the FIB UGM Academic Team to ensure a smooth academic orientation for the incoming students throughout their study period.

The implementation of these exchange programs reflects FIB UGM’s concrete commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, it contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing inclusive and globally oriented educational opportunities, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening strategic academic collaborations with higher education institutions both nationally and internationally.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]