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]

The Student Association of Japanese Language and Culture (HIMAJE), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized the Japanese Studies Lecture (Kuliah Seru Kejepangan/KSK) on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the 4th Floor of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The event was open to the public and attended by students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program as well as participants from other faculties within UGM.

HIMAJE invited Lili Febriyani, S.S., M.Si., a lecturer from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, as the keynote speaker. She delivered a lecture entitled “The Visible and the Invisible: Reading Japanese Culture through Visual Media.”

The session began with a series of photographs taken in Japan, encouraging participants to share their initial observations and interpretations. The discussion then moved beyond what was immediately visible, inviting participants to explore the cultural meanings embedded within the images. In addition to photographs, the speaker introduced various forms of visual media—including scenes from Japanese television dramas, television commercials, magazine covers, and other visual materials—to demonstrate how Japanese culture can be understood through critical visual analysis. The lecture covered several topics, including Japanese homogeneity and conformity, changes in Japanese food culture, and shifting representations of masculinity as portrayed in different forms of media.

As one of the flagship programs of HIMAJE’s Education and Strategic Studies Division (DIKASTRAT), the Japanese Studies Lecture aims to broaden public understanding of Japanese Studies through engaging and accessible learning activities. The event was offered free of charge to encourage wider participation from students and the general public.

Author: Heni Putri Lestari

Editor: Lili Febriyani, S.S., M.Si.

BANGI, SELANGOR — Three Master’s students in Literary Studies from the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM)—Priyo Joko Purnomo, M. Aufal Ghufron, and Maulana Nurul Izza—participated as paper presenters at the 4th International Seminar on Malay Manuscripts (Seminar Antarabangsa Manuskrip Melayu/SEMALU IV) 2026.

At the international seminar, organized by the Malay World Manuscript Research Centre (Pusat Penyelidikan Manuskrip Alam Melayu/PPMAM), Institute of the Malay World and Civilization (Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu/ATMA), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the three researchers presented a study entitled “Fortune-Telling: The Dynamics of the Abajadun Numerical System in Malay and Javanese Manuscript Traditions.”

SEMALU IV 2026 was held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, on July 21, 2026. The seminar carried the theme “Preserving the Heritage of Malay World Manuscripts through Research and Innovation” and brought together scholars, researchers, academics, and the general public to discuss the richness of Malay manuscripts and the intellectual heritage of the Malay world.

Through their research, the three UGM students examined the dynamics of the adaptation of the Abajadun numerical system within Malay and Javanese manuscript traditions, particularly in the manuscripts Syair Raksi Macam Baru (SRMB) and Kitab Mujarrabat Pegon (KMP). The study highlights how a numerical system that assigns numerical values to Arabic letters underwent processes of adaptation, negotiation, and localization as it interacted with Malay and Javanese cultures.

The study demonstrates that Abajadun is not merely a system of calculation or fortune-telling. Within the manuscript traditions of the Nusantara, the system developed into a cosmological technology that connects human beings, time, nature, and God within a network of meaning. Through calculations involving letters, names, days, and various other elements, communities sought to understand future possibilities and determine appropriate courses of action.

In the Malay tradition, the study of Syair Raksi Macam Baru reveals the use of the Abajadun system to determine compatibility between couples through the calculation of names. Meanwhile, Kitab Mujarrabat Pegon demonstrates the intersection between the Abajadun numerical system and the Javanese tradition of petungan, including the use of the concept of neptu—the numerical values associated with days and market days—for various purposes, such as determining auspicious times for trading, medical treatment, and marriage.

The study also emphasizes that Malay and Javanese manuscripts serve as spaces for the production and negotiation of knowledge. Numbers, letters, names, days, and fate are woven together into a cultural mechanism that helps communities understand uncertainty and organize various decisions in social life.

Drawing on Stuart Hall’s perspective on cultural representation and E.J. Aarseth’s concept of ergodic literature, the study views Abajadun as a sign system whose meanings are not always directly available in the text. Readers must perform a series of operations, beginning with converting letters into numbers, calculating particular values, and interpreting the results. In this process, readers play an active role in discovering the meanings contained within the manuscripts.

“Abajadun serves as a navigator that guides readers from letters to numbers, from numbers to interpretation, and from interpretation to social decisions,” reflects the central idea proposed in the study.

The participation of UGM Master’s students in SEMALU IV 2026 forms part of broader efforts to expand research on Nusantara manuscripts while demonstrating the relevance of traditional knowledge heritage within contemporary academic discourse. The study of Abajadun also shows that Malay and Javanese manuscripts reflect a creative encounter between Islamic traditions and local cosmologies, giving rise to distinctive knowledge systems in the Nusantara.

Through the SEMALU IV forum, the study further strengthens efforts to preserve the manuscript heritage of the Malay world through research and innovation. Manuscripts are not merely viewed as historical relics, but also as sources of knowledge that can continue to be studied, interpreted, and introduced to new generations.

Author: Khotibul Umam

Yogyakarta – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held the Mangayubagya Ceremony for Postgraduate Graduates, Period IV of the 2025/2026 Academic Year on Wednesday (July 22) at the Auditorium of the Poerbatjaraka Building, FIB UGM. The event served as an occasion to honor graduates for completing their studies while highlighting inspiring stories from among the graduating class. Among them were Nabillah Faisal Azzahra, the first graduate of the Master of Arts Program to complete her studies through the Fast Track scheme, and Wanda Andres Saputra, one of the program’s fastest graduates.

For Nabillah, pursuing a master’s degree through the Fast Track Program stemmed from her passion for Japanese literature. A 2021 graduate of the Japanese Language and Culture undergraduate program at FIB UGM, she continued her studies in the Master of Arts Program in 2024 after learning about the Fast Track scheme from her academic advisor.

“I enjoy reading and analyzing Japanese literary works, especially to understand the social and cultural phenomena and issues they present through various theoretical approaches. When my academic advisor introduced the Fast Track Program, I felt it was the perfect opportunity to deepen my interest while continuing my studies more efficiently,” she said.

Entering graduate school, Nabillah experienced a significant shift in the pace of learning, requiring greater independence. She had to engage more extensively with academic literature, think more critically, and develop stronger scholarly arguments. Rather than seeing these demands as obstacles, she viewed them as exciting opportunities to broaden her perspective on literary studies.

“At first, I was surprised by how much more in-depth the theories and research methodologies were. But that was also what made the experience so fascinating. Every course introduced a new way of thinking and made me enjoy the learning process even more,” she explained.

As part of the first cohort of the Fast Track Master’s Program in Literature, Nabillah also had to develop her own academic strategy without the guidance of senior students who had previously gone through the same program. Nevertheless, she believes the Fast Track Program offers numerous advantages, from saving time and costs to allowing students to maintain the academic momentum they built during their undergraduate studies.

“The Fast Track Program certainly has its challenges because the pace is fast and intensive. However, it also offers many benefits for students who already know they want to pursue graduate studies. It has also strengthened my aspiration to become an academic, given the opportunity,” she added.

Another inspiring story came from Wanda Andres Saputra, a graduate of the Master of Arts Program with a concentration in English Literature, who completed his studies as one of the program’s fastest graduates. Wanda began his master’s studies in February 2025 with the goal of deepening his expertise in English literary studies while preparing for a career in academia.

Despite earning recognition as one of the fastest graduates, Wanda admitted that completing his studies quickly had never been his primary goal.

“At the beginning of my studies, I never aimed to become the fastest graduate or even the best student. My focus was simply on conducting research that was relevant and needed to be completed. That’s why I was both happy and surprised to be recognized as one of the fastest graduates,” he said.

During his studies, Wanda completed all of his coursework within his first two semesters. By the third semester, he devoted his full attention to writing his thesis. While balancing his responsibilities as an English academic staff member and a TOEFL ITP tutor, he consistently set aside time each day to work on his thesis.

According to Wanda, graduating on time is not the result of extraordinary strategies but of consistency and a clear commitment to one’s academic interests.

“There was no special strategy. I simply stayed focused on the field of knowledge I wanted to master. I worked on my thesis every day before work, during lunch breaks, and again at night. The most important thing is to maintain your momentum and stay consistent,” he explained.

His academic journey was not without challenges. Wanda revealed that he revised his research title several times and refined his theoretical framework before ultimately producing a thesis that met rigorous academic standards.

He also encouraged current master’s students not to focus solely on graduating quickly but to develop a clear academic direction.

“Focus on the field you truly want to explore. Once you know what kind of expert you want to become, your learning process becomes much more focused, and you can complete your studies effectively without compromising academic quality,” he advised.

Both Nabillah and Wanda agreed that their academic achievements would not have been possible without the unwavering support of their supervisors and families. They expressed their gratitude to the lecturers and the entire academic community of FIB UGM for guiding them throughout their studies, as well as to their families for their constant encouragement and prayers.

Through the stories of these two graduates, FIB UGM reaffirms its commitment to fostering an academic environment that enables students to reach their full potential. The Fast Track Program provides students with the opportunity to accelerate their academic journey without compromising educational quality, while the achievement of graduating on time demonstrates that focus, consistency, and a passion for learning are essential to success in higher education. The experiences of Nabillah Faisal Azzahra and Wanda Andres Saputra are expected to inspire other students to pursue academic excellence, produce meaningful research, and contribute to both academia and society.

Author: Khotibul Umam

On June 14, 2026, Professor of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Pujo Semedi, had the opportunity to serve as a speaker in the public lecture series titled “Wissen über den Wald im Wandel” (Knowledge About the Forest in Transition). This academic event, which runs throughout the 2026 summer semester, is part of the prestigious Studium Generale program at the University of Freiburg, Germany.

This international-scale event is collaboratively organized by the WWW 4.0 research project and the Cluster of Excellence “Future Forests — Adapting Complex Social-ecological Forest Systems to Global Change.” The forum specifically brings together leading scientists and practitioners from various disciplines to present their research perspectives on forest landscapes. Its primary focus is examining the diversity of approaches to knowledge in addressing the profound changes and challenges that the global climate crisis brings to forest ecosystems and their ecological services, as well as exploring viable adaptation strategies.

During the forum, Prof. Pujo Semedi presented alongside Prof. Michaela Haug from the University of Freiburg. Together, they delivered a presentation adopting a socio-ecological anthropological perspective, titled “Meanings of Forests: A Collaborative Comparative Ethnography Between Indonesia and Germany.”

This study highlights a comparison of how forests are culturally, socially, and economically conceptualized by communities in two distinct national contexts. Through collaborative comparative ethnography, they invited the audience to explore the dynamic relationship between humans and nature, as well as how communities practically respond to ecological transformations on the ground.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha