Yogyakarta, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 – Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, M.A., a lecturer in the Department of History, featured at the workshop titled Mapping the Internationalization of Art in the Global South Context – Collaboration Among Art Institutions. Organised by the Biennale Foundation Discussion, the event aimed to disseminate ideas on why the values of the Bandung Spirit remain relevant in international politics and Indonesia’s foreign policy. It also served as a reflection on the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference next year, and how to revive the Bandung Spirit at the grassroots level.

Dr. Wildan delivered his presentation at the historic Savoy Homann Hotel, one of the accommodations used by Asian and African leaders attending the 1955 Bandung Conference. During the workshop, he analyzed key values from the Asia-Africa Conference that are still important to promote and spread at the grassroots level today. These values include decolonization, world peace, and international cooperation—three principles from the Bandung Spirit that remain highly relevant. The Asia-Africa Conference Museum, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regularly organizes discussions to keep the spirit of the Bandung Conference alive, recognizing its continued significance in today’s global political context.

The presentation was followed by contributions from representatives of the National Archives of Indonesia, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lecturers from UNPAD’s International Relations department, cultural figures from Bandung, and heritage activists.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 – “Be A Good Exporter” is an Independent Study program organised by the National Export School Foundation. This semester-long program is part of the *Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka* (MBKM) initiative. One of the key activities in this program involves developing export-ready products, carried out in collaboration with the Export Start-up Team (TSE), formed at the beginning of the program. The goal is to create products that meet international market demands and have the potential to become successful export items.

Together with TSE, the author worked on developing a dried cardamom product sourced from local Indonesian farmers. Throughout the development process, the author and the team conducted market research and devised strategies tailored to relevant target markets. They then worked on product development, brand building, and digital marketing strategies suited to international markets. Additionally, the team simulated business matching sessions, studied payment methods and required documentation, and explored logistics options for exporting products. Through this comprehensive process, the author gained insights into the full cycle of preparing a product for export. Furthermore, the program provided valuable knowledge on national and international export-import regulations.

The “Be A Good Exporter” program contributes to the SDGs, particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). By empowering local farmers and developing cardamom products for international markets, this program supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth, while also promoting fair and responsible trade practices.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Author: Katherine Valencia Pangestu, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman, Aldiza Pramudhita]

Dr. Sita Hidayah, a lecturer from the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), was invited by the Laboratory for Language and Cultural Studies (LKBB) of the Faculty of Humanities, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim, Malang, to speak at a Workshop on Ethnographic Research in Culture. The event took place on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, and was attended by university leaders, faculty members, and lecturers from across the campus. The workshop, divided into two sessions, was held at the 3rd-floor auditorium of the Faculty of Humanities.

In her presentation, Dr. Sita, affectionately known as “Mbak Sita,” emphasized the importance of understanding paradigms in research. She stressed that paradigms serve as guiding frameworks in both research and writing. Discussing paradigms, she explained, is crucial to understanding their strengths and weaknesses in the context of theory, as each discipline has paradigms that provide specific direction or ideology. These paradigms, often referred to as theoretical frameworks or conceptual frameworks, help distinguish social sciences from humanities. While the social sciences rely on empirical facts (external), the humanities are rooted in interpretation and understanding (internal). Different paradigms, such as phenomenology, structuralism, and ethnoscience, come with their own methods, analyses, and approaches.

Dr. Sita also referenced her mentor, Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, M.A., M.Phil, who has written extensively on paradigms. His works delve into fundamental perspectives that influence key elements such as basic assumptions, values, research topics, models, concepts, research methods, analytical methods, and ethnographic representation. Besides paradigms, Dr. Sita highlighted the importance of addressing the concept of “truth,” especially in the context of UIN, where the majority of attendees are Muslim, to align on shared perceptions of truth in research. Truth, she explained, is empirical and can be explored through two approaches: quantitative (surveys, questionnaires, polling) and qualitative (ethnography). In anthropology, ethnography is often employed, where data comes from community actions and statements gathered in everyday contexts, rather than being directed by the researcher. The ethnographic method typically involves extended stays, mastery of the local language, and the researcher as the primary instrument through participant observation.

The workshop participants displayed great enthusiasm, evident from the numerous questions they posed. Beyond the Q&A session, participants and speakers also shared their experiences in conducting research. Those interested in following the discussions can view the event on the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ExX2BC413Q

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Author: Dewi N, Editor: Aldiza, Translator: Aldiza]

On May 4, 2024, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Padjadjaran (FISIP Unpad) hosted a public lecture featuring Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A., a professor from the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. In this lecture, Prof. Pujo addressed the topic “The Notion of Justice, Racism, and Coffee Cultivation in Colonial Java, 1870s-1930s,” combining anthropological insights with the colonial history of Java. Through this subject, Prof. Pujo—familiarly known as Mas Pujo—invited students to understand how the history of coffee cultivation in 19th-century Java reinforced racial and economic injustices, which continue to have lasting impacts today.

Mas Pujo emphasized the importance of understanding colonial history in the context of coffee cultivation to see its influence on current social and economic conditions, particularly within Indonesia’s coffee industry. The lecture, held at FISIP Unpad’s campus in Jatinangor, West Java, was attended by students from various departments. They were urged to recognize the exploitative nature of colonial coffee cultivation. Mas Pujo explained that this system was based on three principles: first, as a tool to enrich Dutch entrepreneurs; second, the myth of native laziness was used to justify forced labor; and third, all coffee production was directed to meet the demands of European industry, rather than benefiting the local population.

One of the key points of the lecture was the racial injustice surrounding the entire process of coffee cultivation, marketing, and consumption during the colonial era. Mas Pujo revealed that, at the time, Javanese people were prohibited from consuming coffee; they were only allowed to drink coffee leaves, while native laborers were forced to work on plantations. The right to market coffee was restricted to Dutch and Chinese trade guilds, and coffee could only be enjoyed by white individuals.

Through his analysis, Mas Pujo highlighted how colonial policies based on race created social injustices that continue to affect economic and social relations in modern Indonesia. This public lecture sparked active discussions among students, who were eager to connect the historical relevance of this topic to the current state of the coffee industry.

The full lecture can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/RcER1qufrMI.

[Public Relations, FIB UGM, Author: Bonifacius Edo, Editor: Aldiza]

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 – The Austrian Embassy in Indonesia and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborated with the Jakarta Concert Orchestra to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Austria. The “Symphony of Friendship” Orchestra Concert was held on Wednesday (8/5) at the Jakarta Concert Hall, iNews Tower Building. Several distinguished guests, such as the Austrian Ambassador to Indonesia, the Director General for American and European Affairs of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as diplomats and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strategic partners, were invited to attend the concert.

The orchestra concert, conducted by Avip Priatna, was divided into two parts. In the first part, the Jakarta Concert Orchestra performed works by Anton Bruckner and Johann Strauss. Renowned Austrian violinist Julian Walder, the main guest star of the “Symphony of Friendship” Orchestra Concert, performed a solo of Korngold’s Violin Concerto in the second part.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Writer: Arviani Fayzaila Ramadhanti, Translator: Aldiza, Editor: Rifal Fadlurrahman]