Central Java, 4 December 2025 — Students of the Arabic Study Program, class of 2023, Universitas Gadjah Mada carried out a field study in the cities of Kudus and Demak as part of the course Arabic Literature and Culture in Indonesia. The program was designed to provide empirical learning experiences on the dynamics of Indonesian culture and the historical connections between Arab–Islamic heritage and the development of local civilization.

Kudus and Demak were selected as the field study destinations due to their significant roles in the spread of Islam in Java. Through this field activity, students were expected to observe and analyze cultural heritage on-site and relate their findings to the theories studied in class.

The first destination visited was the Menara Kudus Mosque, also known as the Al-Aqsha Mosque, located in Kauman Village, Kudus, Central Java. Students examined firsthand how the mosque’s architecture, particularly its red-brick tower resembling a Majapahit-style temple, stands as strong evidence of acculturation between Islam and Hindu–Javanese culture. At the Menara Kudus Mosque, students observed Sunan Kudus’ cultural approach to da’wah, from preserving local traditions to utilizing Javanese arts and architectural forms that enabled Islam to be accepted peacefully by the local community. Traditions such as the prohibition of slaughtering cows, as well as Javanese songs and performing arts developed by Sunan Kudus, became part of the learning experience.

The field study continued at the Mubarok Jenang Museum, the first jenang museum in Indonesia, which highlights the history of Kudus’ jenang industry since 1930. Here, UGM Arabic Study Program students learned local wisdoms, particularly the values of Gusjigang (being morally good, mastering religious knowledge, and being skilled in trade) which shaped Kudus’ economic culture and intertwined with the Islamic teachings of Sunan Kudus. The museum offered a distinct experience, enabling students to observe how tradition, family-run industry, and regional identity are presented as public education and developed into creative economic potential.

The students then deepened their understanding of early Islamic da’wah in Java through a visit to the Great Mosque of Demak, a historical Wali Songo site and a central landmark of the Demak Sultanate. They examined the mosque’s traditional Javanese architectural form featuring a three-tiered pyramidal roof and the iconic saka guru pillars, including the legendary saka tatal. This visit provided richer insight into a model of da’wah rooted in local culture, dialogue, and gentle persuasion, reflected in the mosque’s architecture, traditions, and the social life of the surrounding community.

Through this series of field visits, students gained firsthand experience that history is not merely textual, but a living narrative present in buildings, traditions, and societal practices. The field study underscored the importance of understanding acculturation as a key element in the development of Islam in the archipelago which is visible in mosque architecture, local economies, and enduring cultural values.

This field study is expected to broaden the perspectives of Arabic Literature students and strengthen their analytical abilities in interpreting Indonesian cultural phenomena in a more comprehensive and applied manner.

Author: Jihan Pertiwi

On the 27th of November (the awarding night of the 38th Pekan Ilmiah Mahasiswa Nasional (Pimnas) held in Universitas Hassanudin, Makassar), a bachelor student of Cultural Anthropology from UGM contributed to the medal count of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Muhammad Syukur Shidiq – commonly known as Syukur – and his team earned a silver medal for the poster category of the PKM-RSH 2 class. Their research, titled Antara Safe Space dan Toxic Space: Studi Ekologi Media terhadap Komunitas Marah-Marah di Media Sosial X, applies the concept of media ecology coined by Marshall McLuhan to study the Komunitas Marah-Marah, a community established on X (formerly Twitter).

Komunitas Marah-Marah is viewed as a communal space with two sides, both contradicting each other. This community provides room for freedom of emotional expression (specifically anger, as the name suggests) for its members while giving them affirmation from fellow members. At the same time, negative actions such as cyberbullying, hate speech, and discrimination are also rampant in the space. What started out as a small community has tripled in size in the span of a year. The results of this research can hopefully be used as a contribution to increase digital literacy among the Indonesian digital community, along with creating a safe online space for users and as consideration for policy makers to create better online policies.

As an anthropology student, there are a few lessons Syukur picked up during his Pimnas research. The discipline of anthropology plays a role in understanding Komunitas Marah-Marah as a living digital environment, filled with members with various cultures and perspectives. X as a social media is viewed as an ecology that shapes and influences how people express their emotions. The existence of this community helps shape the understanding of how anger grows and evolves into its own culture in a digital context.

During four months of Pimnas research, Syukur learned some valuable lessons for himself, as a person and as a researcher. Along with getting the opportunity to experience field research first-hand, Syukur learned to collect, sort, and process ethnographic data while working in a systematic workflow. This opportunity gives him the chance to train his cultural intuition and reflectivity as an anthropologist. He also learned to be committed to a research project and working in a multidisciplinary approach. His team members consisted of fellow bachelor students Muh Faiq Fauzan, Fanisa Ratna Dewi, Debora Magdalena Marchya Sihombing, Muhammad Syukur Shidiq, and Adelia Pradipta Nasyaputri. They hail from various departments of social sciences, such as Communication Science, Social Development and Welfare, Philosophy, and Psychology; each with their own methods and perspectives, collaborating towards the same goal to reach a better understanding of a dynamic socio-digital environment.

Author: Amadeus Abhirama Paramanindita

Yogyakarta, 3 December 2025 — A total of 68 first-year students from the Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) attend an outing class at Wisdom Park UGM on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. The activity, titled Lu’bah Arabiyyah, served as a collaborative program for Arabic Writing, Arabic Speaking, and Tasrif courses to help students review lesson material through interactive games while refreshing their minds ahead of final exams. The event was accompanied by lecturers from the Arabic Study Program and supported by student tutors from the 2022 and 2023 cohorts.

During Lu’bah Arabiyyah, students are invited to do a series of game stations set up across Wisdom Park. Each game required them to actively use and recall their Arabic skills in preparation for the final exams. Among the activities were Sentence Relay, Puzzle Tasrif, and Arabic crossword puzzles. After completing all stations, the outing concluded with a communal meal and a shared rujak session with lecturers.

The 2025 cohort participated enthusiastically from start to finish. Many students expressed that Lu’bah Arabiyyah boosted their confidence and motivation ahead of the Final Examinations, as the activities helped them recall and reinforce material learned throughout the semester. Beyond academic preparation, the event also strengthened collaborations and intimacy among students, tutors, and lecturers, which is an important foundation for smoother communication and collaboration in future learning processes.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

The Anthropology Laboratory for Research and Action (LAURA) represents Universitas Gadjah Mada in the Participation of Women in Renewable Energy (POWERE) project. This initiative is funded by the UKRI Ayrton Challenge and involves several universities, including the University of Sussex, Universitas Indonesia, and Universitas Gadjah Mada. POWERE addresses issues of unequal access and the impacts of climate change in island and coastal communities. It introduces innovation through the use of floating photovoltaic systems (FPV) as an alternative renewable energy source, while also emphasizing gender perspectives and economic conditions in off-grid coastal communities. The project is not only focused on developing physical infrastructure but also building social infrastructure by strengthening gender inclusivity in the seaweed-based economy across coastal and island areas in South Sulawesi. Led by Prof. Raminder Kaur (US), Dr. Muhammad Zamzam Fauzanafi (UGM), Dr. Mia Siscawati (UI), Dr. Bradley Parrish (US), and Prof. Peter Newell (US), POWERE stands as a comprehensive multidisciplinary collaboration centered on renewable energy.

Since mid-year, the POWERE team has conducted preliminary studies in several locations, including Rannu, Katingting, and Biawasa, and presented the findings at the World Conference on Governance and Social Sciences at Hasanuddin University on 11–12 November 2025. The initial studies explored topics such as community-based infrastructure design, sensory ethnography, feminist perspectives on gender, climate change, and women’s resilience, renewable energy and social infrastructure, as well as climate adaptation challenges faced by seaweed-farming women. The broad range of issues emerging from solar energy development and its social implications continues to pose challenges for the project moving forward.

In addition to the Project Leads, the initiative involves postdoctoral researchers such as Dr. Diah Irawaty, Dr. Runavia Mulyasari, Dr. Chu Chun Yu, Dr. Agung Iswadi, and Monika Swastyastu, M.A., who contribute to ongoing research throughout the project. POWERE receives support from both governmental and non-governmental organizations, including CARE Indonesia, Aquatera, Development Finance International, Auroville Consulting, and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, serving as financial partners and policy collaborators. Entering the first stage of the three-year program, the POWERE team has published newsletters in both Indonesian and English, accessible through the University of Sussex website and the Department of Anthropology. For the latest updates, readers may follow the official Instagram account @powere.women, which regularly shares photos and videos documenting project activities.

Writer: Okky Chandra Baskoro

Yogyakarta, 28 November 2025 — INAKOS, in collaboration with the Korean Language and Culture Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the third online public lecture on Friday, 28 November 2025. Supported by grant funding from the Korea Foundation, this final session concluded the series of public lectures conducted throughout November 2025. The lecture featured Professor Chae Ho Seok from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, who presented a talk titled “Literature and Literary History: Literature, History, Memory.”

Professor Chae opened the lecture by raising the question of why much of Korean literature centers on themes of sorrow. He then discussed how the development of Korean literature has been shaped by major historical events in Korea, including Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War, various revolutions, industrial reform, and the nation’s democratization movements.

During the session, Professor Chae also presented examples of representative Korean poems that continue to appear in school textbooks, as well as poems that have been removed due to the authors’ backgrounds being considered at odds with government perspectives. The lecture concluded with his message highlighting the importance of reading Korean literary history and comparing different books to gain a broader understanding.

The lecture was attended by approximately 24 participants and moderated by Febriani Elfida Trihtarani, S.S., M.A., a lecturer in the Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions about the material and broader topics related to Korean literature.

Looking ahead, it is hoped that more public lectures and seminars on Korean literature will be organized to deepen the knowledge of students and the general public about Korean literary studies.

Written by : Febriani Elfida Trihtarani
Edited by : Eunike Serafia N.S