Yogyakarta, 4 October 2025 – The Arabic Student Association (IKMASA) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) warmly welcomed the Arabic Literature Student Association (HIMASA) from Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) during their comparative study visit to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The event aimed to strengthen academic and organizational ties while fostering collaboration and friendship between student associations.

The SANJUNG program was attended by all representatives of IKMASA UGM’s 2025/2026 management board from each department, accompanied by IKMASA Chairperson Candra Solihin. Meanwhile, the HIMASA UNPAD delegation, consisting of around 60 members, was led by HIMASA Chairperson Moch Cahya Kurnia.

The event began with welcoming remarks from both organization leaders, followed by presentations of work programs from each department and division. The participants then engaged in focused discussion sessions organized into small groups, each consisting of one to two departments, allowing for deeper exchanges of ideas and experiences. The program concluded with a documentation session held in Room 709 of the Soegondo Building.

This visit served not only as a platform for sharing organizational best practices but also as a meaningful step toward building lasting partnerships and academic collaboration among Arabic student associations across Indonesia.

Author: Department of External Relations of IKMASA

Banjarmasin, October 5, 2025 — Three students from the Arabic Literature Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, proudly represented UGM as delegates in the 18th National University Qur’an Recitation Competition (MTQMN XVIII), held at Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

The delegates were Muhammad Candra Solihin (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Contemporary Calligraphy Male category), Pandhita Hapsari (Arabic Literature, Class of 2023, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic), and Hasifa Zara (Arabic Literature, Class of 2024, Qur’anic Debate in Arabic). In addition, Muhammad Shofyyulloh (Cultural Anthropology 2023) as an official, also accompanied the group from UGM.

Before advancing to the national stage, the three students had to undergo a series of rigorous selection processes. These included internal selection at UGM, followed by an online pre-national selection involving hundreds of students from various universities across Indonesia, before finally being chosen as UGM’s official representatives.

The 18th MTQMN brought together around 1,500 students from universities throughout Indonesia, with the competition running over five days. The event featured an opening ceremony, preliminary rounds, final rounds, and a closing ceremony.

This prestigious competition aims to strengthen students’ Qur’anic character, nurturing a generation with noble character, academic excellence, and the ability to contribute to the nation.

UGM provided full support for its delegates, including regular training, academic guidance, and full facilitation of competition needs. Such support reflects the university’s commitment to fostering achievements while upholding UGM’s reputation on the national stage.

The participation of Arabic Literature students in categories such as Qur’anic debate in Arabic highlights the strong relevance between academic learning and competition. It not only sharpens language mastery but also broadens networks and strengthens the tradition of Islamic scholarship on campus.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, October 13, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the improvement of educational quality through the KAGAMA Korea Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The event was held in Room 305, Building F, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, from 08.30 to 09.00 WIB, and was attended by all scholarship recipients as well as students enrolled in the course Cross-Cultural Understanding Between Korea and Indonesia.

The program began with an opening by the master of ceremonies, followed by a welcoming speech from Achmad Rio Dessiar, S.S., M.A., Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation and congratulations to the scholarship recipients for their hard work and academic achievements. He also gave a brief introduction about KAGAMA Korea and provided information about the scholarship programs offered by the study program.

The event continued with the presentation of scholarship certificates to ten outstanding students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, namely:

1. Naufal Java Fakhriansyah (GPA 3.88)

2. Vira Ardiana Puspaningrum (GPA 3.87)

3. Rohadatul ‘Aisy Hamdaini (GPA 3.85)

4. Safrina Kurnia Dewi (GPA 3.78)

5. Nayla Nur Shadrina (GPA 3.85)

6. Lian Lina Purnama (GPA 3.85)

7. Sofia Rahma Ismulyanti (GPA 3.82)

8. Tamara Nasrina Prameswari (GPA 3.94)

9. Irene Xaviera Lovryna (GPA 3.90)

10. Theresia Chindyawati (GPA 3.87)

The awarding of this scholarship not only served as a form of recognition for students’ academic excellence but also as an encouragement to foster continuous learning and active contribution in the field of Korean language and culture. Through this support, students are expected to further develop their personal and academic capacities in a holistic manner.

In addition to providing direct benefits for the recipients, this event also strengthened the collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and KAGAMA Korea. The partnership stands as a tangible example of shared commitment to creating equal and sustainable educational opportunities, while fostering the improvement of human resource quality.

The event concluded with a group photo session involving the scholarship recipients, lecturers, and representatives from the study program.

Through this initiative, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program reaffirms its dedication to creating an inspiring and collaborative learning environment, while contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals through the enhancement of educational quality and the strengthening of academic partnerships.

Author: Aura Adiba WIjaya

Yogyakarta, October 6, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continued its Entrepreneurship course in the sixth session by once again inviting Sofian Munawar, S.S., M.A., Founder of Ruang Baca Komunitas, as the guest lecturer. In this session, students were guided to design a business plan under the theme “Developing Social Entrepreneurship Based on Literature and Language”, as a practical application of the materials discussed in previous meetings.

During the lecture, Sofian Munawar emphasized the importance of understanding the literacy ecosystem within schools and communities as the foundation for developing literature- and language-based social enterprises. Students were encouraged to identify existing literacy issues—such as low reading interest, limited access to books, and weak writing culture among students. From these challenges, they learned how to conduct research, develop innovative concepts, and formulate sustainable business plans that take social and educational aspects into account.

Sofian Munawar also highlighted the significance of building cross-institutional networks involving schools, government bodies, and literacy communities. He introduced students to various literacy-based initiatives such as IKMASA Goes to School (a literacy outreach to Islamic boarding schools), collaborations with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and BAZNAS, and publishing opportunities through IKMASA Press. In this context, books are seen not merely as reading materials, but as tools of inspiration and instruments for community empowerment.

As a form of applied learning, Arabic Study Program students were assigned to create a group business plan titled “Social Entrepreneurship Design Based on Linguistic Literacy”, which included components such as background, problem identification, business opportunities, and implementation strategies. These business plans will later be presented in the following session as a tangible reflection of their ability to develop literacy-based social enterprise ideas.

Through this session, UGM Arabic Study Program students not only learned to be critical and creative academics but also changemakers capable of generating social impact through literacy innovation. This program also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening literacy movements, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging the creation of competitive social enterprises, and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through inclusive education and language-based community empowerment.

[Sastra Arab, Muhammad Ardiansyah]

Behind the spotlight of national and international achievements lies a long journey of perseverance lived by Haris Arfakhsyad, a student of Arabic Literature of FIB UGM who has become known for his outstanding performance in Arabic public speaking. He has won first place in the Arabic Fair organized by UNS Surakarta, second place at the international level in GEKA 7 held by UMY Yogyakarta, and second place in FIKAR 12 hosted by UPI Bandung. But beyond the trophies and podiums, his story is about the courage to rise again after an early setback.

That journey began back in the third grade of elementary school at a Madrasah Ibtidaiyah. During a Qur’anic preaching competition organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Bangkalan, his teachers and parents encouraged the shy and timid boy to compete. He agreed. He trained diligently, memorized his speech, and prepared himself for the stage. Yet, fate took a different turn. Halfway through his performance, he suddenly forgot his lines and had to end his speech abruptly. Tears streamed down his face as he whispered to his father, “Dad, I want to go home. I must have lost.”

The experience left him shaken, and for a time, he refused to enter any competitions. But a year later, encouraged once again by his mother, he decided to give it another try. This time, he placed third, a small victory that reignited his spirit. From that moment on, his passion for public speaking slowly grew stronger. By the time he entered high school, he had developed a deep interest in Arabic speeches. Failures came often, but each setback taught him resilience and shaped the speaker he would become. Eventually, he claimed his first victory in an Arabic speech contest organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jember—an achievement that fueled his path toward national and even international stages.

His success, however, did not come by chance. It was the product of discipline and consistent preparation. He began every competition by carefully crafting a script that matched the given theme. Once the text was ready, he memorized it word for word, practiced his gestures and intonation, and rehearsed in front of teachers, friends, or family to gather feedback. This routine became his formula for growth, one he still relies on today.

The road to victory, of course, was not without obstacles. In fact, failures far outnumbered his wins. “I always believe that every difficulty comes with ease. Never think poorly of your own effort,” he said. For him, failure was not the end, but the best teacher and the foundation for future achievements.

Support from his parents, teachers, and friends also played a pivotal role. “The prayers of my parents are the key,” he stated firmly. Competitions also gave him the opportunity to meet new peers—talented, inspiring individuals who became part of his journey. For him, those connections are among the most meaningful rewards.

When asked what qualities are most important to compete at the national level, his answer was straightforward yet powerful: a willingness to keep learning and improving. “Never be satisfied too soon. Those who want to grow will not stop at a single achievement,” he explained. Humility and optimism, he added, are equally vital pillars for success.

The toughest moments came when he lost repeatedly, with no victories to hold onto. At times, he thought about giving up. But again, the faith and encouragement of his parents lifted him back up. “Great people are not those who never fail, but those who refuse to quit despite repeated failures,” he reflected.

As he closed his story, he shared a message for fellow students: that every person is born with their own strengths and weaknesses, and what sets us apart is our willingness to keep improving ourselves. “Whoever strives with sincerity will succeed,” he said, quoting the well-known Arabic proverb, man jadda wajada. 

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]