Yogyakarta, November 26, 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada officially graduated 91 Bachelor Degree students in the First Graduation Period of the 2025/2026 Academic Year, held on November 26, 2025 at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, FIB UGM. The ceremony was attended by graduates from 11 study programs, as well as one graduate from a previous period who joined the procession this time.

The graduation ceremony took place solemnly and included the presentation of academic achievements and messages for the graduates. Based on faculty data, the cohort consists of 25 male graduates and 66 female graduates. Cultural Anthropology marked the highest number of graduates with 21 students, followed by English Literature with 13 graduates, and Indonesian Language and Literature and Tourism with 11 graduates each. A total of 73 graduates earned the distinction of cum laude.

In his remarks, the Dean of FIB UGM emphasized the faculty’s commitment to strengthening academic contributions. “FIB contributes around seven areas of study recognized by QS out of 27 at UGM. This is our goal in strengthening FIB, not only by focusing on one or two individuals, but by building a shared spirit, a spirit of synergy in advancing knowledge,” stated the Dean of FIB UGM.

In addition, a representative of the graduates’ parents delivered a message encouraging students to view graduation as the beginning of a long journey. “Continue learning and seeking knowledge because graduation is not the end, but the beginning of your long journey. Be a person who brings benefit, because the best human being is the one who brings the most benefit to others. Use your knowledge to bring light not only to yourselves, but also to your families, communities, the nation, and the world. Hold firmly to character, for it is the key foundation in earning public trust,” she said.

The representative of the top graduates, Catharina Maida from the French Language and Literature Program with a GPA of 3.91, also expressed gratitude and optimism for the future. “Our challenges are still long ahead. There will be many more obstacles in life,” she said.

During the event, the faculty also released other academic achievements, including the fastest study completion and graduate age statistics. Maritza Vidyatsabita from the English Literature Program completed her studies in the shortest time of 3 years, 2 months, and 5 days. Meanwhile, the youngest graduate is Bulan Churniati from English Literature, aged 21 years, 1 month, and 10 days.

This graduation ceremony not only marks the completion of the students’ academic journey, but also the beginning of their contribution to the progress of society. The values of knowledge, collaboration, and character highlighted throughout the ceremony are expected to guide the graduates in building a more sustainable future and bringing meaningful benefits to the wider community.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Universitas Gadjah Mada has selected Humaniora and Poetika: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra as recipients of the Journal Governance Support Program Toward Scopus Indexing through the EQUITY WCU 2025/2026 initiative.

Both academic journals under the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM were chosen under the scheme aimed at strengthening the quality of academic publication management and increasing the global visibility of research originating from Indonesia.

Humaniora, first published in 1989, is known as an academic, open-access, and peer-reviewed journal focusing on cultural studies from an Indonesian perspective. Since 2022, all articles have been published in English and the journal is issued twice a year. It accepts submissions throughout the year and is committed to advancing interdisciplinary humanities scholarship.

Meanwhile, Poetika: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra is a biannual academic journal that highlights social issues through literary research, particularly topics related to marginalized groups. The journal is published by the Postgraduate Program in Literature at FIB UGM and is indexed in DOAJ, as well as accredited SINTA 2 by the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN).

With the support of the EQUITY WCU Program, Humaniora and Poetika are expected to strengthen the role of knowledge in driving social progress and expanding equitable access to academic insights. This effort to improve the quality of scholarly publications reflects a sustainable commitment to advancing education and research with meaningful impact for the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, November 14, 2025 — The Arabic Study Program Student Association (IKMASA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted a Government Tour as part of the 2025 External Relations Department’s flagship program. The visit, held from 13:30 to 15:00 WIB, involved 40 students from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Language Center of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (BBY), reflecting the institution’s appreciation for student-led educational initiatives.

The event opened with remarks from Candra Solihin, the 2025 President of IKMASA, who emphasized the importance of institutional visits in broadening academic insight and fostering early professional networking. The agenda continued under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, Rusydatu Nibras Salamah, ensuring the program ran smoothly and in order. The atmosphere grew more engaging when participants were invited to enjoy refreshments prepared by BBY.

During the main session, Mulyanto, M.Hum., Senior Expert Linguist at the institution, delivered an informative presentation outlining the history of the Language Center, its institutional roles, and various strategic programs carried out to support language development and literacy initiatives across the Yogyakarta region. He also highlighted internship opportunities available for students interested in pursuing linguistic research and institutional language work.

Throughout the visit, students demonstrated strong enthusiasm, actively engaging in discussions about language programs, research opportunities, and potential pathways for student involvement in BBY’s activities. This Government Tour is expected to serve as a meaningful platform for UGM Arabic Study Program students to expand their professional network, gain firsthand exposure to applied language work, and explore future collaborative possibilities with the Language Center.

Author: Aisyah Mutmainnah

On Friday (November 21, 2025), Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi served as a panel discussant in the session “Monsters, Devils, and Survival: The Persistence of Plantations and People in the Scholarship of Pujo Semedi” at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in New Orleans, LA, supported by FULLBRIGHT funding through the Scholar in Residence Grant at the University of Colorado Boulder for Fall 2025. The panel was inspired by Pujo’s academic work on plantations, which investigates how colonial hegemony in its efforts to build capital accumulation by sacrificing human sociality has instead resulted in the loss of assets and weakened capacities for survival. In his presentation, Pujo invited participants to explore how non-human entities such as “ghosts” influence social and material relations within plantation environments.

Through ethnographic research in Kalimantan’s palm oil plantations, Java’s tea plantations, and Germany’s vineyards, Pujo argues that “ghosts” are understood as empirical and material realities by plantation communities. Although spiritual beings are not bound by physical laws or fixed forms, belief in them becomes a productive lens for ethical and emic understanding. Positioned within a strong postcolonial perspective, Pujo’s ideas are seen as important for advancing research on extraction and imperial accumulation in postcolonial nations. The panel, featuring Carla Jones and five PhD students from the University of Colorado Boulder, embodied efforts to decolonize knowledge, highlighting Pujo Semedi’s role in fostering cross-cultural academic collaboration.

Author: Penulis: Okky Chandra Baskoro

Semarang, 25 October 2025 — Twenty-eight students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada participated in the UNDIP Muslim Festival held on Saturday, 25 October 2025 at Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java. The delegation competed across three categories: Cerdas Cermat Islam (CCI), Musabaqah Hifdzil Qur’an (MHQ), and Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur’an (MTQ). The group departed Yogyakarta at 04:00 WIB and arrived at Diponegoro University at 08:00 WIB. Upon arrival, delegates shared a breakfast together before the festival program began. 

After attending the grand opening ceremony, participants proceeded to their respective competition venues. In the CCI category, the Arabic Study Program team advanced to the semifinal round, a notable achievement that demonstrated the students’ knowledge and preparedness. The festival ran smoothly and in high spirits, reflecting both the discipline and enthusiasm of the UGM delegation. UGM’s participation in UNDIP Muslim Festival 2025 aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The Arabic Study Program hopes the competition experience will inspire continued academic achievement and community engagement among its students as they prepare for future national and regional events.

Author: Azka Dihya Khaliffa