YOGYAKARTA – Students enrolled in the Arabic Gastronomy course held a joint cooking practice at the Soegondo Building Hallway on Thursday, October 15, 2026. This event served as a hands-on opportunity to apply theories of Middle Eastern culinary culture in practice.

The two main dishes prepared during this practical session were samosa and isy baladi. Samosa a triangular pastry filled with spiced meat, vegetables, or cheese reflects the footprint of cultural acculturation along ancient trade routes. Meanwhile, isy baladi, a traditional Egyptian baked wheat flatbread, was presented not only as a staple food, but also as a symbol of food security and social identity deeply rooted for thousands of years.

In addition to honing teamwork, this activity aimed to deepen students’ understanding of spice characteristics and the philosophical values behind Arabic culinary traditions. This interactive practice not only enriched students’ academic literacy in international gastronomy, but also opened up entrepreneurial perspectives on authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.

Author: Syifa Khoirunisa

Yogyakarta – June 27, 2026 – In order to realize Universitas Gadjah Mada’s commitment to serving the interests of the nation and humanity, the Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, consistently supports the efforts of the government and society in achieving a more prosperous and equitable social order. Therefore, to this day, the UGM Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program continues to proactively play a role as a strategic partner to the government in ensuring the success of flagship government programs, especially those related to improving the quality of human resources for prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who will work in South Korea.

Previously, together with the management of LPK Bina Insani MTC and the head of PELBAKORI (Association of Korean Language Training Institutions in Indonesia), a mapping of the problems generally faced by PMIs in Korea was conducted. It was found that despite having sufficient Korean language proficiency, upon arriving in Korea, many of them experienced difficulties in adapting. These problems are not only caused by language barriers but also by a lack of understanding of Korean social and cultural matters. This condition often leads to culture shock, communication misunderstandings, and even impacts work performance and the continuity of the PMIs’ employment contracts in Korea.

Against this background, on Saturday, June 27, 2026, a Community Service (PkM) program entitled “Workshop on Cultural Adaptation and Work Ethics in Korea for Prospective PMIs to Korea” was held at LPK Bina Insani MTC, Yogyakarta. The workshop, attended by 60 prospective PMIs to Korea and LPK instructors, involved five lecturers from the study program as speakers: Achmad Rio Dessiar, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Yuliawati Dwi Widyaningrum, S.S., M.A., Sri Wahyuningsih, S.S., M.A., and Andri Saefudin, B.A., M.A.

In the first session, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. discussed “The Key to Success in Korea is Not Only Working Hard, but Working Smart by Understanding the Culture and Maintaining Personal Dignity”. Then, in the second session, Andri Saefudin, B.A., M.A. presented on “Essential Knowledge for PMIs in South Korea: Rights, Obligations, and Everyday Rules”. This was followed by an interactive discussion between the participants and all attending lecturers.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that all participants will gain a more comprehensive understanding of Korean work culture, including the fast-paced work characteristic (pali-pali), the hierarchical system, workplace communication ethics, the rights and obligations of PMIs, as well as the ability to adapt to the social and physical environment in Korea. This Community Service serves as tangible proof that the Korean Language and Cultural Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, does not merely act as a provider of formal education on Korean Studies, but also directly participates in providing solutions to real problems faced by society.

Translation by Alma Naya Kamila

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the Department of Cultural Anthropology
organized a fieldwork trip to Wonokerto, Pekalongan, as part of an effort to apply in
practice the theories discussed in class. Participants in this fieldwork included
undergraduate students in Cultural Anthropology taking the course “Maritime
Anthropology,” taught by Dr. Des Christy, and graduate students in Cultural
Anthropology taking the course “Rhetoric of Development,” taught by Prof. Pujo Semedi
Hargo Yuwono, along with a guest lecturer from UIN Pekalongan, Mochammad Najmul
Afad. The fieldwork activity was organized by selecting destinations for the participants
to visit that aligned with the learning objectives set in class.

That morning, while having breakfast, participants were not only provided with
logistical support but also attended a general lecture as part of their exposure to local
knowledge, featuring a local village official who explained the context of Wonokerto
Kulon. Mr. Jodi, a village official, explained several fundamental aspects of the area,
such as its social, cultural, economic, and ecological contexts from the perspective of
coastal life. One of the points Mr. Jodi emphasized most was the tidal flooding that
continues to affect Wonokerto, which in turn impacts the social and economic contexts
of the surrounding community.

The class continued with a visit to the Wonokerto Fish Auction Site. There, the
students directly observed the process by which fishermen auctioned their catch. Dr.
Des Christy, a professor of Maritime Anthropology, gave the students the freedom to
gather data during the assignment, with the goal of producing a descriptive account of
community life. The students employed various approaches, such as participant
observation, interviews, and ethno-photography. For two hours, the students and faculty closely observed the fish auction activities before finally taking their leave to head to the next destination.

The next destination in the series of fieldwork activities was a visit to the
shipyard—an area where ships are “parked” while they are out of service or serving as
a waiting area for vessels preparing to set sail. At the shipyard, students from both the
Maritime Anthropology and Development Rhetoric courses had the primary objective of
exploring the personal lives of the fishermen. The students were allowed to explore the
boats lined up in the parking area, which included various types ranging from
small-scale fishing vessels to large-scale ones. In between exploring the vessels and
interacting with the fishermen, students and faculty were treated to smoked stingray and vegetables, specially prepared by local residents.

The final leg of the fieldwork took place during a brief stop at the Setono Batik Market
area. The students were invited to explore the market area while viewing Pekalongan’s
signature batik fabrics, which embody a strong sense of local identity. Not only were
they invited to explore, but some students also purchased goods from batik artisans as
a form of support for Pekalongan’s batik UMKM community. Purchasing batik also
serves as a means of passing on cultural heritage to younger generations. With a
deeper understanding of batik, this traditional Pekalongan fabric holds its own
significance within the broader cultural landscape. Shopping and browsing for unique
Pekalongan souvenirs brought the entire series of trips and fieldwork conducted by the
students and faculty members to a close, leaving them with many experiences and
joyful memories from every encounter, as well as the coastal ambiance that will shape
their future academic journeys.

Author: Danumurti
Editor: Leonard Dimas

DIKASTRAT of HIMAJE held Benkyoukai Yukata on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Margono Room 204, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event provided students of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program (BKJ UGM) with an opportunity to learn more about yukata, one of Japan’s traditional garments.

During the event, students explored various aspects of yukata with direct guidance from Japanese participants. Through these interactions, students gained a closer understanding of yukata and its role in Japanese culture.

Through Benkyoukai Yukata, BKJ UGM students not only gained new insights into traditional Japanese clothing but also had the opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand. From learning about yukata to having the chance to try one on, the activity offered a memorable experience that enriched the students’ journey of discovering Japanese culture.

Auhor: Sahla Naura Noor Sabrina

YOGYAKARTA, 2025 – Proud news once again graces the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Our students have successfully achieved a remarkable milestone by winning 2nd Place in an international competition, the 2025 영남대학교 KF 글로벌 e-스쿨 한국어 영상 공모전 or the 2025 Yeungnam University KF Global e-School Korean Video Contest. The series of this competition ran from October 25, 2025, until the winner announcement on December 10, 2025.

Generally, this competition challenged its participants to share what they know about Korea through a video presentation. The study program’s representative team, “Team Bini” (빈이 팀), consisting of Anisa Setya Utami, Bena Thinkir Pitulas, and Aisyah Reyhan Nugrahani, successfully amazed the judges with their video titled “내가 아는 한국은 인도네시아에 있다” (The Korea I Know is in Indonesia) and emerged as the second-place winner. For those curious about their work, the full video can be watched through the following link.

In the video, Team Bini briefly explained the topic of “내가 아는 한국” (The Korea I know) which is now often and easily found in Indonesia. Some of the highlighted aspects include the popularity of Korean food, Korean style fashion trends, and the Korean drama phenomenon. Interestingly, the video provided an analytical touch by discussing the cultural similarities between Korea’s concept of “정” (Jeong) and Indonesia’s proud local culture of gotong-royong (mutual cooperation).

Anisa, Bena, and Aisyah expressed that this victory was a very happy surprise. “It was so much fun to get a new experience. It was the definition of doing something for fun and getting a reward. We didn’t expect to be one of the winners,” expressed the team representative, sharing their impression after participating in the competition.

Furthermore, Team Bini also left an inspiring message for their fellow students not to waste opportunities during their studies. “You have to try the experience of joining a competition with friends at least once in your college life, and don’t hesitate to participate in competitions shared by lecturers or the study program. Winning or losing is normal and comes later. Whether you win or lose, you will definitely gain the experience. That is what matters,” they advised.

Once again, congratulations to Anisa, Bena, and Aisyah for their extraordinary achievement! Hopefully, this 2nd place achievement and the daring spirit to try from Team Bini can continue to inspire all students.

Author: Salwa Aulia