SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

As in previous years, in the even semester of the 2023/2024 Academic Year, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program are sending two students to South Korea to participate in a student exchange program. The two students managed to get the opportunity to study at Busan University of Foreign Studies and Soongsil University during the Spring 2024 period. This program is a result of collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and these two universities. Not only that, they also have the opportunity to obtain a Global Korea Scholarship scholarship which is also the result of collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and the Global Korea Scholarship. The following is a brief introduction from the two students.

The first student is Raden Ajeng Dian Sari, a student from batch 2022, who chose Busan University of Foreign Studies as her destination university. She saw this as a very valuable opportunity for herself. Through this program, she wants to experience the things that will be the key to her success in the future. She also advised her friends to never be afraid to try, because we are all stronger than we think. The second student is Rohadatul ‘Aisy Hamdaini from batch 2022, who will explore new experiences at Soongsil University. At first, she never expected to get this opportunity. So she was very grateful. Through this program, she has a vision to balance her academic and non-academic activities. She hopes that she will be able to explore the language and culture in Korea. Finally, she said “it is better to regret having done something, than to regret not having done it.”

With this, fellow students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and others are expected to have greater enthusiasm and strong motivation to achieve their dreams. Moreover, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences really supports the students to participate in international mobility. The existence of strong cooperation between the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and global institutions serves as a support from the faculty to facilitate students in undertaking international programs. And with these collaborations, various programs are created in which students can participate.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program held an online event “Welcoming New KBTT Students for the Even Semester of 2023/2024” on Monday, February 12th, 2024. This event was attended by lecturers in the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program, namely Prof. . Dr. Lasiyo, M.A., Prof. Dr. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur, M.S., Dr. Hindun, M. Hum., Dr. Arifuddin, Lc. M.A., and Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M. Hum.

Throughout the history of its establishment starting in 2020, the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Study Program accepted new students for the first time in the even period with a total of 10 students. This activity was opened by an opening remarks from the Head of the Intercultural Department FCS UGM, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. Prof. Sangidu who emphasized that the acceptance of new students for the even semester was a real effort made by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to provide opportunities for undergraduates to deepen their knowledge in the Middle Eastern realm.

The event continued with a presentation of graduate profiles and curriculum by the Secretary of the Intercultural Department, Dr. Mahmudah, M. Hum. The curriculum stipulates that the KBTT Alumni profile has great opportunities in employment, ranging from academics and researchers to diplomats. Throughout this activity, students are expected to be able to prepare themselves to take part in learning in the Study Program in order to achieve a dedicated graduate profile and contribute to advancing education in Indonesia.

SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals 

Assalam Fil Alamin (ASFA) Foundation has officially collaborated with the UGM Masters in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was carried out by the Head of the ASFA Foundation, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin with the Head of the Intercultural Studies Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada and advisor to the ASFA Foundation, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. on Thursday, January 11th, 2024. This event took place in Jenggala, Jakarta and was attended by leaders of Islamic boarding schools and leading Islamic boarding school-based universities on the island of Java, including the Secretary General of the Gontor Alumni Islamic Boarding School Forum, KH. Anang Rikza Mashhadi, Ph.D, Rector of La Tansa University Banten, Dr. KH. Soleh Rosyad, Rector of Darunnajah University, Dr. Hasan Darojat, and the Rector of Darul Quran University, Dr. Anwar Sani.

In his remarks, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin said, “Asian countries are located near the equator which is a marker for fertile areas so that they become strategic centers of human movement and dynamics, including us in Indonesia. Our challenge going forward is to prepare superior human resources so that we are ready to face increasingly fierce global competition.” The Deputy Chief of Police for the 2016-2018 period also said that it was hoped that this collaboration would be a means of strengthening human resources, both in the educational and economic fields.

SDGs 4: Quality Education

On Sunday February 11th, 2024, Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was a guest speaker in the Culture Webinar. The webinar is one of a series of events commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Association of Regional Language and Literature Students throughout Indonesia (Imbasadi). The event was held at 13:00 (GMT+7) with the theme “Synergy of Nusantara Performing Arts in the Era of Globalization.” The theme raised a reality about the role, function, and position of the archipelago’s performing arts in the era of free and open globalization.

Together with Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Sugita, M.Si., a professor from the State Hindu University, I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar, both presented informative and educational material about the Nusantara performing arts to the webinar participants.

Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., explained his material entitled “Art, Tradition, and Globalization.” In his presentation, he highlighted how globalization can affect a tradition. One of the interesting aspects of his presentation was the changes in Kecak dance over time. “Kecak dance initially did not contain a particular story. Later, Walter Spies, a Western artist, worked with Balinese artists and inserted the Ramayana epic into the Kecak Dance performance. At this point, Kecak Dance, which was originally part of the communal culture of the community, was transformed into an attraction for tourist consumption,” he explained.

 The Cultural Webinar organized by Imbasadi is aimed at inviting the younger generation of Indonesia to understand the potential of the archipelago’s arts and culture in the midst of globalization. By preserving and enlivening the archipelago’s culture, the community can contribute to developing knowledge and abilities and participate in protecting the nation’s cultural heritage. This effort is in line with the sustainable development goals, especially point 4, which highlights the provision of quality education.

Image 1: The delivered material. 

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Sleman Regency Culture Office (Kundha Kabudayan) holds a Memetri Magazine Writing Training Workshop every year. This year, the workshop took place on Thursday, (02/15/2024) at Floating Resto Sleman. This workshop was attended by various groups, including Pasbuja (Javanese Cultural Arts Society), FGSM (Sleman Teachers Forum), and five students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023. They are Rafif Wicaksono, M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, Audrey Gizella Islamey, Rela Sazkia, and Zidna Nabila.

This year’s “Memetri” Magazine Writing Training Workshop was devoted to writing Javanese-language feature works. The goal was to train the participants to write features, increase creativity, and preserve the Javanese language. There were various materials presented by the speakers, such as formulas for writing features, methods of writing features, and how to choose references for features to be written. Dra. Wiwien Widyawati Rahayu, lecturer of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, was also a resource person in this workshop. She conveyed the method for finding feature sources.

Audrey Gizella expressed her opinion on the workshop. “Alhamdulillah, this workshop was very fun, not boring, and I gained new knowledge to write features.” Rafif Wicaksono added, “This activity is very useful for us, especially since our study program is also related to literature. Therefore, we can know the intricacies of good and correct feature writing,” he said.

The organization of the “Memetri” Magazine Writing Training Workshop is a concrete effort to train the younger generation to be able to write features as well as participate in the preservation of Javanese culture. Educational efforts and cooperation from various parties in preserving culture are in accordance with the goals of sustainable development, namely improving the quality of education (point 4) and partnerships to achieve goals (point 17). 

Author: Zidna Nabila | Editor: Haryo Untoro