Yogyakarta, October 30, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed a visit from 270 students from MAN Bondowoso and SMAN 8 Garut in the Auditorium of Soegondo Building 7th Floor. This event was an opportunity for the students to get to know more about academic life at UGM and opportunities to study at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB).

The event was opened with remarks from the Faculty’s Public Relations and Cooperation team, which consists of five unit staff, including part-timer students. In the question and answer session, students and teachers were enthusiastic with many questions, ranging from the benefits and opportunities of studying at FIB, tips on building confidence to enter top universities, to the percentage of new student admissions in each pathway.

The students also asked about broader issues, such as policies related to UKT (Single Tuition Fee), campus response to mental health, and efforts to handle sexual violence cases. Public Relations gave a comprehensive explanation, emphasizing UGM’s commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment.

The event ended with the handover of souvenirs from each school, a group photo session, and a spirited yell match between MAN Bondowoso and SMAN 8 Garut, concluding an inspiring and fun-filled visit.

Yogyakarta, 28 October 2024 – The Department of Anthropology of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held a seminar entitled “Refugee Protection in Indonesia and Beyond” on Monday, 28 October 2024. Located in the Multimedia Room, Margono Building 2nd floor, the seminar attracted participants from various backgrounds, including students, academics, and legal practitioners.

The event, which took place from 13.30 to 16.00 WIB, presented a number of expert speakers who discussed various aspects of refugee protection, both in Indonesia and in a global context. Here are some of the topics presented by the speakers:

1. Prof. Martin Jones from the University of York, UK, presented material on “Moving Beyond Protection Space”. He highlighted the need for innovative approaches in moving beyond the boundaries of protection space for refugees amid global policy challenges.
2. Fitria, S.H., M.R., Ph.D. from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta, presented the topic “Legal Pluralism and Refugee Protection in Aceh”. In her presentation, Fitria explained the legal complexities faced by refugees in Aceh and the importance of legal pluralism in ensuring more inclusive protection.
3. Dr. Elan Lazuardi from Universitas Gadjah Mada explored the health challenges for refugees in Jakarta and surrounding areas in the topic “Unregulated Health Protection for Refugees”. He argued that health protection is still an issue that needs to be better regulated in national policy.
4. Dr. Realisa Masardi also from Gadjah Mada University, provided additional perspectives on refugees in Indonesia.

The seminar was welcomed enthusiastically by the participants, who had the opportunity to explore refugee protection issues through direct discussions with experts. Participants appreciated the importance of this seminar in providing a new understanding of the dynamics and challenges faced by refugees in Indonesia and the world. With the success of this event, the Department of Anthropology UGM is expected to continue to be a forum for critical discussions on crucial humanitarian issues at the national and international levels.

The Arabic Language & Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has successfully held the ‘Festival of Arabic Culture (FKA) 2024’ which took place from 18 to 20 October 2024. This annual festival is a celebration of Arabic culture with a series of interesting events, such as national level competitions, FKA Talks, Arabic Market Day, and the “Arabian Night” theater performance. 

# FKA 2024 National Competition

The national competition held on October 18, 2024 involved participants from various categories, ranging from high school students to university students and the general public. This competition aims to spur the enthusiasm of the younger generation in mastering the Arabic language and culture. The categories contested include:

1. SMA/MA/equivalent category:  

   – Taqdimul Qishoh (Storytelling)  

   – Arabic Language Olympiad  

   – Calligraphy  

2. Student Category:  

   – Arabic Debate  

   – Presentation Essay  

3. General Category:  

   – Musabaqah Qira’atul Kutub (MQK) 3.  

   – Videography (conducted online)

# Arabic Market Day: A Celebration of Taste and Music

From October 19 to 20, 2024, “Arabic Market Day” enlivens the atmosphere with a bazaar featuring a variety of Middle Eastern delicacies. The event came alive with musical performances from local bands that entertained visitors throughout the day. The food and beverage stalls were packed with participants and the general public who wanted to get a taste of the Arabic market.

# FKA Talks: Inspiration from Outstanding Students

One of the most anticipated events was “FKA Talks”, held on October 19, 2024 at Soegondo Building, Faculty of Arts UGM. With the theme *”Ideas and Perspectives of Students with Character towards Development and Change in the Era of Disruption ”*, five talented students provided insights related to social, psychology, and education. Their innovative ideas and critical perspectives were enthusiastically welcomed by the participants, creating an in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities in this modern era.

# Theater “Arabian Night”: The Starry Story of the Sahara

The festival concluded with a spectacular theater performance of “Arabian Night” that took place on the evening of October 20, 2024. Set under a starry sky, the performance blends Arabian culture and the local richness of the archipelago. The theme “Gemintang Padang Sahara di Ambara Nusantara” successfully brought the audience into a magical and enchanting atmosphere, with a message of friendship and togetherness packaged in a captivating storyline.

The event was the culmination of the 2024 Arab Cultural Festival celebrations, which not only celebrated cultural diversity but also connected various elements of creativity and achievement at the national level. With great enthusiasm from participants and visitors alike, the 2024 Arab Cultural Festival once again demonstrated the important role culture plays in strengthening relationships across communities and promoting pride in diversity.

Yogyakarta, October 16, 2024 – The Master of Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held a Public Lecture and Book Launch with the theme “Revealing the Veil of Trauma and Memory in Literature” on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The event took place in Room S709 Soegondo Building, 7th floor of the Faculty and was attended by academics, students, and literature lovers.

The event began at 08.30 WIB with a public lecture session that explored the important theme of trauma and memory in literary works. This topic discusses how literature can be a medium to reveal traumatic experiences and collective memory in a social and historical context. The participants seemed enthusiastic in attending the lecture and discussing with the speakers.

Not only a public lecture, this event was also coupled with the launch of four new books that will soon be published. The books include:

1. Being Women in Literature  
2. Indonesian Postcolonial Literature 
3. Trauma and Memory Literature  
4. Popular Literature with a Sociological Approach

The launch received high appreciation from the participants because the books present new and important perspectives in the study of literature in Indonesia, especially related to social issues, trauma, and memory.Despite the limited quota of participants, the event was successful and provided deep insights for all participants who attended. Many of them hoped that similar events could continue to be held as a venue for critical discussions about literature.

“This public lecture provided a very interesting perspective, especially on how literature can deeply represent trauma and memory. The books launched are also very relevant to current social issues,” said one of the participants. With the success of this event, the Master of Literature Program at Faculty of Arts UGM once again proved its commitment in encouraging innovative and impactful literary studies for the academic community and the public.

Yogyakarta, October 17, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again welcomed educational visits from two schools, namely SMAN 1 Pagak, Malang, and SMAN 1 Glenmore, Banyuwangi. The event that took place in the Auditorium of Soegondo Building was attended by students and accompanying teachers, with the aim of introducing the world of higher education, especially UGM and Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

In his speech, the representative of SMAN 1 Pagak, Mr. Wawan Harjito, explained that the vision and mission of this visit was to explore as much information as possible about Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, in order to give insight to the students about the study programs offered. Meanwhile, a representative from SMAN 1 Glenmore, Mr. Satrio Hario Utomo, mentioned that UGM is a top university, not only in Yogyakarta and Indonesia, but also in the world. He hoped the students would be inspired to continue their education at this renowned university.

What made this visit special was the presence of lecturers and student representatives from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Faculty of Arts UGM, who gave a presentation on the introduction of the study program to the students. In their presentation, they explained the curriculum, academic activities, and opportunities that students can get while studying in this study program.

The Q&A session was interactive, with students asking questions about career prospects for graduates of the Korean Language and Culture program. One of the questions asked was what percentage of graduates of this study program managed to get a job. The faculty explained that all graduates are required to fill out a survey to report their workplace, so that the faculty can monitor the progress of graduates. “Alhamdulillah, the results are satisfactory,” replied Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S, M.A, Ph.D as the lecturer who presented the material. He emphasized that many graduates have successfully entered various job sectors.

Students also asked how to balance language and culture learning, as well as opportunities to study in Korea through student exchange programs. The study program explained that the balance between language and cultural studies is taught comprehensively, and there are many opportunities to join exchange programs in Korea for outstanding students.

The event ended with a group photo and expressions of gratitude from the students and teachers who felt the visit provided valuable insights into their educational future. This visit is expected to motivate the students to continue their higher education and open their minds about the various study opportunities offered by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.