In 2018, calls to transform UGM’s Diploma-3 programs into Diploma-4 surfaced. Balairung, as one of UGM’s student press, took part in discussing the idea. This change is a part of UGM’s efforts to raise UGM’s rankings beside other World Class Universities, and to fulfill the working world’s needs for Diploma-4 graduates.

Responding to the phenomenon, Prodi S1 Pariwisata UGM, represented by 4 lecturers, held a sharing session on Tuesday, June 24 2019 with lecturer from Griffith University’s Tourism major, Dr. Maria Dharmesti.

As a program that also exists in SV UGM, the S1 Pariwisata program seeks to map and further define the curriculum of the D4 and S1 program to avoid overlap between the curriculums. The discussion went on for 2 hours at Soegondo room no. 611 engagingly. Digging deep into the two programs, it was found that the two programs have already mutually accomodated each other, with both footed on academic and scientific methods, connected with the realities existing in society, mutually benefitting and developing.

The discussion ended with a conclusion that the D4 program should focus on technical roles, and the S1 program will focus on analytical and managerial roles, and that both could take on strategic challenges anywhere alumnae works. The discussion also hopes that the working world could differentiate the competencies and focus which educational institutions had formulated, avoiding mismatch.

Tuesday June 25th 2019, Prodi Arkeologi UGM pre-launched “Kuasa Makna, Perspektif Baru dalam Arkeologi Indonesia” at Multimedia Room, Margono Building. The book, poised to be a new wave in Indonesian Archeology, was composed by Dr. Daud Aris Tanudirjo, Drs. Tjahjono Prasodjo, M.A, Drs. J.S. Edy Yuwono, Dwi Pradnyawan, M.A and Adieyatna Fajri, M.A.

The pre-launch is also part of the 73rd Anniversary of FIB UGM, held throughout 2019, to create a platform for each department to hold their own scientific programs. Also attending this event, Dr. Suzie Handayani, as moderator and head of the FIB UGM Anniversary program, Dr. Kris Budiman and Prof. Dr. P. M. Laksono as discussers of the book’s contents.

The first session consists of presentation by each contributor with discussions from the discussers. Dr. Daud presents the current condition of Indonesian Archeology, which he sees as having too much fun within itself, resulting in disability to develop itself further. Dr. Daud corroborates the condition, calling the field as too enticed by romanticism and formality of methods. Dr. Daud mentions that Archeology shouldn’t be the only source of truth, or the ultimate source of truth, instead should be creating spaces and discourses for others to discuss and interpret.

Further in the discussion, Prof. Dr. P. M. Laksono discusses the meaning of the word “Kuasa” and “Makna”, the title of the book, which was not discussed in the book itself. Dr. Kris Budiman discusses on the routes Archeology could take, either to go deeper into Archeology or ‘minggat’ into interdisciplinary fields.

Whatever it is, the book should be appreciated and accepted, while the book will go on further edits and improvements after publishing, allowing readers to enjoy the book and the spiritual routes they could take, and bring Archeology further.

The Japanese Literature Programme of the FCS, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again proves its achievements. Akbar Rizqi Dhea Habibi, or Rizqi, achieved the 2nd place on the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Shuuji Contest on April 6 2019.

Previously, Rizqi has already won several competitions in the same field. Yet, he noted that on this occasion, the competition was exceptionally competitive. “The previous Shuuji Contests I attended this time has more diverse participants from Javanese universities, and all of them wrote very beautifully. I was quite nervous and trembled a bit when I wrote.” said Rizqi.

Even though he only got the 2nd place, Rizqi successfully placed better than other contestants, who came from East Java to West Java. The 1st place went to a contestant from STBA YAPARI ABA, and the 3rd place went to a contestant from UPI.

This competition is a part of the annual Japanzuki Show, an annual event held by Himpunan Mahasiswa Bahasa Jepang (HIMABAJA) UPI, under the supervision of Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa Jepang UPI. This event is held in order for those interested in Japanese language and culture to be creative and exchange knowledge on Japanese culture and language.

Rizqi hopes to see more of his juniors interested in competitive Shuuji in the future.

After arriving in Melbourne, we went to the Clayton campus of Monash University. On our first day at Monash, we were introduced to several of the Arts Faculty’s staff and lecturers. We were told that we would be working on our theses in a room on Level 7 of the Menziez Building. We were then given Monash identity cards so that we could access the Monash email system and several other campus facilities.

We were accompanied by our thesis advisor, Dr. Mridula Chakraborty, with whom we discussed our theses. We were also introduced to the Dean of Arts, Prof. Rae Frances. We discussed the research we would conduct at Monash. She was very kind and enthusiastic about our planned research in Monash, and expressed hope that connections between UGM and Monash would remain strong.
Aside from discussing our theses with Dr. Chakraborty, we also conducted library research and attended various seminars held by Monash. We attended seminars at the MIC (Monash Indigenous Center) and the Philippine Round Table. When visiting Monash Caulfield, we were also introduced to the staff and lecturers of the Australia-Indonesia Center. Several had conducted research in Indonesia, and they were enthusiastic to hear that we were researching Australian literature at Monash.
On the weekend, we were taken to Ballarat by Pak Basoeki. There, we walked around downtown before eating lunch near the lake at the botanical garden. We explored the botanical garden, which has statues of Australia’s prime ministers and beautiful flowers of all colors, and took several pictures there.
On Thursday (1/9/2015) we were invited by Pak Basoeki to come to the Indonesian Consulate General’s dormitories in Victoria. We were well received, and were served refreshments. We also met with Sultan Hamengkubuwana and Queen Hemas, Bapak Nadjib Riphat (the ambassador), Ibu Dewi Savitri Wahab (the consul general), Ibu Prof. Dwikorita (rector of UGM), and several other UGM students who were present.

We spoke a little with Ibu Dwikorita regarding the research we were conducting at Monash. Ibu Dwikorita was very interested in continuing Australian Studies at UGM, and we were asked to help her after returning to Yogyakarta. We were given Ibu Dwikorita’s contact information and asked to contact her immediately to further develop an Australian Studies program at UGM. Hopefully, with this road opened, the FCS will be as enthusiastic in developing Australian Studies at the university. Hopefully, the UGM students who have conducted studies on Australia can also contribute to this planned Australian Studies program.

Sultan Hamengkubuwana also spoke with us for some time. He stated that it was now time for UGM to move ‘outwards’, meaning that UGM should have more study centers outside of Indonesia which can serve as vehicles for, and provide access to, students currently conducting research.
The Ambassador was interested in giving a public lecture on Australia at UGM, as he had previously done at UI.
Hopefully the fruits of our short discussions with these leaders can be conveyed to those with the authority to act on them. Furthermore, we hope that the Sultan and Bu Dwikorita’s suggestions can be realized immediately. We also hope that collaboration between UGM and Monash University can help ensure the development of an Australian Studies Program at UGM.
This is all we’d like to say for now. Hopefully FCS and UGM can continue to develop and make progress in academia.

Last Monday (5/10/15) we discussed our theses with Dr. Chakraborty. She gave us much useful feedback on our theses. She also helped us search for the references we needed.

I arrived in Switzerland on Friday, 11 2015 at 14:20 Geneva time, then continued to Versoix, where I would live for approximately three months. It was difficult to find a place to live in the country, which is known for its high cost of living. Versoix is located not far from the center of Geneva; the trip only took about twelve minutes by train. I was fortunate because my apartment was only 700 meters from the train station, and thus it only took a minute to walk there. Everything I found there was new and amazing. On the first day I walked around the small town of Versoix, which is located at the edge of Lake Léman. I can even enjoy a stunning view of the lake from my apartment balcony. The sight of the lake, which reaches from Geneva to Montreux and the European mountains, welcomed me every day as I took the train to campus.

I was able to become part of the Graduate Institute Geneva, or in French the Institut de hautes études internationals et du développement (IHEID), because of a grant from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, for my thesis studies. As a late-semester student writing my thesis, I was extremely fortunate to receive this opportunity to conduct research in Geneva. Because of the good relations between these two institutions, I was able to become an exchange student during the autumn semester; I did not only conduct research, but also attended classes with the other students of the Graduate Institute. I was proud to be the first and only student from Indonesia to partake in this program.

Orientation for new exchange students was held on Monday, 14 September 2015. During this activity, we were given access to facilities that would ease the learning process while we were at IHEID, including a multi-functional student card, thumb drive, password, and user name to access the IT and email networks that students required to receive information and to ease communication with the lecturers. Afterwards, Concepta Canal, who was in charge of the exchange program at IHEID, and Dr. Laurent Neury, who was in charge of academic affairs, instructed us in the learning processes at the institute. Afterwards, orientation continued with a presentation regarding the institute, which included a lecture by the Director of IHEID and other academic staff. At the end of the orientation session, students were asked to participate in activities which introduced the different departments and programs of the IHEID, in accordance with their own specialties. I selected the Anthropology and Sociology program, because there I could attend classes which would give me information (both theoretical and analytical) useful for my thesis. Furthermore, specialists in gender studies (the central topic of my research) were also employed by this program, and as such I could receive advice from these lecturers and discuss my thesis with them. Through these programs, I met Françoise Grange and Christine Verschuur.

The first week was one of adaptation for me. Adapting to the weather, the transport, my fellow students from all corners of the globe, and the campus environment. I took two classes during this program: Social and Cultural Theory I and “Inégalités de genre, développement et théories féministes postcoloniales”. The first class was in English, whereas the second was conducted in French. This was a considerable challenge, as I was asked to understand and communicate in both languages at the same time. The first week of classes was filled with introductions, explanations of course rules, division of material for presentations, and reading assignments.
As a foreign student in Geneva, it was not enough for me to have a visa. I also needed a residence permit from the Office cantonal de la population et des migrations, a sort of civil registration office. In between classes and studying, I went to this office, equipped with a letter from the Graduate Institute, to apply for a student residence permit. I had to pay 237 CHF to apply for this residence permit. All students, be they from the exchange program or another program, were required to have such a permit. We were greatly aided in administrative issues by the Graduate Institute.

I spent almost all of my free time at the library because the atmosphere on campus was very conducive for studying. Once in a while, though, I would take the time to enjoy the view before returning to my apartment, as Geneva is not a large city. Aside from attending academic activities and working on my research, as a student of the institute I participated in various activities organized by the student body. One of them was Asian Night, which was held by the association of Asian students. Though it was a welcome party for Asian students, it was also attended by numerous Europeans and Americans. For this event, Hani, an Indonesian student of the IHEID’s Master of Development Studies program, borrowed some traditional Indonesian clothes from the Indonesian Embassy in Switzerland. Many foreign students were interested in the clothing and tried it on.

I did not participate in many research activities in the first weeks of the program because I was still adapting to this new place. Almost every day I received new information through my student email account, and I had to filter it and determine what was important for me and what could be safely ignored. Being part of the campus meant that I had to be more active in seeking knowledge, study more, not be afraid of asking questions, and use the available facilities so that I would not fall behind the other students. Furthermore, I had to make the best use of this opportunity, as I knew it would not come again.

I never imagined that I would receive a research grant from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and become an exchange student at one of the most prestigious campuses in Geneva. Especially since, during my first week, I was visited by my thesis advisor, Bu Wening Udasmoro. She happened to be in Geneva for a presentation and to have recommended that I come here for my research. I am very grateful that she shared so much information about life in Geneva with me, because she had previously completed her masters’ studies in this city. It was a source of pride for me to follow my advisor’s steps and studying here, in the world’s safest and most peace-loving nation.

As I entered the second week of classes, I was kept busy with reading assignments. It was not a new experience for me to receive such assignments, but it felt different since I had to read English and French sources. This meant that I had to set aside more time for these assignments than I had when I was in Indonesia. I also tried to find additional information in Indonesian so that I could better understand the material. Like the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, the Graduate Institute often held seminars to discuss contemporary issues in various fields of discipline. I was able to attend the Gender Seminar Series, held monthly by the Gender Studies program, with the theme “Beyond the Normative: Can Women’s Inclusion Really Make for Better Peace Processes?” which was presented by Thania Paffenholz of the Graduate Institute’s Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP). I was not able to follow much of the discussion, but I did understand that the research conducted by Thania and her team in several Middle Eastern nations indicated that women had a significant, flexible, and fluid role in the power process. Organized women’s groups could have highly positive effects on negotiations. This discussion was very interesting, and piqued my passion for further study.

The week was closed with a group photo of the exchange program students, who were all the first representatives of universities which had partnered with the IHEID. Here I learned that I was not alone: Nourhan and Amal, students of the American University in Cairo, Mariasole of Bocconi University, Milan, and me, Novi, from Universitas Gadjah Mada.