Yogyakarta, 14 September 2026 – Right on that day, six students from the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) scholarship arrive at INCULS from their respective countries. They were there to attend the program’s opening ceremony as well to kick off their first day studying here. Our long awaited friends finally set foot at Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

To start a new semester in a new and foreign environment is definitely not an easy thing to do. Feelings like anxiety, loneliness, and worry are definitely there. One of the purposes of the opening ceremony is to make them feel at ease and relieve them from those negative feelings. With the main purpose being International Student Orientation (ISO) and briefing for the time they will spend in Indonesia. As they will spend their next year here in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. INCULS will be their guardian as well as their friend, also will make their stay in Jogja, enjoyable.

At INCULS, the Indonesian Language is not the only thing we teach. Even though it is true that most of our students come to learn Bahasa Indonesia, lessons and exposure to Indonesian culture is also something INCULS provides. With many invaluable chances to have a firsthand experience within Jogja. Study tours and many more exciting activities.

At this ceremony, information such as the curriculum and getting to know the tidbits of Jogja were shared for the convenience of INCULS’ new BIPA students. Often overlooked things like the cuisine in Jogja; the daily things in Jogja; the norms in Indonesia; and so on. Our students are prepared immediately with information that will certainly help them for the time they will have in Indonesia.

INCULS hopes the KNB Program could provide top notch education for our BIPA friends to push them to grow and become bridges that connect the world. Not just the language, the culture that they will experience here in INCULS to be of great use in their life. Good luck on your studies friends, there will be a point where things are going rough, but keep your head high and push on!

Ditulis oleh: Dydo Athaya Rafif dydoathayarafif@mail.ugm.ac.id

Yogyakarta, August 19th 2026 – On that day, students of Daito Bunka University, Japan, attend INCULS intensive program’s closing ceremony, which was held at Gedung Soegondo, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

Closing ceremony marks as the conclusion of Daito Bunka 2 weeks Indonesian language and culture learning journey here in Yogyakarta. Through INCULS, learning Indonesian is never limited to the confines of classroom walls, they have the chance to discover the people, language, culture, and also the daily lives of Indonesians on a firsthand basis.

In this ceremony, students as well as teachers look back on the various experiences they had gotten in this short time. With a warm atmosphere and everyone in harmony, enjoying the last seconds before they inevitably part ways. It ends with everyone saying their thanks to all the people helpful throughout their stay in UGM, those include the teachers, tutors, and INCULS team.

For the Daito Bunka University students, this program will be an invaluable experience to further improve their Indonesian language capabilities as well as understanding the Indonesian culture. Firsthand interactions with the locals also gives an insight in not just the language aspects of things, moreover the characteristic and culture of Indonesian people.

We hope UGM’s INCULS continue to be a space for everyone from around the world to explore the language and culture of Indonesia. We hope the academic relations and cultural exchange between both countries will blossom through activities like this. The end of a program is not the end of the student’s learning journey. With hopes that the experience and memories gained at Yogyakarta could become of help to the students of Daito Bunka University in their continuous journey of learning Indonesian language, also serving as a bridge to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Japan.

Author: Suryono (Lin Fan Yu)

A total of 12 students from Daito Bunka University, Japan, officially attended the opening of the 2026 Summer Program held at the Multimedia Room, Margono Building 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Tuesday (4/8/2026) at 10:00 AM WIB.

The event was opened by two Masters of Ceremonies (MC), Suryono (an NCCU student) alongside his co-host. The opening atmosphere was warm and friendly, filled with lighthearted moments during the welcoming remarks delivered by the Coordinator of INCULS FIB UGM, Dr. Rakhmat Soleh, S.S., M.Hum. The event then proceeded with a group photo session involving participants, teaching lecturers, and student tutors.

The Japanese students will undergo an intensive two-week learning program from August 4 to August 19, 2026. Throughout the program, they are enrolled in the Elementary 2 (A2) level, focusing on coursework such as Reading & Vocabulary, Writing and Grammar, as well as Listening and Conversation. Beyond academic study, participants will also gain direct cultural exposure through hands-on workshops in batik making and traditional gamelan music.

Following the opening ceremony, students immediately began their first class session at 10:00 AM WIB with Yayan Sensei. The first day concluded with a meet-and-greet session with their student tutors at 3:00 PM WIB to assist with their academic and cultural adaptation at FIB UGM.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Gadjah Mada University officially launched a summer school programme in collaboration with National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan, on Monday (20 July 2026). The opening ceremony, which took place in Room 721 of the Soegondo Building, ran from 09.00 to 10.15 WIB. The opening was made particularly special by the delightful collaboration between the two presenters (MCs), namely Salsa (an Indonesian student) and Bela (an intern from NCCU, Taiwan).

The programme began with an opening address by the Coordinator of INCULS at the Faculty of Humanities, UGM, Dr Rakhmat Soleh, S.S., M.Hum. In his address, he outlined the activities and the academic requirements applicable to students throughout this two-week programme. The course of study will cover the modules Writing and Grammar, Listening and Speaking, and Reading and Vocabulary, each of which will be taught by experienced lecturers.

On the same occasion, Ms Silvia, the student supervisor from NCCU, also delivered a warm welcome. She formally introduced the 10 NCCU students participating in this year’s summer school programme. The introductory session was warm and enjoyable, strengthening the bond between the participants and the organisers.

The opening ceremony concluded with a symbolic presentation of a memento from NCCU to INCULS FIB UGM as a token of appreciation and to mark the start of this cultural and academic collaboration. This closing ceremony also marked the start of the full programme of summer school activities for NCCU students at UGM.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

Yogyakarta, October 17, 2025 – The Indonesian Culture and Language Learning Service (INCULS), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), has officially opened registration for the Regular Program – Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. This program offers international students the opportunity to explore Indonesia through its language, arts, and traditions, right in Yogyakarta, a city renowned as the cultural and educational heart of the nation.

The program, which will take place from February 16 to June 19, 2026, is designed to provide a learning experience that focuses not only on language skills but also on cultural understanding. Through this initiative, INCULS contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by providing inclusive access to language and cultural education for learners from around the world.

Students are placed according to their language proficiency levels, ranging from Beginner (A1, A2) to Advanced (C2.1, C2.2). The curriculum covers reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary, delivered through interactive methods that connect classroom learning with real-life communication.

Beyond classroom activities, participants are invited to experience Indonesia more deeply through various cultural enrichment programs, such as Batik workshops, Gamelan (traditional music) classes, and visits to cultural and historical sites around Yogyakarta. Through these cross-cultural experiences, the program also supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by fostering intercultural understanding and strengthening international friendships.

INCULS additionally offers elective courses such as Indonesian Culture, History and Politics, Tourism, and Translation, allowing students to broaden their academic perspectives based on their interests. At the end of the semester, participants will receive an official certificate and academic transcript, which can be transferred to their home universities.

Through collaboration with various international institutions and participation from students across the globe, INCULS also advances SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering cross-cultural learning environments that enhance global understanding of Indonesia while strengthening international academic networks.

Registration for the Regular Program – Even Semester 2025/2026 can be completed online via admission.ugm.ac.id/registration. Further information is available at bit.ly/INCULSHowtoApply and bit.ly/INCULSBrochure

With the spirit of “At INCULS, language meets culture, and learning becomes a journey of discovery,” UGM invites international students to join and explore the richness of Indonesia’s language, culture, and humanity. ✨

[Public Relations, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM,  Alma Syahwalani]