Yogyakarta, 15/05/2025 – INCULS (Indonesia Culture and Language Services) is not only an institution dedicated to teaching Indonesian to foreign speakers but also serves as a strategic platform in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The experience of Rifan Shinji, a 2020 graduate of Japanese Language and Culture, as a tutor at INCULS demonstrates how inclusive and adaptive educational approaches can foster quality education. By prioritizing the needs of international students from diverse backgrounds such as Monash University students who prefer casual conversations or Ritsumeikan University students interested in traditional music, Rifan applies contextual learning methods. For example, UNSW students are taken to museums to understand Indonesian politics, while Kokushikan University students engage directly with local communities to learn about customs. This approach not only strengthens linguistic comprehension but also builds cross-cultural skills, aligning with national principles of education for sustainable development and multiculturalism.

Additionally, INCULS contributes to reducing inequality by implementing principles of equality in learning. Rifan emphasizes that all students are treated fairly without favoritism, even though challenges such as mood differences or language barriers often arise. To address these, tutors use personal approaches, such as sharing meals with students or utilizing translation technology to ensure effective material delivery. However, the fact that all current INCULS tutors are male also highlights potential room for improvement in gender equality, which could be a focus for future development.  

On another note, INCULS plays a vital role in preserving and promoting Indonesian culture. Through language teaching, tutors also introduce the richness of Indonesian culture, from traditional music to local customs. Rifan gives examples of how Ritsumeikan students are interested in learning gamelan, while HUFS students are more enthusiastic about discussing Indonesian pop music. This dissemination of cultural knowledge not only enriches the perspectives of international students but also strengthens Indonesia’s soft power diplomacy on the global stage. The impact is multiplicative, as these students will carry their understanding of Indonesia back to their home countries, creating a broader cultural network.  

To support this strategic role, Rifan suggests the need for infrastructure development at INCULS, such as constructing a dedicated Indonesian language teaching building. Adequate facilities would allow the institution to enhance teaching capacity and reach more foreign learners. By maintaining teaching quality and expanding collaborative networks, INCULS can continue to be a pioneer in Indonesian language education while contributing to sustainable development. Through a holistic approach combining education, culture, and inclusivity, INCULS proves that language teaching is not merely knowledge transfer but also an investment in global peace and progress.

[INCULS, Thareeq Arkan Falakh]

Yogyakarta, 30/04/2025 – As part of a comprehensive intercultural learning experience, students of the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) program in advanced class 2 from the Indonesian Language and Culture Learning Service (INCULS) of Universitas Gadjah Mada participated in educational visits to two special locations in Yogyakarta: Diorama Arsip Jogja and Space Roastery 1890. This activity was designed not only to enrich students’ understanding of local history and culture, but also to instill important values related to heritage preservation, social responsibility, and community-based creative entrepreneurship.

The journey began at Diorama Arsip Jogja, a visual documentation space located in the complex of the Yogyakarta Regional Library and Archives Agency. More than just a document repository, the Diorama is a visual-based interactive space that displays the key phases of Yogyakarta’s history chronologically from the heyday of Islamic Mataram, the Dutch colonial era, the struggle for independence, to the development of the city in the present. With an array of informative panels, artifact replicas, and well-curated narratives, students are invited to immersively trace the city’s history. For those who come from different countries with different cultural backgrounds, this space opens new insights into the importance of archives and collective memory in the formation of a nation’s identity. Diorama Arsip Jogja does not only present history as something static, but as a living heritage that continues to shape society today.

After exploring the history room, the group continued their journey to Space Roastery 1890, a coffee shop that occupies a heritage building, a former doctor’s house from the colonial era. Here, the old architectural heritage blends harmoniously with contemporary lifestyles. The interior of the building still retains high ceilings, wide windows, and old wooden elements that create a warm and characterful atmosphere. Students enjoy relaxing while sipping quality local coffee, chatting, and enjoying the historical atmosphere that this place has to offer. But this visit was not just a moment of respite; they were also introduced to the coffee roasting process first-hand and the story behind the transformation of this old building into a vibrant and sustainable creative enterprise space. This story shows that preserving architectural heritage does not have to mean freezing the past, but can be the foundation for innovation and local economic growth that is contextual to the times.

Both the archive and the coffee shop represent a connection across time, between a past that needs to be preserved and a future that must be faced with responsibility and creativity. The visit not only enriched the students’ understanding of Indonesian history and culture, but also raised their awareness of the importance of active participation in the preservation of local values, while encouraging the creation of inclusive spaces that accommodate cross-cultural interactions. Through this experience, the students not only learned the Indonesian language, but also absorbed the values that live in the local narrative, becoming a subtle yet impactful form of cultural diplomacy, rooted in a concern for the history and lives of the people of Yogyakarta.

[INCULS, Thareeq Arkan Falakh]

Yogyakarta, 25/04/2025 – The visit of INCULS students from the Indonesian Tourism Specialization Class to Ullen Sentalu Museum opened new horizons in understanding the Javanese cultural heritage that lives and breathes through every corner of the museum. Located in the cool air of Kaliurang, the museum not only presents a collection of historical objects, but also serves as a dialogue space between the past and the present, where students can dive into noble values that remain relevant in modern tourism development. Each exhibition room, from Gua Selo Giri that showcases the palace’s batik to Kampung Kambang that tells the story of the palace princesses’ lives, holds lessons about the balance between preserving tradition and adapting to changing times.

Through direct interaction with museum guides from the local community, students realized the importance of involving the community in cultural heritage management. The way the museum empowers local residents as active custodians of traditions provides a clear example of how cultural preservation can go hand in hand with improving welfare. This experience taught them that authentic cultural tourism should grow from the roots of the community, not just be a show to fulfill market tastes. The students also learned that every batik motif, building architecture, and room layout in this museum contains a deep philosophy of life about human relationships with nature and each other.

The next activity was a session to try the freshly made jadah tempe. Students experienced firsthand the harmony of the savory taste of fermented tempeh with the sweetness of jadah from sticky rice, all wrapped in the fragrant aroma of banana leaves. Through this culinary experience, they understand how traditional food is not just a matter of taste, but also a medium for cultural preservation and local wisdom in processing natural resources. The visit to the jadah tempe producers completed their understanding of the full ecosystem of Javanese culture – from the philosophical values displayed in the museum to the real practices in people’s daily lives.

This direct interaction with traditional food artisans also opened the students’ eyes to the potential of culinary tourism as part of a holistic cultural tourism experience. They saw opportunities to develop tour packages that not only showcase historical objects, but also bring culture to life through sensory experiences such as tasting and making traditional food. This learning further strengthened their understanding of the importance of involving local communities in any tourism destination development, as well as maintaining the sustainability of culinary traditions as a priceless intangible cultural heritage.

This visit was also a living laboratory for students to observe best practices in cultural destination management. They saw how museums are able to create educational tourism experiences without reducing the sacred value of their collections, as well as how technological adaptations are made while maintaining the essence of tradition. This kind of learning shapes the perspective that tourism development must always consider sustainability. Not only in the environmental sense, but also the sustainability of cultural values and economic benefits for local communities. This experience at Ullen Sentalu and the jadah tempe production site is an important foundation for future tourism professionals to build a more responsible and meaningful destination development model.

[INCULS, Thareeq Arkan Falakh]

Yogyakarta, 22/04/2025 – As part of an effort to deepen understanding of the dynamics of Indonesian politics, Indonesian Culture and Language Study (INCULS) students visited the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) DPRD Building and the DIY Governor’s Office. The visit not only provided insight into the legislative and executive processes at the local level, but also implicitly touched on the principles of sustainable development, particularly in terms of inclusive, transparent and accountable governance.

During the visit to the DPRD DIY, INCULS students discussed with the lecturers the role of the legislature in public policy making. They highlighted the importance of community participation in the political process, which is in line with peace processes that emphasize effective, inclusive and transparent governance. At the Governor’s Office, INCULS students had the opportunity to tour and hear about the challenges and strategies of development in Yogyakarta. Topics such as cultural preservation, poverty alleviation, and improving access to education were discussed. The DIY government emphasized the importance of collaboration between academics, communities, and policy makers to achieve sustainable development. Youth and students play a key role in driving innovation and monitoring public policies.

The visit not only enriched students’ understanding of Indonesian politics, but also made them realize that good public policy is the foundation of achieving the SDGs. By understanding the democratic process and governance, INCULS students are expected to become agents of change who promote sustainable development, both locally and globally. Politics is not just about power, but a tool to realize sustainable social and environmental justice. This activity is proof that political education and awareness of sustainable development must go hand in hand to create a better future. 

[Public Relation of INCULS, Thareeq Arkan Falakh]

Yogyakarta, 17/4/2025 – Behind the warm class meetings and intimate cross-cultural discussions is the story of a young tutor who made teaching his calling. Iqbal Tafqy Aunika, a History student in the class of 2022, started his journey with Gadjah Mada University’s Indonesian Culture and Language Service (INCULS) in June 2024. The decision to join was not solely because of academic interest but rather because of the challenges faced when teaching Scout extracurriculars. When he realized he had never taught Indonesian in theory, Iqbal saw this opportunity as a space to learn, grow, and go beyond his comfort zone.

For more than a year, Iqbal has been a teacher for students from various programs, such as the Gadjah Mada Immersion Fellowship (GMIF) and Kokushikan. However, being a tutor is not just about delivering material for Iqbal. He believes that the key to learning lies in relationships between people. Therefore, he always starts by getting to know students’ hobbies and interests and then uses that as a bridge to build closeness. This approach makes the class atmosphere more fluid and makes students feel welcome, even when cultural differences are stark.

Iqbal often uses flexible methods by combining communicative and grammatical approaches, balancing them with class situations, and inserting humor to make the lessons feel light. He does not hesitate to explore the city with students, introducing Yogyakarta as a living cultural learning space. “If we know what they like, learning is no longer rigid. They become more courageous in asking questions and discussing things, and they are interested in getting to know Indonesia more deeply,” he explained.

There are certainly challenges, especially in beginner classes. The process of understanding students is often slow at first. However, Iqbal faces it with patience and creativity. One experience that left a lasting impression was when a student from Pakistan asked about slang words in Indonesian. Instead of laughing, Iqbal used it to discuss language ethics and social context. This kind of dialogue opens up space for mutual respect while also showing the complexity of culture more honestly.

For him, being a tutor is also being the face of Indonesia. When introducing batik, for example, Iqbal shows the motif or pattern and conveys the philosophy behind it. In this way, he hopes that international students will learn about Bahasa Indonesia and capture the values ​​that shape Indonesian society. “We are, indirectly, cultural delegates,” as said. He believes that from the small classroom, the first impression of Indonesia emerges that can stay in the students’ memories for a long time.

The INCULS experience also taught Iqbal a profound lesson. He became more sensitive to differences, learned to appreciate other cultures, and realized the importance of building equal relationships. He still maintains communication with students he has taught, strengthening the bonds that have been formed not only as teachers but also as friends.

Iqbal is committed to continuing to tutor during his studies. According to him, INCULS is not just a place to teach but a space for growth that opens up new horizons. He hopes that in the future, INCULS can introduce Indonesia from a broader perspective, from traditional dances and clothing to daily life that is rich in local values.

“You can learn Bahasa Indonesia from anywhere,” he said. He says the most important thing is the spirit to understand and the courage to open yourself up. In language, there is culture, and in culture, there is the way we humanize humans.

[Public Relation of INCULS UGM, Thareeq Arkan Falakh]