Professor of the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Program at UGM, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., was invited as a guest lecturer and dissertation examiner as well as the promoter for an Egyptian student, Kristena Lateef Nazmy, in the Community and Humanities Studies Program, Department of Social and Psychological Research and Studies, Suez Canal University. The dissertation defense was held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Central Office of the Institute of Afro-Asian Studies, Suez Canal University – Egypt, with the dissertation titled ‘Mechanisms of Confronting Publishing Crimes Committed through Electronic Means: A Comparative Field Study between Egypt and Indonesia’.

This exchange of promoters and examiners is part of the cooperation between Universitas Gadjah Mada and Suez Canal University. It should be noted that Universitas Gadjah Mada and Suez Canal University have been cooperating since 2005. This collaboration was initiated by Middle Eastern Cultural Studies lecturers, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Prof. Syamsul Hadi, S.U, who was then the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The realization of cooperation between the two universities in the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education (Education, Research, and Community Service) has been extensive, including the Indonesia-Egypt Student Exchange Program, Public Lectures in the fields of Arabic Language, Literature, and Culture, Collaborative Research and Community Service, and the establishment of the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program in 2019. It is hoped that this ongoing cooperation will optimize the long-term positive contributions between both parties.

The Association of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Students at UGM (IMABTA UGM) and the Indonesian Student Association for the Middle East and Africa (PPIDK Timtengka) collaborated in organizing the event “Middle Eastern Issues Discussion” with the theme “Identity and Exile in Contemporary Arabic Literature”. This event was held on Thursday, June 7, 2024, in a hybrid format. The Middle Eastern Issues Discussion featured Middle Eastern Cultural Analyst and Gadjah Mada University Lecturer Dr. Hindun, M.Hum., Head of the Intercultural Department Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Secretary of the Intercultural Department UGM Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum. Participants in this event included students from Indonesia as well as countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, and South Africa.

Dr. Hindun explained that literature is shaped by the mindset of the society around it. One example is the literature written by Mahmoud Darwish. Darwish wrote about the condition of Palestine when it was occupied by Israel. In addition, this Arabic Literature Lecturer provided another example from Khalil Gibran’s work titled “Al-Ajnihah Al-Mutakassirah”. In it, Gibran narrates the events he experienced in his homeland with a distinctive language style, allowing readers to feel what he experienced. From these examples, it is evident that literature can showcase the identity and exile of the author. Literature can serve as a medium or window to view various social issues occurring in the Middle East.