Yogyakarta, May 13, 2026 – The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Program and the Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a national seminar. The seminar was titled “The US-Israel vs. Iran Conflict in the Middle East: Impact and Attitudes of Arab States.” It took place in the Soegondo Building, rooms 407-409, and featured three distinguished speakers: Agus Hidayatullah, Lc., M.A., Moh. Nur Salim, Lc., M.Sc. from the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and Nikmatur Rahman Chaniago, S.S., M.MECASt. from the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The event was conducted in a hybrid format. Nur Salim attended in person, while the other two speakers joined online. The seminar began with remarks from KBTT professor Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and from the head of the Department of Intercultural Studies, Prof. Dr. Aris Munandar, M.Hum.

The first session was delivered by Moh. Nur Salim, Lc., M.Sc., who emphasized that the US-Israel vs. Iran conflict is not simply a battle between two camps, but a global issue with extraordinary impact. He also stated that China has great potential to mediate peace between the US, Israel, and Iran. Following Nur Salim, Agus Hidayatullah, Lc., M.A., presented the next session. He discussed the impact of the war on Egypt’s economy and diplomacy, while its impact on Indonesia included soaring energy prices and the safety of thousands of Indonesian citizens in the Middle East. As a member of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, he explained that the Indonesian Embassy plays a role in repatriating Indonesian citizens from various affected countries to Indonesia. Concluding the speaker sessions, Nikmatur Rahman Chaniago, S.S., M.MECASt., stated that the people of Tehran face a sociopolitical reality far more complex than media narratives suggest, demonstrating resilience through long-standing political stoicism. The Indonesian Embassy in Tehran’s role amidst geopolitical isolation is to protect Indonesian citizens by handling cases involving detained ship crew members and facilitating humanitarian aid.

The event concluded with a closing statement from the moderator, a souvenir presentation by the Head of the Master’s Program in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies, Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., and a group photo. The main takeaway for Middle Eastern Cultural Studies students is to ground academic analysis in humanitarian perspectives, emphasizing real-life experiences over purely geopolitical narratives. This approach ensures our understanding goes deeper than surface-level conflict.

Penulis: Jesisca Amanda Florantika

The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Study Program held a curriculum meeting on March 9, 2026, in Room 111 of the Soegondo Building, as part of its efforts to strengthen academic quality and improve learning. This meeting involved the Head of the Study Program, lecturers, and the program administration. The curriculum meeting aimed to review the curriculum’s alignment with scientific developments, the needs of the workplace, and evolving global challenges. Furthermore, this forum also served as a means of evaluating the implementation of the previous curriculum to ensure that the learning process within the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Study Program is increasingly relevant, adaptive, and high-quality.

The meeting discussed various important aspects, including course titles, course structure, graduate learning outcomes, teaching methods, and strengthening student competencies. Curriculum updates are considered crucial so that graduates not only possess a strong academic understanding but also are able to more comprehensively address the needs of society and the development of Middle Eastern cultural studies. The Head of the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Study Program stated that this curriculum meeting is a strategic step to ensure that the direction of the study program’s development remains aligned with the vision of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Through constructive discussions, it is hoped that the resulting curriculum will provide a strong foundation for producing superior, critical, and competitive graduates. This activity also reflects the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Study Program’s commitment to maintaining the quality of higher education through continuous evaluation and renewal. With this curriculum meeting, the study program is expected to continuously improve academic quality and make a tangible contribution to the development of science and civilization.

Author: Jesisca Amanda .F