Yogyakarta, January 21, 2025 – The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Study Program (KBTT) at Universitas Gadjah Mada held a meeting to prepare a new curriculum for 2025. The event took place in the Soegondo Building UGM and was attended by a team of curriculum-drafting lecturers, including Prof. Dr. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur, M.S., Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., and Dr. Imam Wicaksono, Lc., M.A. They were assisted by two student staff members, Nafila Azzahra and Hermawati Putri Dian Insani. The meeting began with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., the Head of the Intercultural Department. In his speech, he expressed gratitude to the attending lecturers and emphasized the importance of collaboration in developing a more relevant and adaptive curriculum. Prof. Sangidu also underscored the necessity of updating the curriculum to align with KBTT’s three main concentrations: Arabic Language and Literature, Arabic Culture, and Islamic Studies. Additionally, student input was taken into account when revising several key elements, such as Graduate Learning Outcomes (CPL), scientific vision, and course naming.

The intensive discussion was led by Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., the Secretary of the Intercultural Department, who provided a platform for lecturers to share their ideas. One notable suggestion came from Prof. Dr. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur, who proposed that the scope of Middle Eastern studies should extend beyond Arab culture. He recommended the creation of a special course that explores both Arab and non-Arab cultures, including those of Israel, Iran, and Cyprus. This proposal aims to enhance students’ understanding of cultural diversity in the Middle East, while also contributing to the development of an inclusive and comprehensive curriculum. 

Through this meeting, the KBTT Study Program aspires to create a curriculum that meets academic needs and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4, which focuses on quality education. With this initiative, the KBTT Study Program is dedicated to producing graduates who excel in their fields while also possessing a broader global perspective. This new curriculum is envisioned as a strategic step toward establishing sustainable education that is responsive to global dynamics and the needs of contemporary society.

[Public Relations Master of Middle East Faculty of Cultural Sciences FIB UGM, Nafila Azzahra]

On Thursday, June 14, 2024, a Sharing Session entitled “Developing Potential, Strategizing: Success with KBTT Study Program at Faculty of Arts UGM” was held online through the Zoom platform. This event aims to socialize the KBTT Study Program (Middle East Language and Culture Studies) to Indonesian students in Arab countries, as well as to establish cooperation between IMABTA, the KBTT student organization, and PPIDK (Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia Dunia Kawasan) Middle East and Africa.

This activity is part of the effort to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in terms of Quality Education and Partnerships to Achieve Goals. Through this session, it is hoped that undergraduate students from the Middle East and Africa will gain insight into alternative further study options and strengthen their analytical skills related to Arab world topics. This is important as they are already accustomed to using Arabic and living in these countries, which allows them to access data more easily.

The event began with an opening by the host, followed by remarks from the Head of Department. The core session consisted of the delivery of material delivered in PowerPoint presentation format for about 100 minutes, including 45 minutes of material and a question and answer session. After the delivery of the material, the activity continued with a photo session and closing.

This Sharing Session involved the PPIDK Middle East and Africa community and IMABTA members. In addition to the delivery of material, this event also includes various supporting activities such as discussions, soft promotion, book review, signing of cooperation, and scientific writing competitions. Through this collaboration, it is expected to strengthen global alliances and provide better learning opportunities for the students involved.