Yogyakarta, January 8, 2026 – In an inspiring workshop titled “Current Multidisciplinary Publication Directions and Strategies in Arabic Language and Literature,” Anna M. Gade, Ph.D., an Islamic Studies expert from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, shared new insights for Arabic Literature academics. The event commenced with opening remarks by Mimi Savitri, Ph.D., Vice Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, followed by a brief presentation by Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum., who introduced the latest developments in Arabic Literature research and Middle Eastern Culture.

In her presentation, Dr. Gade offered a new perspective on how Arabic Literature can command a vast presence in the global academic arena. More than just an observer, Dr. Gade highlighted the immense initiative and untapped potential within the field. Her primary point focused on a fundamental transformation in constructing scientific narratives: researchers must have the courage to move away from purely descriptive writing and shift toward sharp, critical analysis.

According to Dr. Gade, articles that merely paraphrase texts without engaging with social reality often struggle to penetrate high-reputation journals, such as those indexed in Scopus. She said that “Analysis is crucial because it must stem from real cases.” 

Throughout her career in producing various scholarly works, Dr. Gade has implemented two key strategies. The first is broadening the research scope through comparative studies, the second is sharpening the focus by deeply dissecting a specific linguistic or literary phenomenon. Interestingly, she demonstrated that Arabic Literature is not solely about grammar or pure aesthetics, but serves as a bridge to other disciplines, including law, sociology, and international relations. Dr. Gade’s message was clear: the sharper our analysis of the language’s depth and the bolder we are in stepping beyond traditional boundaries, the greater our contribution will be to the advancement of global knowledge.

Author : Indana Zulfa Maulida

Yogyakarta, November 14, 2025 — The Arabic Study Program Student Association (IKMASA) at Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted a Government Tour as part of the 2025 External Relations Department’s flagship program. The visit, held from 13:30 to 15:00 WIB, involved 40 students from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 cohorts. The delegation was warmly welcomed by the Language Center of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (BBY), reflecting the institution’s appreciation for student-led educational initiatives.

The event opened with remarks from Candra Solihin, the 2025 President of IKMASA, who emphasized the importance of institutional visits in broadening academic insight and fostering early professional networking. The agenda continued under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, Rusydatu Nibras Salamah, ensuring the program ran smoothly and in order. The atmosphere grew more engaging when participants were invited to enjoy refreshments prepared by BBY.

During the main session, Mulyanto, M.Hum., Senior Expert Linguist at the institution, delivered an informative presentation outlining the history of the Language Center, its institutional roles, and various strategic programs carried out to support language development and literacy initiatives across the Yogyakarta region. He also highlighted internship opportunities available for students interested in pursuing linguistic research and institutional language work.

Throughout the visit, students demonstrated strong enthusiasm, actively engaging in discussions about language programs, research opportunities, and potential pathways for student involvement in BBY’s activities. This Government Tour is expected to serve as a meaningful platform for UGM Arabic Study Program students to expand their professional network, gain firsthand exposure to applied language work, and explore future collaborative possibilities with the Language Center.

Author: Aisyah Mutmainnah

Yogyakarta, October 28, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), once again celebrates a proud achievement through one of its students, Sultan Amirul Muttaqin, who successfully earned three prestigious awards in both national and regional rounds of the Musabaqah Syarhil Qur’an (MSQ) competition. Sultan’s outstanding ability to interpret and eloquently convey the messages of the Qur’an earned him recognition for his clarity, expressiveness, and emotional depth.

Sultan’s first major accomplishment came at the National MSQ Competition organized by the Qur’anic Studies Program of UIN Walisongo Semarang, where he and his team achieved 2nd Place Nationally. The UGM team delivered a powerful collaboration between the qāriʾ (reciter), the translator, and the syāriḥ (commentator), impressing the judges with their harmonious performance, strong arguments, and deep spiritual expression.

His second achievement followed at the Festival Santri Multitalent 2025, hosted by the Khaulabenazir National Community of Female Students, where Sultan once again secured 2nd Place Nationally in the Musabaqah Syarhil Qur’an category. Serving as the translator, he showcased exceptional linguistic precision and rhetorical beauty in rendering the meaning of the Qur’anic verses.

Not stopping there, Sultan also triumphed at the regional level, earning 2nd Place in the Yogyakarta and Central Java MSQ Competition, organized by the Al-Qur’an Education Institute (LPQ) Masjid As-Syuhada Yogyakarta. The event brought together participants from educational institutions, universities, and Islamic boarding schools committed to promoting Qur’anic-based da’wah.

In his reflections, Sultan emphasized that the role of the translator in the Musabaqah Syarhil Qur’an is not merely about linguistic conversion, but about reviving the soul and message of the verses so that audiences can truly feel their meaning. “Alhamdulillah, every competition is a valuable experience to deliver da’wah in a scholarly and beautiful way. This proves that students can be meaningful bridges of da’wah through intellect and language,” he shared.

These achievements not only bring honor to the UGM Arabic Study Program but also embody the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The Study Program hopes Sultan’s accomplishments will inspire other students to continue striving for excellence, spreading the values of Islam through language, and contributing to Islamic scholarship both nationally and internationally.

Author: Sultan Amirul Muttaqin

Yogyakarta, October 20, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continued its eighth session of the Entrepreneurship course with lecturer Diyah Wikan Rakhmatika, S.S., M.A.. This session carried the theme “Business Funding Opportunities”, focusing on strategies to acquire, manage, and utilize financial resources effectively and ethically to support business sustainability.

In her presentation, Diyah explained that funding is a fundamental aspect of business continuity and growth. She emphasized that a successful entrepreneur is not only one who can generate creative ideas but also one who can manage finances wisely and determine the right funding strategy. Students were introduced to two main sources of business capital — internal funding (personal savings, reinvested profits, and support from family or friends) and external funding (banks, investors, venture capital, crowdfunding, Islamic financing, and government grants).

Furthermore, Diyah highlighted the importance of preparing a compelling and credible business proposal as a key to attracting investors. A well-crafted proposal, she noted, should clearly present the business vision, market potential, financial projections, and realistic return plans. She also underscored the principles of transparency, accountability, and Islamic ethics in financial management to ensure that businesses operate honestly, fairly, and sustainably.

The session also explored real-world funding practices in Indonesia, such as the government’s Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) program, venture capital schemes from institutions like East Ventures and Mandiri Capital Indonesia, as well as donation- and investment-based crowdfunding models. Through case studies, students were encouraged to identify opportunities and challenges in funding initiatives relevant to literature- and language-based entrepreneurship, including independent publishing, digital literacy content creation, and language learning platforms.

This session provided valuable insights for Arabic Study Program students to develop businesses that are not only intellectually creative but also financially robust. By understanding sustainable business funding strategies, students are expected to design independent, ethical, and impact-driven entrepreneurial models.

The course also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through practical entrepreneurship education, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by fostering competitive young entrepreneurs, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting innovation and sustainable resource management.

[Arabic Literature, Muhammad Ardiansyah]

Yogyakarta, 4 October 2025 – The Arabic Student Association (IKMASA) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) warmly welcomed the Arabic Literature Student Association (HIMASA) from Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) during their comparative study visit to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. The event aimed to strengthen academic and organizational ties while fostering collaboration and friendship between student associations.

The SANJUNG program was attended by all representatives of IKMASA UGM’s 2025/2026 management board from each department, accompanied by IKMASA Chairperson Candra Solihin. Meanwhile, the HIMASA UNPAD delegation, consisting of around 60 members, was led by HIMASA Chairperson Moch Cahya Kurnia.

The event began with welcoming remarks from both organization leaders, followed by presentations of work programs from each department and division. The participants then engaged in focused discussion sessions organized into small groups, each consisting of one to two departments, allowing for deeper exchanges of ideas and experiences. The program concluded with a documentation session held in Room 709 of the Soegondo Building.

This visit served not only as a platform for sharing organizational best practices but also as a meaningful step toward building lasting partnerships and academic collaboration among Arabic student associations across Indonesia.

Author: Department of External Relations of IKMASA