At the end of 2023, a collaborative work, “Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore, and Back,” emerged as a result of an academic collaboration between English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). This book explains the journey of diversity and interculturalism they experienced during a cultural exchange program, emphasizing the importance of celebrating diversity and eliminating boundaries.

The book is divided into several chapters, each written by two English Department’s lecturers; Alvanita, S.S., M.Ed., and Rahmawan Jatmiko, S.S., M.A., along with ten English Department students; Maulita Shinta, Misma Ro Daud, Jesse Puspita, Leni Cahya, Mellyana Nungki, Anisa Sofiana, Aulia Muchtarom, Gabriella Novianti, Anis Daika, and Nur Aini. They pour their ideas and thoughts on the concept of multiculturalism in Singapore and Indonesia, which makes the book become a pure reflection of multiculturalism that provides insights about cross-cultural interactions. Furthermore, students’ involvement also reflects their perspectives that have developed during the cultural exchange program.

Overall, “Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore and Back” contributes to the on going discussion on multiculturalism and cross-cultural understanding. Through the lens of English Literature, the authors invite readers to explore a journey beyond geographical boundaries and contemplate the importance of cross-cultural communication and understanding. This collaboration is expected to serve as inspiration for future cultural exchange programs and academic collaborations, serving as a tool to promote a world where diversity is celebrated, and harmony is appreciated.

From January 1st, 2023 to January 1st, 2024, Brigita Sekar, a student from the English Department, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, had the valuable opportunity to be an intern at a multinational company, SAP. This internship was organized through the SAP Student Training and Rotation (STAR) program, which is specifically designed to provide practical work experience for undergraduate students.

As a company running in software and technology, SAP offered Brigita the chance to engage in various divisions within the company during the internship. It did not only provide practical insights into various operational aspects of the company but also helped Brigita develop her soft skills. By participating in various projects and teams, she could enhance her interpersonal skills, such as leadership and communication skills, which are valuable in a professional working environment.

Moreover, she had the opportunity to visit Singapore for free as part of an office visit or to explore SAP’s office in Singapore for two weeks. This opportunity aimed to provide valuable experience in skill and capability development. Besides gaining insights from the working environment at the SAP office, this event also provided opportunities to learn more about the industry and work culture in the country. During these two weeks, Brigita had the chance to directly engage in office activities, interact with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, and gain in-depth insights into business practices in Singapore. This experience also allowed her to build a broader professional network by interacting with professionals from various parts of the SAP office, potentially paving the way for future collaborations.

Through Brigita’s experience, we can learn that internships for students are not just additional activities but an integral part that cannot be separated from the higher education process. These experiences do not only provide direct understanding of working environment and related industries but also serve as a foundation that strengthens and prepares students to face the increasingly complex challenges in the professional working environment.

Photo 1: Interview Visit for Press Release SAP and Arya Noble dengan CIO (Chief of Information Officer) Arya Noble, Yonathan Moniaga, Rizka Laksmi (Communications Lead for SAP Indonesia), and Lili Hartono (Industry Account Executive, SAP Indonesia)

The new British Ambassador to Indonesia, Dominic Jermey made his first official visit to Yogyakarta on 17 November 2023. On this occasion, he delivered a public lecture at the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Gadjah Mada on UK-Indonesia bilateral relations in the fields of education, politics, climate change, digitalisation, arts and culture.

The event began with a warm welcome delivered by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni, Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A. In her opening speech, Dr. Mimi Savitri sincerely expressed her appreciation for the high level of bilateral cooperation that has existed between the UK and Indonesia over the years. She emphasised the importance of this relationship as a foundation for further cooperation in academic and social fields.

The next segment was Dominic Jermey’s ambassadorial speech. In his speech, he stated that he had high hopes for the students present in the room to become the successors of the country’s development relay. He highlighted some crucial issues that are being faced by all countries in the world, namely climate change. According to him, the issue of climate change must be brought up and discussed further because the earth that is inhabited today will one day be inherited by younger generations. Students – he continued – can guard this problem according to their portion.

In the last half of his speech, Dominic Jermey warmly welcomed students who had the intention to continue their studies in the UK. He expressed his appreciation for the dedication of the prospective students. Dominic also encouraged the students and gave them the full support of the UK government to ensure the success of their academic journey in the country. In addition, he emphasised the importance of cooperation between countries in supporting knowledge exchange and global human resource development.

The public lecture session was closed with a Q&A session, where participants were given the opportunity to ask questions directly to Dominic Jermey. This session created an interactive atmosphere that allowed for an exchange of ideas and views between the speaker and the audience. Afterwards, the event was closed with a group selfie session.

The Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM is holding another Public Lecture entitled “Soewarsih Djojopuspito: The Life of a Colonial Female Nationalist in Independent Indonesia” on Friday, 10 November 2023. The event took place in the Multimedia Room on the 2nd floor of Margono Building. This Public Lecture focuses on discussing the life journey of a female nationalist during Indonesian independence. Hans Visser, an independent researcher from Alkmaar, was the main speaker in this event, while Dr. Agus Suwignyo, a lecturer from the Department of History, acted as the moderator.

On this occasion, the discussion thoroughly covered the contribution of Soewarsih Djojopuspito, a female writer and literary figure best known for her work entitled “Free Man” or “Buiten Het Gareel”. This work is recognised as an important part of Indonesian literary history. Not only that, in 2013, Soewarsih Djojopuspito was awarded the honour of Bintang Budaya Parama Dharma in recognition of her dedication to literature.

This Public Lecture provides a space to explore Soewarsih Djojopuspito in greater detail, exploring significant aspects of her life and contributions in the context of Indonesian history. The event is not only a platform to recognise an inspirational nationalist figure, but also an opportunity to reflect on the struggles undertaken by a determined woman like Djojopuspito..

UGM Department of History successfully organised a seminar entitled “From Sartono Kartodirdjo, Soedjatmoko, and Moh. Ali Towards Future Indonesian History Writing (I)” on 31 October 2023 at the Auditorium of Soegondo Building 7th Floor. The event was attended by around 100 participants from researchers, students, and the general public.

The seminar aimed to explore the future of Indonesian history writing by exploring the thoughts of figures such as Sartono Kartodirdjo, Soedjatmoko, and Moh. Ali. Three keynote speakers, Gani Achmad Jailani from Universitas Padjadjaran, Priska Marsila from Alumni UIN Sunan Gunung Jati, and Wahyu Purwiyastuti from Satya Wacana Christian University, presented materials covering various aspects of Indonesian historiography.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the seminar also involved 17 co-speakers who were selected through a call for papers selection. The participants were divided into six panels according to the predetermined theme groups. The hope is that this seminar can provide inspiration for the development of Indonesian history writing in the future.

A joint discussion session moderated by Prof Bambang Purwanto concluded the seminar. In closing, Prof Bambang asked interesting questions about the need to discuss the philosophy of history and whether the Indonesian-centric approach is relevant. He also emphasised that this seminar was the beginning of a deeper discussion on the philosophical aspects of history writing.