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On Tuesday, February 13th 2024 at 1 until 3 pm, the UGM Japanese Language and Culture Study Program held a public lecture on the topic “Will Japan become a ‘normal country’?: Changes in the Defense Debate Before and After the Outbreak of The Ukraine War ” which was delivered by researchers and teaching staff at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies from Kobe University, (Ass. Prof.) Masato Nakahara. This Public Lecture was the opening for the 2023/2024 even semester lecture activities which were attended by lecturers and students of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, as well as students from outside the study program who were interested in Japanese issues.

In the first part, Nakahara-sensei explained the history of the formation of the Jieitai (Japanese Self-Defense Forces) after Japan’s defeat in World War II and changed in the position of the Jieitai during the Allied occupation as regulated in the Showa Constitution which was in effect to this day. The restrictions on Jieitai activities regulated in the Showa Constitution meant that Japan’s military activities were very limited, including when there was a war outside Japan, such as Russia’s war with Ukraine, which is still ongoing today. Japan’s position in relation to security and world peace is a dilemma because sending war troops abroad violates the mandate of the Shouwa Constitution, while on the other hand the international world wants Japan to play an active role in sending war troops. Especially in the current era where changes in the global political constellation after the Cold War are increasingly dynamic and real, Japan, which is required to always prioritize peace as mandated by the Shouwa Constitution (Heiwa Kenpou), needs to look for new interpretations so that it can become a ‘normal’ country, namely a country that on the one hand can maintain sovereignty, and on the other hand can play a role in world peace. After the presentation session by Nakahara-sensei, the public lecture continued with a discussion and question and answer session which was very dynamic and filled with various questions from the public lecture participants regarding Japan’s attitude and position in relation to international conflicts, geopolitical changes in East Asia and Indonesia.

Understanding the position of Japan in the context of global change is considered important for the study program’s academic community because apart from being a means of updating information related to current issues regarding the country of Japan, it is also a means of learning and inspiration for research themes concerning Japanese issues. More than that, through forums like this, cooperation between study programs and foreign institutions can be further enhanced and can become a means for study programs to facilitate their academic community to be able to move more globally, in accordance with one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), namely developing global partnerships for development.

In preparation for the implementation of Posbindu PTM activities, HPU FIB UGM held training activities for Posbindu cadres. This activity was carried out over two days. On the first day, Monday 6th of February 2024, material provision about Posbindu was held in the Multimedia Room of Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. The event opened promptly at 8 am and continued with the Pre test. Furthermore, the delivery of material related to the introduction of HPU, introduction to Posbindu PTM, assessment of risk factors for PTM, assessment of nutritional status and nutritional education, measurements at Posbindu, recording and reporting at Posbindu, consultation on examination results and education at table 5, safety at Posbindu, and first aid in an accident. After being provided with some of these materials, participants took the post test.

The second day’s event was held the following day, it was Wednesday, 7th of February 2024 in Courtroom 1 of Poerbatjaraka Building, 1st Floor,  Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University at 8 am until 12.15 pm. Because on the first day the participants were presented with basic material regarding Posbindu and so on, on the second day the participants were encouraged to practice. The Posbindu training participants carried out the Posbindu table 5 simulations and exercises with enthusiasm and passion, then immediately carried out the second post test to see the progress they had made as Posbindu cadres after receiving the material and training during the two-day event.

This event received cooperation and assistance from Mr./Mrs. UGM HPU Team. Head of HPU UGM, Prof. Dra. Yayi Suryo Prabandari, M.Sc., PhD, had the opportunity to directly accompany the training participants as a speaker regarding examination activities in posbindu and health check practices (measuring blood pressure and taking blood samples to check cholesterol, sugar and uric acid levels). He received a direct invitation from the Deputy Dean for Finance, Assets and Human Resources, namely Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, M.A., Ph.D. The Posbindu cadre training was attended by staff from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. The targets of Posbindu services are all staff, both lecturers and teaching staff in the faculty environment.

Double degree program in Heritage studies (UGM) and in critical heritage studies of Asia and Europe (Universiteit Leiden, Netherlands) is a program where postgraduate students, especially those majoring in archeology, can study in two places, namely Indonesia and the Netherlands for two semesters each and will get two degrees at once. In order to socialize this program to archeology students of Gadjah Mada University, the director of the Universiteit Leiden office and KITLV from Jakarta, Marrik Bellen, visited the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. Held in the multimedia room of the Margono building on February 5th 2024 at 2 pm, the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences himself gave a welcoming speech.

This event was attended by archeology postgraduate students both offline and online. Meanwhile, the two main speakers tasked with conveying the program mechanism were Dr. Anggraeni M.A. as the first speaker from Gadjah Mada University and Dr. Elena Paskaleva from Universiteit Leiden as the second speaker. The first speaker discussed the registration mechanism starting from the time period, requirements that must be met, registration requirements, number of students who will be accepted, and many more which can be checked on the um.ugm.ac.id page. For Indonesia. students, they will get two diplomas at once after they complete 1 year of study at their campus in Indonesia and 1 year at Universiteit Leiden. Meanwhile, Leiden students will immediately receive a diploma after completing each 1 year of study.

Through the zoom meeting, the second speaker focused more on explaining the mechanisms during the study. The presentation begins by giving reasons why you should study at Universiteit Leiden and what career prospects that students will get in the future. After that, she began to explain the things that needed to be prepared when studying there, such as preparing the language because all lectures will be held in English, there were 60 EC/European Credit (SKS) a year with 28 hours per EC, and there were many courses that could be chosen. such as Politics, Economics, Literature, Language, and many more. She also provides information about where students have to look for themselves, but can ask others because there are many Indonesian students studying at the university.

As an implementation of collaboration between Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM), INCULS was holding an intensive Special Lecture Korea-Indonesia & Indonesia-Korea Interpretation program. A total of 9 BUFS students for 2 weeks starting from January 15th 2024 had undergone language learning, especially regarding the Interpretation course at INCULS (Indonesian Language and Culture Learning Service), Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. On Friday, January 26th 2024, the closing ceremony was held in the Soegondo building, room 721, 13.00-15.00 West Indonesia Time.

The closing agenda featured several speeches coming from INCULS staff, program teachers, and representatives of participants who were BUFS students. From INCULS, there was a deputy coordinator who provided reporting on the entire program where this intensive learning was carried out specifically regarding the Interpretation course which includes Medical, Tourism, Events and Business topics. The INCULS Coordinator gave a speech and officially closed the program. There were two teachers who also gave speeches. And last, there was a speech from one of the students who expressed his good impression during the program and also expressed his gratitude for the valuable knowledge that had been provided.

The event closed by giving a certificate to each student participating in the program. Even though at the beginning of the learning period it could be said to be very difficult, as time went on the process felt easier because the program participants were able to adapt well day by day. Gratitude colored the closing event because the learning process went smoothly and gave a good impression to all participants. Hopefully the experience gained will be a valuable experience. Always enthusiastic and successful! Hopefully we’ll meet again soon!

The elected Chair of the KAGAMA FIB-Ikasasdaya Alumni for 2022-2027, Paksi Raras Alit, is a graduated student of Javanese Literature at his Bachelor’s level and Master of Literature at his Master’s level at from Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. This man, who was born on June 16th 1985 in Jogja, apparently has had the blood of an artist since birth. How could it not be, he was born into a family and environment of artists. His mother, Noor W.A (rest in peace), was a Jogja theater figure who founded the Jeprik Theater and initiated the sampakan theater genre in the 1980s. Since he was a toddler, Paksi has even been involved in staging several Jeprik theater plays, such as “Megatruh (Sendrek)”. During his school era, his artistic skills were further honed by regularly representing his school in several art competitions and winning several trophies and awards. He continued his enthusiasm for art at school after entering college. 

During college, Paksi increasingly demonstrated his existence in the world he was interested in. He was a part of several music arts communities and several bands such as Revolver, Community of Terang Bulan Acoustic Malioboro, Bonanza, and Jasmine Akustik which released an album in 2011. It wasn’t enough just to join, Paksi then created the Mantradisi Arts Group which explored music and Macapat, and released works in the album compilation of Tembi Music Festival in 2016. Paksi then acted as a scriptwriter, director and musician in Mantradisi’s works. Apart from Mantradisi, Paksi also founded a group called PAKSIBAND. This Javanese keroncong group has successfully released several singles such as “Keroncong Suka-suka” (2021), “Gembira Loka” (2022), and “Keroncong Lebaran” (2022).

Beside being busy in the world of music, Paksi is also involved in the world of acting. He was involved as an actor in the performance “Dongeng Cinta-Ceuk Aing” (2020) by Sujiwo Tejo, and played as the main actor in the musical film “Ayun-ayun Negeri” (2021) by Garin Nugroho. In the world of literature and culture, Paksi is active in the movement to preserve Javanese language and script. This is proven by him establishing the Jawacana community which is involved in Javanese literature. This community consists of UGM Javanese Literature alumni as well as Javanese literature and culture activists in Yogyakarta. Paksi Raras Alit also has activities in organizing arts and culture festivals in Yogyakarta. Amazingly, Paksi was appointed as a member of the Yogyakarta City Cultural Council in 2021.