At the initiative of Chinese Testing International Co. (CTI), which is under the authorisation of Chinese Language and Education Center (CLEC), together with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Beijing, will launch 6 Chinese Language and Innovation Center (CLIC) in Indonesia on 9 September 2023. CTI is a pioneer and leader in the TIC (Testing, Inspection and Certification) industry, with a rich history of providing high-quality testing services to a wide range of industries.

The establishment of the CLICs in Indonesia is a significant milestone for CTI, as it expands its reach and helps to promote the Chinese language and culture to a wider audience. The CLICs will provide a range of innovative and interactive Chinese language programs and cultural activities to students and professionals in Indonesia, helping to bridge the gap between China and Indonesia and fostering greater understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the CLICs in Indonesia that will be launched are in four provinces, namely West Java, DKI Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and East Java. In West Java, CLIC will be managed by Padjadjaran University, a leading public university known for its excellence in research and education. In Jakarta, Pancasila University and the London School of Public Relations (LSPR) Institute will be in charge, providing quality education and training in communication, media, and public relations. In Yogyakarta, CLIC will be operated by Gadjah Mada University and Yogyakarta State University, two of the most prestigious universities in Indonesia, known for their strong academic programs and contributions to the development of the country. While in East Java, CLIC will be managed by Ciputra University, a private university that is committed to excellence in education and innovation.

The MoU signing between CTI and each of the CLIC universities will take place online on 9 September 2023, marking the official launch of the CLICs in Indonesia. In the event, CTI will be represented by CTI Chairman and CEO: Dr Li Peize, a respected leader in the TIC industry with extensive experience in international business and cross-cultural communication. CLIC Indonesia will be represented by leaders from Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Pancasila, Institut London School of Public Relation, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, and Universitas Ciputra, who will share their vision and commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia.

The event will be opened by Mr Ma JianFei, Director General of CLEC, who will highlight the importance of promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia, and the role that CLICs will play in achieving this goal. This will be followed by remarks from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia in Beijing, His Excellency Mr Djauhari Oratmangun, who will express his appreciation for the establishment of CLICs in Indonesia and the benefits it will bring to the people of Indonesia. Representatives of universities in Indonesia that host CLIC will also share their thoughts on the significance of the establishment of CLICs and their commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in Indonesia.

Next, there will be an online signing of the MoU and display of the agreement, symbolizing the official partnership between CTI and each of the CLIC universities in Indonesia. The event will be closed with a group photo session, marking the beginning of a new era of cooperation and partnership between China and Indonesia.

As a sign that CLIC is an official institution, CTI will hand over the same CLIC plaque that has been handed over in other countries, such as Singapore, USA, UK, Canada, Norway, Mexico, and Germany. This plaque represents the commitment of CTI and the CLIC universities to promoting Chinese language and culture around the world, and the importance of fostering greater understanding and cooperation between nations.The plaque will be presented in person in October 2023 in Jakarta.

Monday, 14 August 2023, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) held a meeting with the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama. The meeting was held in the Leadership Conference Room, Poerbatjaraka Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with the aim of signing a cooperation agreement regarding the MBKM programme. Mitra Praja Utama Joint Secretariat is a forum for provincial cooperation in Java and Bali that aims to solve various development problems with their regional potential. This time the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama collaborates with the UGM Department of Archaeology to conduct action research on cultural heritage.

The signing was carried out by Dr Suwarno, M.M. in his capacity as Executive Director of the Joint Secretariat of Mitra Praja Utama, Dr Mahirta, M.A. as Head of the UGM Department of Archaeology, and Prof. Dr Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si. as Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The goal is to ensure a seamless future collaboration that will yield benefits for both parties and the community at large.

The Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently hosted its annual Summer School, which was a significant achievement after last year’s event had to be held virtually due to the pandemic. This year, the Department of History organized the 1st Summer School on Environmental History in Indonesia, a timely and important topic given the current global focus on environmental issues. The Summer School was held offline for the first time since the pandemic, from 31 July to 7 August 2023.

The event was inaugurated by the Head of the Department of History, Dr Abdul Wahid, who delivered a welcome address to the participants. Following Dr Wahid’s remarks, Dr Farabi Fakih provided opening remarks that set the tone for the week-long program.

This year’s Summer School has a theme that is very close to Indonesian society, especially in a post-pandemic world that is increasingly loudly voicing issues regarding the environment. In collaboration with WALHI and BKI Journal / KITLV, this activity invited thirteen speakers from renowned universities and institutions. The universities and institutions involved included the University of Queensland, Universiteit Leiden, National University of Singapore, FIAN Indonesia/ Samdhana Institute, WALHI/Friends of the Earth Indonesia and of course several speakers from Gadjah Mada University.

The summer school programme was a diverse and enriching experience, with participants hailing from various countries and fields of study. Notably, attendees came from Germany, Singapore, and Indonesia. The programme was structured with both in-class and out-of-class activities. Within the classroom, participants engaged in stimulating discussions with speakers over a period of four days. Outside the classroom, the group embarked on field trips to a number of fascinating locations, including Siung Beach, Watukodok Beach, Al Imdad Islamic Boarding School, and Kali Code Garden. This well-rounded and immersive experience allowed participants to broaden their perspectives and gain valuable insights into different cultures and fields of study.

The summer school event was closed with project presentations from each group on 6 August 2022. Some discussions also took place quite intensely. In the end, the summer school participants managed to complete the series of activities well and optimally.
The success of this summer school event certainly cannot be separated from the committee who worked both in front and behind the scenes. The committee from the Department of History UGM is composed of a combination of teaching staff, education staff, alumni, and several undergraduate students.

SOAS is partnering with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to solicit contributions to Volume III of the anthology series The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in Medieval Maritime Asia.

The workshop aims to maintain the Southeast Asian Arts Academic Programme’s (SAAAP) strategic goal of setting standards for anthologies together with regional partners, including universities, museums, and conservation bodies, and to engage Alphawood alumni in expanding local to global appreciation of art and culture related to ancient to pre-modern cultural architecture in Southeast Asia.

The workshop will be co-organised by SAAAP and Vice Dean of Faculty of Arts UGM Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A. (SOAS alumni), with support from Emma Natalya Stein, curator at the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian, Washington, who is negotiating an exhibition on Javanese Tantric mandalas. The exhibition will ultimately provide an international exhibition experience for invited Alphawood alumni.

Some of the highlights, including from Alphawood alumni, will be streamed. These will later be edited and widely distributed via the SOAS-SAAAP page (https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/schools-and-departments/school-arts/department-history-art-and-archaeology/southeast-asian).

More details on how to access the event online will be shared soon via https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/yogyakarta-summer-programme-2023