Yogyakarta, 12/5/2025 –The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) proudly celebrates a remarkable international achievement. Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., who currently serves as UGM’s Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, has been honored with the prestigious Inclusive Global Engagement Award from Universitas 21 (U21). This award recognizes her outstanding commitment to advancing inclusive and global education, particularly in the areas of literature, gender studies, and cultural discourse.

Universitas 21 is a global network comprising leading research-intensive universities across six continents. The Inclusive Global Engagement Award is part of the U21 Awards program, given to individuals or teams who have made significant contributions to promoting global inclusion in higher education. Recipients are selected based on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as well as their exceptional international impact beyond their formal roles.

As a scholar, Prof. Wening is widely known for her dedication to gender equality and inclusive practices in academia. She has played a crucial role in building cultural and academic bridges between Indonesia and other countries, particularly France. Her expertise in literature, identity studies, and postcolonial theory has made her contributions impactful not only nationally but also on the global stage. She frequently serves as a voice for women academics from developing countries in international forums.

This award not only marks a personal milestone for Prof. Wening but also reflects UGM’s strong commitment to promoting diversity and equity at the global level. As one of Indonesia’s leading universities, UGM takes great pride in seeing its faculty recognized internationally for their work and values.

Congratulations to Prof. Wening Udasmoro for this outstanding achievement. May her recognition continue to inspire the academic community at FIB UGM to foster inclusive and just education for all.

[Humas FIB UGM, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 16/4/25 — The Doctoral Promotion Open Examination of Dr. Ronidin was held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The session took place in the Multimedia Room, 2nd Floor of the Margono Building, at 10.00 AM (WIB). This academic agenda marked the culmination of his doctoral journey in the Humanities Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM.

In this open examination, Dr. Ronidin defended his dissertation entitled “The Expression of Minangkabau Tabedo in Novels by Minangkabau Authors Post-PRRI to the First Half of the New Order: A Genetic Structuralism Study.” The examination was supervised by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum. as Promoter, and Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum. as Co-Promoter, and chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si.

This dissertation delves deeply into how the historical events of the PRRI (Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia) and the political transition during the early New Order period shaped cultural expressions and worldviews of Minangkabau authors through the medium of novels. Utilizing Lucien Goldmann’s genetic structuralism approach, reinforced by Lotman’s narrative theory, this research demonstrates how the Minangkabau tabedo worldview—characterized by difficult and dilemmatic social conditions—is reflected in literary texts.

The study examines five novels by Minangkabau authors: Dari Puncak Bukit Talang by Soewardi Idris, Panggilan Tanah Kelahiran by Dt. B. Nurdin Jacub, Saraswati Si Gadis dalam Sunyi by A.A. Navis, Warisan by Chairul Harun, and Bako by Darman Moenir. These novels depict the realities of Minangkabau society post-PRRI, amidst state hegemony and the shifting of traditional values, such as the role of the maternal uncle in the matrilineal system, the role of religion, and the relationship between the village and the diaspora.

Dr. Ronidin emphasizes that the Minangkabau tabedo phenomenon emerges as a representation of the tension between traditional values eroded by political realities and modernity introduced from external influences. In these novels, complex social realities are metaphorically portrayed through characters and narrative relationships, structurally reflecting the sociological conditions of Minangkabau society during that era.

This open examination not only affirms Dr. Ronidin’s intellectual capacity as an academic but also contributes significantly to Indonesian literary studies, particularly in understanding literature as a mirror of a society’s socio-political dynamics.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 13/2/25 – The Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada has successfully held a public lecture entitled “Beyond the Point of No Return: The Re-Emergence of Indonesian Debates and Concepts of the Return of Cultural Objects” on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at Soegondo’s Auditorium Building.

The public lecture was opened with remarks from the Head of the UGM Department of History, Dr. Abdul Wahid, who emphasized the importance of academic studies in the context of repatriation. The large number of Indonesian artifacts brought to the Netherlands was often accompanied by coercion. This is evidenced by the strengthening of momentum in the post-1949 era, especially in the 1970s, centered on the Dutch perspective, which tended to marginalize Indonesian voices on the issue.

Documentation of UGM Department of History, Muhammad Faisal Adnan

The session featured Dr. Sadiah Boonstra, a historian and curator from CultureLab Consultancy who is also an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She said that this public lecture was part of her repatriation research program in Indonesia. The research aims to examine more deeply the issue of returning cultural objects that historically originated from Indonesia, but are now in museums in the Netherlands.

In her lecture, Dr. Sadiah Boonstra highlighted the latest developments regarding the return of Indonesian artifacts, including the steps taken by the Royal Family of the Netherlands in returning a number of historical items to Indonesia. However, she also explained that museum collections in the Netherlands cannot be arbitrarily transferred, but must first be offered to other public institutions before being returned to their country of origin.

“The repatriation process is not simple. There are various legal and procedural challenges that must be met, especially since each country has its own regulations when it comes to the transfer of museum collections,” said Dr. Sadiah Boonstra.

Along with the increasing awareness of the importance of returning historical artifacts to Indonesia, this public lecture is expected to be a spark for academics and stakeholders to continue fighting for Indonesia’s rights to its cultural objects scattered in various parts of the world.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 14/2/25 – In order to assist exchange students regarding their study plans at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Public Relations and Cooperation Unit together with the Academic Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Coordination Meeting for Exchange Student Study Plans in the Multimedia Room of the Margono Building on Friday, February 14, 2025 which was attended by Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka Participants of the FIB Dean Consortium throughout Indonesia and Abroad.

This activity began with remarks from the Deputy Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum. who conveyed warm greetings to the students present and also ensured that each student no longer had obstacles to their study plans at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada in this semester. In addition, Mrs. Ningrum also conveyed the various activities that can be participated in by exchange students, such as traditional dance, gamelan, batik, and many more which are coordinated in the Semi-Autonomous Student Organizations of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

After discussing student activities, the session continued with a presentation on course selection procedures by the Academic Team of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The session was conducted with the involvement of one of the student exchange participants from Japan, Takeru Homma, who was willing to volunteer in the practice of course selection.

In addition to listening to the explanation from the Academic Team of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, all students who attended also seemed enthusiastic to build networks among each other with small talk about their origin and views on UGM and Yogyakarta. Hopefully, the Coordination Meeting of the Exchange Student Study Plan will be a positive step in strengthening the relationship between students and faculty, as well as opening opportunities for them to get to know more about the culture and student activities at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 5/2/2025 –Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada received a study visit from SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Soegondo’s Auditorium Building on the 7th floor. The study visit was attended by 200 participants consisting of students and teachers of SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan.

The study visit began with a speech from SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan represented by Drs. Khoerudin, M.M., Chairman of PCM Sawangan, who revealed that this study visit was one of a series of Goes to Campus, P5 Project, and Napak Tilas Muhammadiyah activities in Yogyakarta. In his speech, he also expressed a hope for his students to be able to get to know more and make Gadjah Mada University a part of their future.

The activity continued with a video profile of Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, followed by a presentation of material about the Faculty of Cultural Sciences by representatives from the Public Relations and Cooperation Unit of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Salsabila Risdayani Daniswara, S.Pd. and Swety Firmanti, S.Sos. In their presentation, they explained the history, study programs, student activities, and entry points that can be taken by students to continue their education at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

In the middle of the presentation session, there was a quiz and question and answer session which was followed by students and teachers of SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan with great enthusiasm. Several questions ranging from how to get accepted at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada to how the living conditions, customs, and culture in the Universitas Gadjah Mada environment were also conveyed by students and teachers of SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan.

With the end of the interactive and enthusiastic question and answer session, the activity continued with a group photo. The hope is that this study visit will become a valuable momentum for students of SMA Muhammadiyah Sawangan to better understand the world of lectures, especially at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Hopefully, this experience can be a motivation for them in planning their academic future and building enthusiasm to continue pursuing knowledge in college.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]