On Tuesday, March 5, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM held the last peak agenda of the 78th Dies Natalis series of events, namely the Open Senate Meeting. The Open Senate Meeting was held in the Soegondo Auditorium, 7th Floor, inviting educators, lecturers, student representatives, and Outstanding People Awards from FIB UGM. This agenda consists of several main activities such as the Opening of the Open Senate Meeting by the Chair of the FIB UGM Senate, the 2024 FIB UGM Dean’s Annual Report, Remarks from the UGM Rector, the 78th Dies Natalis Oration by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum., DEA., Cutting the Tumpeng, and Outstanding People Awards.

The Open Senate Meeting began with an opening by the Chairman of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM Senate, Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa Putra, M.A., M.Phil., followed by the 2024 FIB UGM Dean’s Annual Report by Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., which presented the 2023 FIB UGM annual report in three areas: Education and Teaching, Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Alumni, and Assets, Finance, Human Resources. The presentation of the Dean’s Annual Report covers several aspects, such as achievements, accumulation of achievements, cooperation, academic and student development, community service activities, research and journals, and so on. This report presentation aims to overview the development and strengthening processes that have become FIB UGM’s commitment. Readers can access the annual report through the List of Periodically Available Information page at the following link: FIB UGM Dean’s Annual Report 2024.

After the annual report presentation, the activity was continued with a speech by the UGM Rector, Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D, explained that Indonesia has the potential for cultural diversity that can be an opportunity for innovation that has meaningful value. “… This potential is certainly an important source of knowledge to optimize innovation that not only creates new cultural products but also to what extent culture can harvest which are productive and at the same time become a treasure trove of values ​​that are meaningful for life,” he said about the importance of cultural diversity.

The agenda of activities continued with the 78th Dies Natalis Oration of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM by Professor of FIB UGM, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum., DEA., with the title: “The Upper Subject: “Honor” and Its Social Reproduction Practices in Contemporary Indonesian Society”. In his speech, he explained the importance of seeing the existence of humans amid technological and information developments in modern times which increasingly ignore the role of humans as subjects that are starting to be replaced by the role of technology as new subjects currently being considered. In addition, the attitude of the community group is also in the spotlight, especially with the current phenomenon of showing off the luxury they have.

After the 78th Dies Natalis Oration of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM ended, the event continued with the Awarding Session for outstanding people of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada which consisted of outstanding lecturers, outstanding education staff, well-performing education staff, and outstanding students. The list of FIB UGM Outstanding People awards is as follows:

Outstanding Lecturer Award:

•  Dr. Sita Hidayah, M.A.

•  Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum.

•  Dr. Agus Suwignyo, M.A.

Award for outstanding education personnel: Eska Nurbowo, A.Md. from the Language Center

Award for best-performing education personnel: Bapak Murjiman from the Administration Division

Outstanding student awards were given to

• Wahyu Lestariningsih from the Cultural Anthropology Study Program,
•  Devina Ocsanda from the Archaeology Study Program,
•  Lulu Nabiha Nurilailati from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program,
• Raihana Alfiyya Riqqa Aldila from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program,
• Grace Sandy Br. Barus from the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program
• Rifal Fadlurrahman from the French Language and Literature Study Program Rafael
• Raga Budi Panuntun Hernawan from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program
• Muhammad Jhony Fonsen from the Tourism Study Program
• Elvira Sundari from the Arabic Literature Study Program
• Devi Ayu Lisdiyana from the English Literature Study Program
• Dinda Nabila from the History Study Program

The ceremony continued with the symbolic Tumpeng Cutting procession by the Chairman of the FIB UGM Senate which was then handed over to the Dean of FIB UGM and forwarded to the Committee Head of the 78th Dies Natalis Committee, Erika Purnawati, S.Kom., M.Cs.

Following the Tumpeng Cutting, the event was enlivened by a joint choir performance by lecturers, educators, and students. They presented three songs themed “Love” with different versions dedicated to FIB UGM, namely “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Karena Cinta, and “Selayang Pandang”.

The 78th Dies Natalis Open Senate Meeting of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM concluded with a prayer session led by Mr. Hamdan, M.A., and closing remarks by the Chairman of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM Senate. The closing of this activity is expected to bring new hope for the future of FIB UGM, fostering innovation in advancing Indonesian culture.

SDG 4: Quality education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions | SDGs 16: Conflict resolution

Approaching the holy month of Ramadhan, Gadjah Mada University held a grand dialogue at Graha Sabha Pramana (GSP) which was opened to all Gadjah Mada University students, lecturers and staff. The event was held on Monday 4 March 2024 from 8 to 12 am. The speakers presented were two very well-known Islamic leaders whose electability was beyond doubt. They were Prof. Dr. KH. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, LC. MA and KH. Ahmad Baha’uddin Nursalim. National Dialogue Welcoming Ramadhan with the theme CARING FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND MAINTAINING INDONESIAN UNITY and presenters who are very famous in their fields attracted the attention of many people to attend in droves, especially students, lecturers and staff of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D. as Chancellor was also present until the event ended.

While waiting for the presenter, the participants were treated to a performance by Manunggaling Rebana who performed the Prophet’s prayer songs, making all those present joined in praying together. The event then began by singing the song Indonesia Raya & Mars of Gadjah Mada University, then enjoying the chanting of tilawah and sari tilawah. Entering the main event, the two presenters provided an understanding of national brotherhood and how to resolve disputes in everyday life in accordance with Islamic teachings. However, there were differences between the two. Mr. KH. Quraish Shihab conveyed it very systematically while Gus Baha, as KH. Ahmad Baha’uddin explained very critically so that the two complemented each other to provide understanding material to everyone who listened that day.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 14: Life Below Water | SDGs 15: Life on Land | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The XXIX National Cultural Gathering was successfully organized by I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa State Hindu University (UHN) which took place on Sunday-Friday, from November 5th until 10th, 2023. The theme of the 2023 National Cultural Gathering was “Sabda Budaya: Mukhti Luwir Nihan Segara”, which means “Cultural Echoes: Thundering like the Ocean”. The theme intends to highlight the richness of Indonesian culture that is still thundering amid the current era of globalization. The activity lasted for five days with various agendas including the National Deliberation, Wimbakara (Competition), and National Seminar. It ended with the Awarding Night as well as the closing of the XXIX National Cultural Gathering activities.

In this XXIX National Cultural Gathering, the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), sent eight delegates to participate in the entire series of events. The UGM delegation consists of Nurma Aisyah (class of 2021) as the head of the delegation, Vighna Rivattyannur Hernawan (class of 2020), Bima Muslih Wicaksono (class of 2022), Haryo Untoro (class of 2022), Kintan Dewinta Putri (class of 2022), Muhammad Siswoyo (class of 2022), Alma Syahwalani (class of 2023), and Meifira Arini Pitaloka (class of 2023).

There were six contested activities, including the Cultural Parade, National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN), Poetry Musicalization Competition, Comic Strip Competition, Cultural Tiktok Competition, and Cultural Reportage Competition. Of the six competitions, the delegation of Universitas Gadjah Mada won five competitions, including:

• 1st place in the Cultural Reportage competition (Alma Syahwalani)

The Cultural Reportage competition raised the theme of Taman Sari Yogyakarta, a historic water garden site, as a reflection of the splendor and majesty of Indonesian culture that is passed down to this day.

• 2nd place in the National Scientific Writing Competition (Haryo Untoro and Muhammad Siswoyo)

The National Scientific Writing Competition entitled Reflection of the Entity of the Agrarian Tradition in the Track Record of Cowongan Song Verses, raised the Cowongan ritual song verses as material objects that contain elements of agricultural in the form of various plants and animals. The elements are then associated with their classification in Javanese culture and reveal the inheritance related to the name of the agrarian elements and the agrarian mythology behind them.

• 2nd place in Comic Strip competition (Meifira Arini Pitaloka)

The Comic Strip competition with the theme “environmental conservation based on local wisdom” tells the story of young people who want to reforest by paying attention to the philosophy of these plants.

• 3rd place in the Poetry Musicalization competition (Nurma Aisyah and Bima Muslih Wicaksono)

The Poetry Musicalization Competition raised the theme “Sabda Budaya: Mukhti Luwir Nihan Segara” brought poetry created by Muhammad Siswoyo about the beauty and majesty of the nation’s culture. The poem was performed with a recitation combined with singing and musical accompaniment, thus mesmerizing the other participants.

• 3rd place in Tiktok Nusantara competition (Kintan Dewinta Putri)

Cultural Tiktok competition featuring traditional games, including Dakon or Congklak, Clogs, and games accompanied by dolanan cublek-cublek suweng songs.

The achievement of the UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in winning various competitions is a concrete manifestation of UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Students in promoting, appreciating, and preserving the diverse cultures and traditions in Indonesia.

With the existence of the XXIXth National Cultural Gathering activities, it is hoped that they will motivate students to be interested in promoting this cultural heritage and tradition. Furthermore, this National Cultural Gathering activity can strengthen relationships between students of regional literature study programs throughout Indonesia and implement sustainable development goals, especially in improving the quality of education, extracting local wisdom that is in tune with the ecosystem, and working together to preserve and explore the nation’s cultural potential.

We would like to thank all those who have participated in the success of this event. Hopefully, Imbasadi can continue to accommodate students majoring in regional literature throughout Indonesia in developing and preserving the nation’s culture.

Indonesia is diverse, and Imbasadi unites.

SDG 4: Quality education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure | SDGs 9: Affordable credit | SDG 10: Reduced inequality | SDGs 10: Education | SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | SDGs 11: Community

Dr. Suhandano, Dr. Sailal Arimi, and Drs. Tatang Hariri along with Master of Linguistics students across generations, carried out a ‘Students Gathering’ as well as the ‘The KALINGGA Handover Ceremony 2024’ on Friday, 23 February 2024. In this activity, various discussions related to academic activity in the Master of Linguistics UGM took place actively, such as transparency of student assessments and holding a prayer room in the Soegondo building so that lectures took place more efficiently. On this occasion, Dr. Suhandano also said that there would be a new application related to assessment, namely ‘Sioba’. Furthermore, final semester assignments also need to provide options other than articles and there is also a need for thesis research mentoring by lecturers. It is hoped that through this activity students will be more motivated to publish journals and be big on writing their theses so they can complete it on time.

The system of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) embraced in September 2015 by the UN, the worldwide improvement motivation for the primary time alludes to culture. The benefits of keeping up and progressing culture are accomplished through socially educated and viable execution of advancement objectives. Thus, discussion forums between lecturers and students can be a good culture to support and improve the quality of the learning environment.

In this activity, the stewardship of KALINGGA for the next 1 year was also officially appointed by Dr. Suhandano, witnessed by the previous year’s KALINGGA Management and students from across generations who were present. In the next 1 year, KALINGGA is expected to become a forum that can accommodate the aspirations of Master of Linguistics students, support the growth of student achievement and innovation, including creating useful activities in the field of Linguistics and society.

SDG 4: Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure | SDGs 9: Affordable access | SDG 10: Reduced inequalities | SDGs 10: Education | SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | SDGs 11: Adaptation 

Apart from the Seminar in Popular Culture and Literature, another agenda that attracts literature enthusiasts in the Retirement Period Event of Prof. Ida Rochadi Adi, S.U. was a Book Review of the book entitled [R]EVOLUTION OF LITERARY IN THE DIGITAL ERA: Theoretical and Historical Perspectives whose author is none other than Prof. Ida. The agenda started at 10.30 am on Monday 19th of February 2024 and lasted for approximately 45 minutes at the same place as the other series of agendas, it was in the Auditorium of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University. On this occasion, the speaker was Dr. Anna Sriastuti, M. Hum. and Dr. Rif’ah Innayati, M.A.

The book was written with the aim of responding to technological developments that are capable of changing the mature structure of a scientific discipline. The author tried to capture the lament of a scientific discipline facing the dilemma of technological change. From a theoretical and historical perspective, the book tried to offer a framework for responding to developments in the digital world in the world of literature. This book could provide thought, reflection and development of new ideas regarding the phenomenon of literary works in the development of the digital world in the current modern era. Finally, both speakers strongly recommended reading the book because it can really open up thinking about literature in the digital era.