On Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, the Faculty of Humanities at Universitas Gadjah Mada and Universitas Brawijaya jointly organized a seminar titled “Recent Linguistic Studies in Indonesia,” which was attended by participants from various backgrounds, including academics, researchers, and the general public interested in language studies.

The seminar featured three prominent speakers, who are experts in the field of linguistics. Firstly, Professor Dr I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A, a linguistics lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, delivered an engaging speech titled “English Structured Shop Named Used in Indonesia”. He emphasized that the naming of something always affects its structure and highlighted the strong influence of English on the language used in Indonesia.

The second speaker, Ika Nurhayani, Ph.D, a lecturer at Brawijaya University, presented a talk on “Ecolinguistics in Indonesian Folklore”. She drew attention to the Sarina Sea Octopus from Maluku and the ecosophy ideology, which advocates for respect and care for all living things, beyond just humans. She highlighted the need for humans to change their habits and values to protect the environment from harm.

Finally, Dr. Sajarwa, M.Hum, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, delivered a speech titled “Referential Transformation of French Definite and Indefinite Articles in Indonesian Translation”. He discussed the challenges of translating messages from the source language to the target language and the importance of preserving the original message’s meaning in the translation process.

The seminar was part of the Linguistic Forum’s efforts to introduce and discuss the latest developments in the field of linguistics in Indonesia, both in terms of theory and application. The event aimed to provide insights and inspiration for language enthusiasts and practitioners in Indonesia and foster cooperation and collaboration between the various parties involved in language studies.

In conclusion, the seminar was a great success, and attendees appreciated the speakers’ insights and expertise. The seminar will surely contribute to the advancement of linguistic studies in Indonesia and inspire researchers and enthusiasts alike to continue exploring the vast and exciting field of linguistics.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences received a visit from the French Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, YM Fabien Penone, on Thursday, 5 October 2023. Also present were Jules Irrmann as Director of Institut Français Indonesia (COCAC) and François Dabin (Director of IFI-LIP Yogyakarta). The guests were welcomed by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs Dr Nur Saktiningrum and several lecturers of the French Language and Literature Study Programme; Dr Hayatul Cholsy, Dr Aprillia Firmonasari, Dr Arifah Arum Candra H., and Ari Bagus Panuntun, S.S., M.A..

In a groundbreaking collaborative effort, Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has joined hands with 12 prominent Asian universities to spearhead the establishment of the Asian Journal Network (AJN). Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum, D.A., said that this is a precaution and safeguard for social humanities educators from the clutches of so-called ‘predatory’ journals.

The primary objective of forming the Asian Journal Network is to ensure that social humanities journals uphold the highest standards of quality, free from the undue influence of financial interests. As Prof. Wening aptly puts it, this initiative aims to liberate these academic platforms from the constraints of profit-driven operations. Speaking on the matter, Prof. Wening emphasized, 

“So that various social humanities journals rely on quality and are not trapped in the way journals work with a financial orientation,” Prof. Wening said during a statement made on Thursday, October 5.

Furthermore, the creation of the Asian Journal Network serves a broader purpose of revitalizing the fundamental role of academic journals as fertile grounds for rigorous scholarly discourse and knowledge production. Prof. Wening noted that the Faculty of Cultural Sciences recently played host to this significant development, emphasizing the network’s commitment to nurturing academic exchange.

Among the distinguished nations participating in this monumental endeavour are the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan. UGM’s initiative extends its collaborative efforts to include established journals of international repute, such as Kritika Kultura, Concentric, Kritike, Forum for World Literature, Winchen Review, Foreign Literature Studies, Wacana, and CSEAS (Kyoto).

Prof. Wening underscores that the establishment of AJN aligns with a broader vision of enhancing the quality of education—a goal in harmony with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By elevating the standard of education, this initiative aspires to bolster Indonesia’s human development index, ultimately enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in supporting the 2030 SDGs agenda. AJN represents a pivotal step toward realizing these vital educational and developmental objectives

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences is hosting a seminar that is set to be an insightful and informative event for those concerned about child welfare and education. The seminar is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023. This seminar was convened by Dr Agus Suwignyo (from the Department of History) and featured two distinguished keynote speakers who will address pressing issues related to children’s education by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

The two speakers have impressive backgrounds and expertise in their respective fields. First on the list is Prof. dr. Marit Monteiro, an expert in colonial and postcolonial educational practices. Prof. Monteiro will speak about “Child Segregation,” exploring some conceptual frameworks surrounding this topic and shedding light on the historical context of the issue. Her insights are sure to be enlightening for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of child segregation and how it can be addressed.

The second speaker, Dr. Maaike Derksen, will present cases from Java and Papua New Guinea, highlighting the challenges children’s institutions and orphanages face. Dr. Derksen has extensive experience working with various organizations that deal with child welfare issues in Indonesia and the surrounding regions. Her presentation is expected to be informative and insightful, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by children’s institutions and orphanages.

The seminar came out as an engaging and thought-provoking event, with attendees encouraged to register in advance to secure their spot. With two distinguished speakers, the event is sure to be a valuable opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about children’s education, welfare, and the challenges faced by religious organizations in Indonesia during the 1880s-1980s.

Friday, 29 September 2023, the Department of Anthropology held a public lecture class entitled “Pursuing a Career in Defence and Security”. This forum presented a speaker who has a career in defence and security, namely one of the investigators of the South Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier Eko Hardiyanto, S. Ant., M.A.. Brigadier Eko is an Alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme in 2010. The forum was hosted by one of the Anthropology lecturers, Dr Pande Made Kutanegara, M.Si.

Brigadier Eko told how he got his job. Brigadier Eko also explained how he carried out his work as an investigator, some examples are as follows. First, the title of the case to provide legal certainty for the case being handled. Second, conducting appeals to the public regarding law enforcement and crime. Third, increasing the competence capacity of investigators through training.

In this forum Brigadier Eko also explained how the contribution of Anthropology studies in carrying out his work as a legal investigator. Participatory observation is one of the techniques used by Brigadier Eko in conducting investigations. “My frequent research experience in Anthropology has given me the knowledge on how to get data from the people we investigate. I also know whether the person is speaking the facts or not.”

Brigadier Eko also uses data triangulation techniques in processing investigation data. Brigadier Eko combines various data from various sources, which are then made into conclusions to decide the status of the case.

The discussion forum was made even more epic by the presence of fellow students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and alumni of the Cultural Anthropology study programme. Alumni who attended this forum also enlivened the discussion by sharing their respective career experiences. Such as Rudy Gunawan Erwinsyah who works as a researcher at the Indonesian National Research Agency and Ahmad Pradipta who also works in the field of defence and security.