Who doesn’t know sawer? Yes! The ancient culture of the archipelago in which the audience shares money with the performer for the entertainment provided. Apparently, this activity is still often practiced and thanks to the inevitability of digitalisation, a new variant of online sawer has emerged, utilising the commodification of social media features as the most affordable communication medium for all. One such application is in the form of gift live streams on the TikTok platform.

The new features pioneered by TikTok make it a platform that is loved by a wide audience. Unlike Youtube which relies on income from advertisements or Instagram from product endorsements, content creators on TikTok can get ‘paid’ directly from gifts given by the audience. Indonesia alone is second with 99.07 million active TikTok users with an average time of 23.1 hours per month (Statista, 2022). It is not surprising that people often utilise the TikTok platform to earn income through its various contents. Content that sells sadness and compassion such as mud baths, bribing babies with food, parents as visualisation streamers, and many more can earn hundreds of thousands to millions of rupiah.

The Student Creativity Programme (PKM) became a bridge for UGM students to research this phenomenon. Departing from the unrest over the normalisation of TikTok live stream content that absorbs sympathy into a source of wealth, this social humanities research is coordinated by Bulan Churniati (English Literature, 2021) with multidisciplinary personnel from various backgrounds, namely Zahra Hafizha Rahma (Communication Science, 2021), Regan Alim Tsaqif (Psychology, 2022), Aisyah Azka (Geography, 2020), and Faruq Saifudin Nurrohman (Animal Husbandry, 2021) and Syaifa Tania, S.I.P., M.A. as an accompanying lecturer. The primary data collection process in this study was through a survey with 401 people. Then based on the heterogeneity of the answers, 5 people were selected to take part in offline Focus Group Discussions and 3 online interviews to adjust the distribution.

Online sawer behaviour through the gift feature on the TikTok platform is one form of gift giving behavior that develops on social media and is an important part of this research which is interesting to study and analyse in relation to other phenomena found in this behaviour. The aspects studied in this research regarding gift giving behaviour include orientation, bonding value, and generalised reciprocity. Regarding the orientation aspect, 303 respondents gave gifts according to their wishes as viewers of “sawer online” live streaming content. This is in line with respondents’ answers regarding the equivalence of gifts given with the actions of live streamers, the majority or 258 respondents answered commensurate. Self-directed gift giving behaviour can be based on the thought that it will be commensurate with the actions of the live streamer. In the end, it can be concluded that live stream content should be gifted if it can entertain, have an impact on the giver, and the content is something that is worth gifting with or without a request from viewers.

The research that was conducted did not only stop at the act of searching, but also spreading what needed to be spread – understanding the public about this phenomenon. Therefore, the PKM RSH Sawer Online team also has various social media that contain education and recommendations for the public to sort out their watching. Hopefully, after this programme is completed, there will be many other programmes that are influenced to invite the public to be perception literate.

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.