The Deskripsi Bahasa (DB) Journal, managed by the Master’s Program in Linguistics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially achieved SINTA 3 accreditation in 2026. This achievement was established based on a decree from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) following a comprehensive reaccreditation assessment process since March 2025.

First published in 2018, the journal previously held a SINTA 4 ranking since 2023. Currently, the DB Journal is led by Professor Dr. Sajarwa, M.Hum., as the Chief Editor. This accreditation upgrade serves as clear evidence of improved journal governance, publication consistency, and scientific contributions that are increasingly recognized at the national level.

Alongside this achievement, the DB Journal has also released its latest issue. “We are proud to announce that Deskripsi Bahasa Volume 9, Number 1 of 2026 has been published online, presenting credible research articles on linguistic studies,” stated the DB Journal editorial team in an official statement. This edition features five research articles that are freely and openly accessible to the public.

This scientific publication is issued regularly twice a year, specifically in March and October. The journal’s focus encompasses structural linguistics, social linguistics, and applied linguistics, which includes forensic linguistics, translation, language teaching, and psycholinguistics. Readers and prospective authors can view the complete scientific scope of this journal through its official website at journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/db.

For upcoming publications, the DB Journal, published in collaboration with the Linguistics Forum (Forum Linguistik), is currently accepting manuscript submissions for Volume 9, Number 2, which will be released in October 2026. The journal charges an article processing fee of IDR 679,592, applicable once an article is accepted. The journal’s management specifically provides a fee waiver option for authors with financial limitations by submitting relevant reasons and evidence.

The accreditation upgrade and open access policy reaffirm the institution’s commitment to providing quality literature that reaches all levels of society. This continuous effort supports the equitable expansion of knowledge access while also encouraging the creation of innovative research beneficial for solving various linguistic issues within the community.

[Humas FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

His family’s financial limitations did not deter Deni from achieving remarkable milestones. Coming from a family of farm workers, he was named the 1st Place Outstanding Student (Mapres) of the Undergraduate Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in 2026. He achieved this success through his persistence in securing various prestigious awards and his dedication to designing inclusive literature concepts for persons with disabilities.

Deni stated that his main motivation stemmed from his family’s condition. Both of his parents only graduated from elementary school. He wanted to prove that financial constraints are not an obstacle to dreaming big. His participation in this prestigious competition was an effort to realize his parents’ dreams while expanding the impact of the social initiatives he is currently developing.

“I dedicate this achievement to my mother and my late father, who, despite having only an elementary school education, managed to send their son to study at UGM with a scholarship,” expressed Deni.

The journey to becoming UGM’s 1st Place Outstanding Student required time and careful preparation. Deni began his preparations during his first semester in the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program with immense gratitude. For five consecutive semesters, this recipient of the Beasiswa Indonesia Maju (BIM) scholarship actively participated in various competitions. He successfully accumulated ten exceptional achievements, comprising six certified international awards and four certified national awards.

The biggest challenge he faced during the Outstanding Student Selection (Pilmapres) was maintaining consistency. Participants in this competition are required to excel academically while building confidence and demonstrating their overall personal qualities. Deni enjoyed the entire process because the existing obstacles actually shaped his mentality to become stronger. He then registered at the exact right time when he felt completely ready.

Deni believes that students have a strategic role as agents of change for society. During his studies, he has been actively involved in empowerment activities. In his field of literature, Deni highlighted the persisting accessibility gap for individuals with hearing impairments in enjoying literary works.

Driven by this concern, he developed a creative idea regarding the development of inclusive literature through poetry learning. He wants literature to become a space for expression as well as a welcoming environment for everyone without exception.

In managing his schedule, Deni applied the SMART method from the beginning of his studies to ensure every target was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This method helped him map out his priorities among his studies, competitions, and other activities on a weekly basis. He applied self-directed learning principles to stay focused on his ultimate goals.

“Identify your priorities and goals, create realistic plans, and enjoy the process. It is better to fail than to never try at all,” Deni advised other students. According to him, readiness can be built every day to welcome various future opportunities.

For Deni, the title of UGM’s 1st Place Outstanding Student in 2026 is a mandate to continue growing and to provide broad meaning to society. He plans to realize his inclusive literature concept through collaboration with various relevant parties so that literacy for deaf individuals can become a tangible reality. He firmly holds to the principle that success requires a consistent process.

“You do not have to be fast to be great; what matters is moving forward with determination,” he asserted.

Deni’s story carries a strong message about the importance of creating equal educational and literacy spaces for all levels of society. The effort to provide fair access for disability groups is a crucial stepping stone in building a just civilization, where every individual has an equal opportunity to develop and contribute to the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Khabib Anwar, widely known by his digital persona “Rektor Desa” (Village Rector), continues to promote village empowerment through a creative, digital-based approach. He is recognized as a village empowerment practitioner, creative mentor, and local economic mobilizer who focuses on content development and YouTube optimization.

Through the identity of “Rektor Desa,” Khabib carries a vision of bringing educational standards and professionalism to the village level. He believes that villages should not be left behind in the digital transformation, particularly in utilizing social media as a platform for education, promoting local potential, and strengthening community-based economies.

In various sharing sessions, Khabib emphasizes that becoming a beginner YouTuber is not about owning expensive cameras or sophisticated equipment. “It’s not about how expensive your camera is, but how strong your willingness is to start telling stories,” he said. He stressed that the most crucial step is having the courage to begin with whatever tools are available, because consistency in creating content is far more valuable than luxurious equipment.

According to him, digital platforms such as YouTube can serve as strategic spaces for rural communities to showcase local potential, promote MSME products, and share inspiring grassroots stories. With the right content strategy and sustained commitment, villages can build economic independence while expanding their market networks.

Khabib Anwar’s initiatives and ideas are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8) by strengthening the creative capacity of rural communities. The use of digital technology to expand access to information and economic opportunities also supports reducing inequalities (SDG 10) and building sustainable communities (SDG 11). Furthermore, this effort reflects the importance of partnerships and collaboration within the digital ecosystem (SDG 17).

Through consistency and the courage to take the first step, “Rektor Desa” demonstrates that digital transformation can begin in villages, by villages, and for the advancement of villages themselves.

Yogyakarta, February 26, 2026 – Indonesian novelist and sociologist Okky Madasari, Ph.D., delivered a critical reflection titled “The Representation of Marginalized Voices: Who Speaks for Them?” at a public discussion forum in Yogyakarta. In her presentation, she encouraged participants to question who truly speaks on behalf of marginalized communities.

Okky elaborated on various forms of marginalization occurring across different spheres of life, including economic, political, cultural, identity-based, and even global political marginalization. According to her, marginalized groups often face not only limited access to resources but also the loss of space to represent themselves within public discourse.

“Representation that does not stem from empathy and solidarity will continue to exclude and sideline marginalized communities,” she emphasized. She warned that without critical awareness, voices claiming to represent marginalized groups may, in fact, reinforce unequal power relations and perpetuate social exclusion.

In the context of Ramadan, Okky also underscored the importance of social piety. “Ramadan is about social piety. A mosque is not only a place of worship, but also a space for dialogue and critical education,” she stated. She encouraged society to transform religious spaces into arenas for fostering empathy, solidarity, and advocacy for vulnerable groups.

The discussion is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the commitment to reducing inequalities (SDG 10) by strengthening the participation and representation of vulnerable groups in decision-making processes. Furthermore, the promotion of critical dialogue, social justice, and inclusive public spaces supports the goal of peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16). Efforts to build collective awareness and social solidarity also contribute to the creation of inclusive and sustainable communities, in line with SDG 11.

Through this reflection, Okky Madasari reaffirmed that advocating for marginalized voices is not merely about providing them with speaking space, but about ensuring empathy, solidarity, and structural transformation so that they can become full subjects in social and political life.

[Public Reation of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]