Pangalengan, 03/06/2024-The Independent Study Program at the Export School is an off-campus learning program prepared for students throughout Indonesia who have passed verification and validation of student files. This program is carried out in a hybrid manner (online through Zoom meetings and offline for students who want to take part in bootcamp and JJE) every Monday to Friday with the division of morning classes at 08:00-09:30 and evening classes at 19:00-20:30. Learning at the School of Export contains practical material summarized in 8 modules so that students are ready to become export business actors who optimize advances in digital technology.

The Independent Study Program at the School of Export begins by providing comprehensive knowledge about the opportunities to become an exporter in the era of increasingly open global trade, with briefings on the global economy, international trade regulations, and customs. Participants will undergo a team building process accompanied by mentors to understand export potential in various regions and develop export products that utilize retail and online market access, both nationally and globally. Students will also get the opportunity for onboarding in global marketplaces as well as participating in trade shows and business matching. This program is expected to create new exporters who support the government’s target of 500,000 exporters by 2030.

Sekolah Ekspor offers learning modules that cover various important aspects such as export research and strategy, export product development, digital business branding and marketing, to international logistics and customs. Each module in this learning includes independent assignments, practicums, and team projects. Through teamwork, students practice modules such as export product development, digital marketing strategies, and global market analysis with the aim that students will be able to identify and develop local products that have the potential for the export market, both in the form of their own design work and products from MSMEs that are rebranded by utilizing advances in digital technology. This program not only provides access to quality education in line with SDGs 4, but also supports creating jobs in the export-import sector through digital technology, encourages innovation by helping students develop local products to become global, reduces economic disparities between regions, and strengthens international partnerships through collaboration with various parties, including the government and MSMEs.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024, marked a historic day for the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) with the opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024. The event was held in the front yard of the Margono Building, commonly known as Greenland, and was celebrated with great enthusiasm.

The event was officially opened by Prof. Setiadi, Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. In his speech, Prof. Setiadi introduced the vice deans, heads of study programs, and unit coordinators at FIB UGM. “I hope the students get to know the people who will assist them during their studies at FIB UGM,” said Prof. Setiadi. This introduction aimed to create a closer and more familiar relationship between students and the faculty, fostering a conducive and supportive learning environment.

The event’s excitement continued with various performances from semi-autonomous bodies (BSO) of FIB UGM. Among them were Sastra Oebah with a captivating theater performance, Rampoe with energetic traditional Acehnese dances, and Buchaechum showcasing the elegant and mesmerizing Korean fan dance.

Another highlight was a cultural discussion session featuring Prof. Bambang Hudayana as the speaker. This discussion covered current issues in the cultural world and how students can actively participate in the preservation and development of local culture. This session served as an inspirational moment that motivated students to delve deeper into and appreciate the cultural wealth they possess.

Additionally, there was a sharing session with successful alumni from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. There was also a session led by Mrs. Erika Purnawati, S.Kom., M.Cs., about the administrative procedures for borrowing rooms and facilities at FIB UGM.

The Opening of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2024 was not only an introduction and entertainment event but also a means to strengthen the relationship between students and the faculty and enrich cultural insights. With high spirits, it is hoped that FIB UGM students will continue to contribute to preserving and developing Indonesian culture.

The National Library and École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) collaborated and held an international intensive course in Old Javanese on July 01-10, 2024. This activity took place at The Cangkringan Jogja Villas & Spa, Umbulharjo, Cangkringan, Sleman, Yogyakarta, and was attended by 25 participants from various backgrounds. Experts in the field of Old Javanese were present to train the participants to understand the intricacies of the Old Javanese language.

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), participated in this activity. Two lecturers of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, namely Nurmalia Habibah, S.S., M.A., and Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A., attended as lecturers. In addition, Haryo Untoro, a student from the same study program, became one of the participants in the intensive course.

For 10 days, the participants practiced the Old Javanese language. In the first five days, the first thing to understand was the morphosyntax of the Old Javanese language. The next five days, the participants began to explore works that use the Old Javanese language, such as Adiparwa, Kakawin Ramayana, Pararaton, Landa Inscription, and others. In addition, participants also participated in an excursion program to several ancient sites of the Hindu-Buddhist period, namely Sewu Temple, Plaosan Temple, and Ratu Boko Temple.

The intensive course in Old Javanese aims to train philologists in the field of Old Javanese and encourage international collaboration in this rare field. The field of Old Javanese plays an important role in revealing various treasures of the past, both in culture, knowledge, history, and other matters. Exploring these treasures is an effort to reveal the identity of the nation and improve the quality of education. To achieve these goals, cooperation from various parties is needed to realize the sustainability of the Old Javanese field and be relevant to the times.

Author : Haryo Untoro

From Monday to Wednesday, July 15-17, 2024, the Department of Anthropology at FIB UGM, in collaboration with the University of Münster, Germany, held the Workshop ‘Existence is Care: Health, care, and support structures in postcolonial contexts of high cultural diversity.’ The selection of this workshop theme was based on the increasingly dynamic field of health studies, especially in the context of global caregiving. This workshop aimed to provide a forum to discuss its impact on everyday health services and broader health services in various forms and meanings. The global caregiving system, characterized by the standardization of therapy and taxonomy—which continues despite uneven resource distribution—raises the question: what are the implications of efforts to homogenize caregiving and kinship relationships in Indonesia?

The event was attended by academics and care practitioners from various fields of study such as Anthropology, Psychology, and Medicine. Over three days, participants attended public lectures by guest speakers from Germany and the United States and presented research designs related to caregiving issues from various regional contexts. Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A., opened the event and served as the keynote speaker on the first day, followed by commentary from Prof. Dr. Thomas Stodulka from the University of Münster. To conclude the first day’s discussion and provide deeper context on the issue, the film ‘The Sacrifice’ by Prof. Robert Lemelson was screened.

On the second day, Prof. Byron Good from Harvard University presented his research from the book ‘Haunted by Aceh: Toward an Anthropological Hauntology (Hantuologi)’ followed by presentations from several participants, including:

• “Caring through the unknown. The uncertainty of navigating complex cultural contexts of severe mental pain” by Florin Cristea
• “‘Ngemong’: Caring for Person with Schizophrenia in Java” by Yohanes K. Herdiyanto, Subandi, Wenty M. Minza
• “Pasung: The practice of caring? Family’s challenges of giving care to persons with serious and persistent mental illness” by Tri Hayuning Tyas
• “In the Name of Virtue: Religion in the Care Work of Community Health Worker” by Chusna Cahya Marhaeni
• “Sacred Service: Unveiling the Drive and Hurdles of Volunteer Nurses in Indonesia” by Irmayani Said
• “The Hypnotist’s Dilemma: Mystical Recuperation and Counterproductive Care in Postcolonial Indonesia” by Nick Long
• “Care (and) Work in the Female Sphere” by Mona Elisa Behnke
• “Making it Inclusive: Caring for Refugee Patients in Indonesian Puskesmas” by Elan Lazuardi & Realisa Masardi
• “Early Child Care in Indonesian Dual Breadwinner Family” by Nuzul Solekhah
• “Where Do We Go from the Doorstep? Demystifying Family and Imagining the Collective through Queer Care” by Pychita Julinanda
• “Collective care initiative as a means to share the potentiality for a space of hope” by Khairunnisa

On the final day, the event concluded with a discussion by Prof. Mary-Jo Delvecchio-Good from Harvard University, Retna Siwi Padmawati from Medicine, FKKMK UGM, and Lintang Sagoro from Harvard Medical School, discussing ‘Care at the End of Life in Indonesia’ and a Closing Discussion by Ciptaning Larastiti & Khairunnisa moderated by Dr. Elan Lazuardi on the topic ‘Imagine! Once we stopped caring? Care as Methodology.’ The entire workshop series then concluded with a dinner at Yabbiekayu Resto, Bantul.

Photo credit: Puspita Anindya/Novilatul/Daiva Keefe

Author: Asmi Ramiyanti

Editor: Okky Chandra Baskoro

Davina Santosa, a student from the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, had the opportunity to undertake the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) on Nusi Island, Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. Together with the KKN team “Biak Elok,” they began their journey on June 29, 2024, under the guidance of Dr. Eng. Ir. R. Rachmat A. Sriwijaya, S.T., M.T., IPM., ASEAN, and will complete their activities on August 20, 2024.

Davina chose to join this team because she wanted to explore the lives of people outside Java. She was interested in understanding the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the local community. Davina felt it was important to know the characteristics of the community, the social approaches they take, and the challenges they face daily.

On Nusi Island, Davina and her team identified several key issues that need attention. First, there is economic disparity where job options are very limited as fishing is their only option. Second, accessibility to meet daily needs is very difficult. Third, lack of basic knowledge about cleanliness and health. Fourth, the allocation of village funds is uneven.

Their KKN theme is “Development of Tourism Potential and Human Resource Improvement Based on Community-Based Tourism Framework to Achieve Independence, Inclusivity, and Sustainability on Nusi Island, Padaido District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua.” In implementing this program, Davina found that there was no active tourism awareness group in the Padaido Islands. The last one was in Samberpasi, formed by the Biak Elok KKN Team in 2019, but it is no longer active. This shows that public awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism management is still very limited.

Additionally, Davina also found that community knowledge about waste management is very lacking. In Nusi and several other islands such as Samberpasi, Pasi, and Auki, garbage bins are rarely found in residents’ homes. Organic waste is usually given to their pets such as dogs and pigs, while other waste is collected and burned. Therefore, one of their KKN programs focuses on educating about better and sustainable waste management.

Despite the social issues they face, Nusi Island has extraordinary natural wealth. The sea water, which is still relatively unpolluted, is a clear blue. Additionally, there are many World War II relics both on land and in the sea, such as the foundations of war vehicle runways in every house on Wundi Island.

The culture of sirih pinang here becomes a social interaction medium. Additionally, traditional dances like Yospan and various musical instruments such as tifa are part of the rich culture. The community also has interesting Christian worship traditions; if there is grief or a send-off of children for education, it is celebrated with worship from night until dawn. Furthermore, they believe that Sunday is God’s day, so they are not allowed to work. Children attend Sunday school every Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by church service at 9 a.m.

Socially, the people of Nusi Island are very friendly. There is a market day, which is a day when the market is held. Market days are held three times a week, namely on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they usually go fishing, and their catch will be sold the next day on market day. Because not all residents have boats, they often hitch rides to the market in the city, which adds to the closeness among the residents.

After several weeks living in Nusi, Davina experienced the simple and full-of-struggle life of the community to meet their daily needs. Limited infrastructure and electricity make it difficult for the community to explore new things that could support their livelihoods or improve their quality of life. One of the challenges they face is that electricity is only available for 12 hours a day, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. As a result, ice blocks are very difficult to find. In fact, ice blocks could be used to preserve their catch, which could create new business opportunities such as making shredded fish, fish sticks, etc.

In addition to having the opportunity to explore the easternmost region of Indonesia, Davina also learned that economic and educational disparities still exist. People on the other side of Papua still really need help, both in terms of funding, accessibility, infrastructure, and knowledge expansion. However, despite living in simplicity, they can still be happy.

The KKN experience on Nusi Island provided many valuable lessons about the lives of Papuans, especially those on Nusi Island, Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. With enthusiasm and hard work, Davina and her team hope that this KKN program can contribute positively to the development of tourism potential and human resource improvement in the Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua.