Yogyakarta, 16/1/2025 – TIAS 2024 students shopped at Kranggan Market in a series of Indonesian language learning. The students practiced bargaining with fruit vendors in Indonesian. In doing this activity, students were accompanied by teachers and part-time students. By bargaining, students are expected to train their focus in listening and speaking Indonesian.

This out-of-class learning activity also gave TIAS students a new experience. Previously, the TIAS students had never been to a traditional market. One of the TIAS students expressed her amazement at traditional markets because she found the prices in traditional markets cheaper than in supermarkets. The student also said that she would find it easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle because of the affordable price of fruit. This activity provides long-term benefits for TIAS students considering that these students will study at UGM for several years to pursue bachelor/master/doctoral degrees. In addition, this activity was not only welcomed enthusiastically by TIAS students, but also fruit vendors. The vendors were entertained and amazed by the TIAS students’ ability to bargain. In addition, the students did not only buy fruit, but also traditional snacks. The students did not hesitate to taste traditional culinary in Kranggan Market, such as jenang, fried foods, and so on.

This out-of-class learning shows that language learning is not only limited in the classroom, but also outside the classroom considering that students will interact directly with the community during their stay in Indonesia. This activity is expected to build the confidence of TIAS students in dialoguing with friends, lecturers, and the community in Indonesian.

[Public Relation INCULS, Decika Syahda Maharani translated by Public Relation Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 23/1/2025 – The Department of Cultural Anthropology Universitas Gadjah Mada together with the Resilience Development Initiative Urban Refugee Research Group (RDI UREF) has successfully organized a series of activities for the 20th International Conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM). This prestigious conference was held for three days, from Tuesday, January 21, 2025 to Thursday, January 23, 2025.

The conference invites researchers and individuals with lived experience of (forced) migration, policy makers, and practitioners working with (forced) migrants to build a space for reflection, knowledge exchange, and discussion around forced displacement and urban management in the spirit of GCM, GCR, and NUA to improve urban planning and response to forced displacement and to strengthen the network of academics, practitioners, and decision-makers under IASFM to share knowledge and experiences on international forced displacement in urban contexts and to screen issues of concern for future collaborative research, especially in the context of the Asia Pacific Region.

The opening ceremony took place on the first day on the second floor of Grha Sabha Pramana Building which began with remarks from the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., who also warmly welcomed the arrival of participants who came from all over the world. The next remarks were also delivered by the Director of Resilience Development Initiative Urban Refugee Research Group (RDI UREF), Dr. Elisabeth Rianawati, IASFM President, Dr. Veronica Fynn Bruey, and IASFM 20 Executive Chair, Dr. Akino Tahir and Dr. Realisa Darathea Masardi.

On the first day, there was also a presentation on international migration and forced displacement in the Southeast Asian region by the keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti, M.A., professor of national security research and strategic issues in Indonesia. Then, a plenary session related to the “Global Agenda for International Migration” delivered by Prof. Ranabir Samaddar, Dr. Sripapha Petcharamesree, and Prof. Susan Banki also added to the insight of the participants who attended. In addition, various main programs were also held in the classroom of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The next keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. Stephen Cairns, a professor from Monash University Indonesia who specializes in urban and architectural studies, also presented on urban perspectives on forced displacement on the second day. In addition, there was also a plenary session on “(Re)conception of Urban Displacement and the Right to the City” delivered by Prof. Wiwandari Handayani, Marco Kusumawijaya, and Dr. Tular Sudarmadi, M.A. Both agendas were held in the Auditorium Room on the 7th floor of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

On the third day, the last plenary session related to “Knowledge Production on Urban Displacement” was delivered by Prof. Itty Abraham, Dr. Silke Lange, and Baqir Bayani in the 7th floor Auditorium Room of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Then, in the same room, the second Ignite State agenda was also held which discussed “Refugee-Led Community Impact: Youth Stage”. In addition, various main programs were also held in the classroom of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada as on the first and second days.

By inviting researchers and individuals with experience in the field of forced migration, policy-making, and practitioners, the conference is expected to strengthen networks between academics, practitioners, and decision-makers, especially in the context of the Asia Pacific region.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]