Yogyakarta, 27 February 2026 – In welcoming the 80th Dies Natalis of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM held a cemetery pilgrimage at the UGM Family Cemetery located in Sawitsari on Thursday (27/2) at 07:30 AM. This activity is part of the faculty’s regular agenda carried out annually as a form of respect and remembrance for the predecessors who contributed significantly to the development of the faculty and the university.

The event began with a joint prayer led by Dr. Ahmad Athoillah, S.Pd., M.A., a lecturer from the Department of History at FIB UGM. In a solemn atmosphere, participants prayed for the departed figures and members of the academic community while remembering their contributions to the development of academic traditions within FIB UGM.

The program continued with remarks delivered by the Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources of FIB UGM, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A. In his speech, he stated that the pilgrimage serves as a moment of reflection for the entire academic community to appreciate the struggles and dedication of the faculty’s predecessors, while also strengthening the commitment to continue the academic values and spirit of service they have passed down.
Following the remarks, the event proceeded with a symbolic procession around the cemetery and the scattering of flower petals on the graves of figures who had made significant contributions to the development of FIB UGM. This procession symbolized respect and gratitude for the dedication of the predecessors who played an important role in shaping the faculty’s growth.

This pilgrimage is not only part of the series of events commemorating the 80th Dies Natalis of FIB UGM, but also reflects the values of honoring history, maintaining academic traditions, and appreciating the legacy of past scholars. These values align with the efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education, through the strengthening of educational and reflective academic values, as well as Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural and historical heritage for sustainable societies.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, March 3, 2026 – Student creativity once again enlivened the celebration of the 80th Dies Natalis of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada. A student from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), Wanita Perkasa Bijaksana, presented an innovative work in the form of a pop-up book titled “8 Decades of Building Civilization,” which visually illustrates the historical journey of FIB UGM through an interactive format.

The pop-up book was created as an effort to present the history of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences in a more engaging and accessible way. Through a visual approach, the work portrays the long journey of FIB UGM from its early establishment to its present development. The pop-up format was chosen because it incorporates three-dimensional elements, allowing readers to experience the history in a more vivid and interactive manner.

In the book, Wanita Perkasa Bijaksana carefully selected several significant events and historical milestones that represent the dynamic development of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. These events are presented through creatively designed visual illustrations that depict the institutional transformation, academic achievements, and contributions of FIB UGM in advancing humanities scholarship.

The presence of this pop-up book is not only an artistic creation but also an educational medium that introduces the history of the faculty to students, members of the academic community, and the broader public. Through this innovative visual medium, historical narratives that were previously conveyed mainly through text can now be understood in a more communicative and engaging way.

This creative initiative also aligns with the spirit of developing inclusive and innovative education while supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which promotes access to quality learning through creative methods, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, through efforts to preserve and disseminate cultural knowledge and institutional history.

Through the pop-up book “8 Decades of Building Civilization,” students of FIB UGM demonstrate that the creativity of the younger generation can serve as an important medium for preserving institutional memory while conveying historical values to future generations in more innovative and inspiring ways.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, March 3, 2026 – Coinciding with its 80th anniversary, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada launched a historical book titled Mengeja Waktu Merajut Warna, 80 Tahun Perjalanan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Universitas Gadjah Mada. The book was presented to the Chair of the FIB Senate, Professor Bambang Hudayana, M.A., and UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia, Ph.D., as part of an effort to document the faculty’s long journey in developing literary and cultural studies in Indonesia.

The book was written by a team consisting of Abdul Wahid, Tatag Andriawan, Soraya Anugra Lia, and Lenna Aurelia Amalia. Although the writing process was completed within a relatively short period, it is expected to serve as an initial step in reconstructing the institutional history of FIB UGM over the past eight decades.

In the book’s introduction, the authors explain that this work represents an early effort to document more comprehensively the history of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences as one of Indonesia’s oldest higher education institutions in the fields of literature and culture. Through this historical exploration, the book also seeks to understand the meaning behind the transformations experienced by the faculty over time.

“This book is the first attempt to comprehensively reconstruct the 80-year journey of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences as the oldest higher education institution in Indonesia in the field of literature and culture, while also seeking meaning from this long historical process,” the authors wrote.

As a study of institutional history, the book explains the development of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM as an organization shaped by internal dynamics as well as external changes, including government policies, developments in higher education, and social dynamics. The institutional history approach does not merely record a chronology of events but also explains how an institution evolves and responds to changes over time.

Writing institutional history also plays an important role in preserving institutional memory. This memory includes physical aspects such as buildings, classrooms, organizational structures, and institutional artifacts, as well as non-physical aspects such as norms, rules, and workplace culture that develop within the institution.

For an academic institution, institutional memory has strategic value as it provides a basis for reflection in understanding the formation of collective identity while helping to shape future development.

In its preparation, the book was written chronologically to help readers understand the faculty’s development. The periodization used in the book is based on the changes in the faculty’s name throughout its history.

The discussion is divided into four main chapters. The first chapter covers the early development period from 1946 to 1955. The second chapter discusses the period of the Faculty of Letters and Culture from 1955 to 1982. The third chapter explores the Faculty of Letters period from 1982 to 2001. The fourth chapter discusses the Faculty of Cultural Sciences period from 2001 to 2025.

The authors acknowledge that the book still has limitations and does not yet fully capture the complexity of the faculty’s long history. Therefore, they hope the publication will serve as a starting point for more in-depth research on institutional and academic development within FIB UGM.

“We realize that this book is far from complete, let alone perfect. With humility, we hope it will receive constructive input so that it can be improved in the future,” the authors wrote.

The authors also expressed their gratitude to various parties who supported the writing process, particularly the FIB UGM Dean’s Office for the 2021–2026 period, which entrusted the team with the project.

The publication of this book is expected to serve as a reflection for the academic community to better understand the institution’s journey while strengthening its commitment to advancing knowledge, culture, and academic contributions to society.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum., lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in the field of Philology, was one of the speakers at the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled “Islam in Javanese Babad: Efforts to Revitalize Mataraman Islam”. The event was organized by PPM Aswaja Nusantara in the PPM Aswaja Nusantara Mlangi Hall on Friday (February 6, 2026) from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In her presentation, Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum. explained the connection between literary works, particularly Babad Ngayogyakarta, and the development and existence of Islam in the Yogyakarta Palace. She explained that Babad Ngayogyakarta was written during the reign of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana (HB) V and was transcribed again during the reign of HB VII. The manuscript was written in Javanese script and contains expressions of Islamic teachings that developed within the Yogyakarta Palace.

The chronicle covers the period of HB IV-V, starting from the childhood of HB IV until the coronation of HB V. During this period, Prince Diponegoro is also described as the guardian of HB IV until the outbreak of the Diponegoro war. Prince Diponegoro is also described as a figure who upheld Islamic teachings and revived them in the life of the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

One example cited was Prince Diponegoro’s role in providing Islamic education to Hamengkubuwana IV. This education included the obligation to study the Qur’an, understand fiqh, and instill values of struggle. Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum. also explained that Diponegoro’s concept of struggle was reflected in the war against colonialism, which was based on the spirit of upholding Islamic teachings, including the call of sabilullah as a motivator for the troops.

Through a study of the literary work Babad Ngayogyakarta, various important information can be found, ranging from historical facts, literary forms, to information about the existence of Islam in Java. He described the existence of Islam at that time in three (3) words, namely manjing ‘enter’, ajur ‘melt’, and ajer ‘walk together’.

Information related to literature and history of the past can be found in various manuscripts. In this case, philology plays an important role in uncovering the information contained in ancient manuscripts so that it can be understood and utilized by today’s society. In addition, philological studies are also part of efforts to preserve and protect regional languages, literature, and cultures in Indonesia.

This FGD activity is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly point 4 on quality education, point 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and point 17 on partnerships to achieve development goals.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

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.