Yogyakarta, July 17, 2026 — On Friday, July 17, 2026, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM held an informational session on IoT scales as part of the 2026 UGM Sustainability Campus Action program. The event took place in the Multimedia Room of the Margono Building and featured Dr. Ir. Thomas Oka Pratama, S.T., M.Eng., IPP, from UGM’s Sensor and Controlled Systems Laboratory. This session served as training for educational support staff on managing the faculty’s waste using IoT scales.

IoT scales are devices that measure the weight of waste generated at collection points (pick-up points) in real time, integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) system. The weight data is used for digital monitoring, evaluation, and planning of waste management policies. During the session, participants were instructed on how to use the IoT scales to manage waste generation. FIB support staff were also asked to practice using the IoT scales.

Through the implementation of IoT scales, FIB UGM aims to strengthen a waste management system that is more accurate, measurable, and data-driven. The use of this technology is expected to enhance the capacity of support staff to support sustainable waste management while also contributing to UGM’s Sustainability Campus Action 2026 commitment. This initiative aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs point 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and also supports SDGs point 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDGs point 13: Climate Action.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]

In commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the Undergraduate Program in Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, organized an International Workshop entitled Rereading Wayang: Remembering the Past, Looking Toward the Future on Thursday (9/7/2026). The event invited academics, students, and the general public to revisit the art of wayang, not only as a cultural heritage of the past but also as a tradition that continues to develop and remains relevant in responding to present and future challenges.

To comprehensively explore the theme, the workshop featured three speakers with expertise in their respective fields: Prof. Matthew Isaac Cohen, Ph.D., Alan H. Feinstein, Ph.D., and Dr. G.R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A. The discussion was moderated by Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A.

The event commenced at 09.00 WIB with opening remarks by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., Chair of the Organizing Committee, followed by remarks from Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. Following the opening session, the international workshop officially began.

As the first speaker, Prof. Matthew Isaac Cohen, Ph.D., discussed the life of wayang art in the virtual sphere, particularly its development, which became increasingly visible during the pandemic. According to him, the presence of wayang art in the digital world had actually begun long before the pandemic through live-streamed wayang kulit performances. “The life of wayang art in the virtual world had actually begun before the pandemic era, with the emergence of live-streamed wayang kulit performances,” he explained. He further elaborated that the existence of wayang in the virtual sphere has continued to transform through various forms of innovation, ranging from the establishment of communities such as Posko Dalang Nusantara, the publication of the book #Dalang Goes to Twitter, the emergence of Wayang Jemblung during the pandemic, to the development of wayang in the form of artificial intelligence (AI)-based animation.

The second speaker, Alan H. Feinstein, Ph.D., presented the topic of the historiography and documentation of Javanese wayang stories. He explained that efforts to document wayang stories have been carried out since the colonial period, both through documentation projects of lakon carangan and through the collection of various ancient manuscript sources. According to him, wayang can be studied from various scholarly perspectives; therefore, documenting facts, data, documents, and various other forms of evidence is essential. This is necessary because wayang performances are ephemeral and leave no trace once the puppeteer concludes the performance.

In the final session, Dr. G.R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A., discussed the existence of women in wayang performing arts from the perspectives of female puppeteers, wayang characters, women’s representation, and the stories performed. He explained that women’s participation in the world of wayang has shown positive development, although it still requires further strengthening. “I recommend increasing the number of female puppeteers, enhancing women’s skills in wayang performing arts, and creating lakon carangan that are in accordance with contemporary developments,” he stated.

Through this workshop, Javanese wayang was understood not only as a performing art but also as a reflection of continuously evolving social and cultural dynamics. The presentations demonstrated that the existence of wayang has always been intertwined with the context of its era while continuing to transform without losing the cultural values that form its foundation. In line with the theme Rereading Wayang: Remembering the Past, Looking Toward the Future, the workshop demonstrated that the preservation of wayang is carried out not only through the transmission of tradition but also through documentation, critical reinterpretation, and various innovations that maintain its relevance amid contemporary developments.

Author: Prodi Bahasa, Sastra dan Budaya Jawa

Yogyakarta, June 19, 2026 – 8,178 students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) were officially deployed to participate in the 2026 Community Service–Community Empowerment Learning Program (KKN-PPM) Period II. The deployment ceremony, held at the Lapangan Pancasila UGM, was attended by the Deputy Minister of Industry of the Republic of Indonesia, Faisol Riza, who is also an alumnus of the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences and a member of the UGM Alumni Association (KAGAMA).

In his remarks, Faisol Riza encouraged the thousands of students who will carry out community service across various regions of Indonesia. He emphasized that KKN is not merely an academic requirement, but also an opportunity to cultivate a strong sense of nationalism through direct engagement with local communities.

According to him, a spirit of nationalism and confidence in carrying out every stage of community service will serve as valuable assets for students, both in successfully completing the KKN program and in finishing their higher education. He also encouraged students to make the most of their field experience as a means of understanding community needs while developing leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

The UGM students will undertake the KKN program for 50 days, from June 20 to August 8, 2026. They will be assigned to 32 provinces across Indonesia, including frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions, where they will implement various community empowerment programs tailored to local needs.

On the same occasion, UGM Rector Ova Emilia stated that KKN serves as a learning platform that enables students to apply their academic knowledge while making meaningful contributions to Indonesian society. She also reminded all participants to prioritize their health and safety and to uphold the good reputation of their alma mater throughout the program.

Through the deployment of the 2026 KKN-PPM Period II participants, UGM hopes its students will become agents of change who provide meaningful solutions to community challenges while strengthening the values of service, social responsibility, and national spirit, as emphasized by Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Riza.

Author: Alma Syahwalani

Photo: @UGM.Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, June 9, 2026 – Students from the Master’s Program in Literature and the Undergraduate Program in Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture organized a manuscript exhibition titled Pusaka Kata (“Heritage of Words”) at the first-floor lobby of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), on Tuesday (June 9). Held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the exhibition served as a platform for academic collaboration, bringing together the fields of philology, Javanese manuscript studies, and codicology in an effort to preserve and revitalize the manuscript heritage of the Indonesian archipelago.

The exhibition involved graduate students from the Philology and Javanese Manuscript Studies classes, as well as undergraduate students from the Codicology class of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program. The event was supervised by Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, S.S., M.Hum., and Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah, S.S., M.A.

Under the theme Pusaka Kata, the exhibition was inspired by the awareness that Nusantara manuscripts constitute invaluable intellectual and cultural heritage. These manuscripts preserve ancestral knowledge systems covering various aspects of life, including education, medicine, religious practices, and literature. However, beyond the threat of physical deterioration due to age, these manuscripts also face a growing challenge: the widening gap between younger generations and the knowledge contained within them.

The name Pusaka Kata was chosen to emphasize the significance of manuscripts as an intergenerational legacy. In Javanese tradition, pusaka refers not merely to an inherited object but to a trust passed down through generations, carrying values, identity, and responsibility. Meanwhile, kata (“words”) represents the medium through which knowledge has been preserved and transmitted from ancestors to future generations.

Interpreting Knowledge Preserved in Manuscripts

One of the highlights from the Philology class was a Malay-Islamic manuscript titled Kitab Jimat, Tangkal, dan Obat-obatan (Book of Talismans, Protective Charms, and Medicines). Digitized by the British Library through the Endangered Archives Programme (EAP), the manuscript contains knowledge related to self-protection, healing practices, and environmental safeguarding through prayers, Qur’anic verses, magical diagrams (rajah), and herbal remedies.

Fajar Nur Zaima explained that one of the most prominent sections of the manuscript discusses the virtues of Qur’anic verses, particularly the recitation of the basmalah. According to him, the manuscript presents the basmalah not merely as an opening formula but also as a source of blessings, protection, and safety in various aspects of life.

Another featured object was the section on talismans contained in Serat Primbon, a manuscript from the collection of the National Library of Indonesia, catalog number NB 973. This section includes at least twenty-nine types of talismans serving different purposes, ranging from attracting affection and maintaining health to ensuring safety and warding off misfortune.

Giandra Febriyan Haidar explained that talismanic texts can be understood as representations of how Javanese society perceived the relationship between humans, nature, and forces beyond everyday rationality. He cited a love talisman described in the manuscript as a means of gaining affection and social acceptance. In this context, he argued, talismans should not be viewed merely as magical objects but as symbols of human aspirations for harmonious social relationships.

Reading Manuscript Histories Through Physical Form and Aesthetics

The Javanese Manuscript Studies class presented research on the physical and aesthetic aspects of Javanese manuscripts. One exhibition item focused on a manuscript written in Javanese script, currently preserved in the Department of Nusantara Literature Library under the code 899.047.

Through this study, visitors were invited to understand manuscripts not only as textual repositories but also as cultural artifacts that document copying practices, literary traditions, and histories of ownership and transmission. Elements such as paper type, binding structure, script, and physical damage provide valuable information about a manuscript’s journey through time.

The class also showcased a study of manuscript illumination titled Wêdana Gapura Rênggan. The manuscript contains several texts, including Aji Pamasa, Mihradipun Jêng Nabi, Rajah Kalacakra, Jumbuhing Panembah, and Lêlampahanipun Raden Sahid.

Affan Akbar explained that manuscript illuminations serve not only as decorative elements but also as important sources of information regarding manuscript production processes. Observations of unfinished sketches and coloring revealed that the text had been written before the ornamental designs were added. Such findings provide insights into the stages undertaken by manuscript scribes in producing complete handwritten works.

Codicology and Creative Approaches to Manuscript Preservation

Meanwhile, the Codicology class introduced visitors to the study of manuscripts from a material perspective. Codicology examines manuscripts as physical objects, including their writing materials, binding techniques, ornaments, layouts, and patterns of damage that record traces of their historical use.

In addition to presenting research findings, students displayed practical projects such as manuscript covers, storage boxes, and hand-bound books accompanied by interpretive narratives.

One work that attracted particular attention was created by Arfia Kholifatul, who adopted the Javanese wayang character Semar as the central theme of her bookbinding and cover design. Through imagery inspired by shadow puppetry and botanical motifs, the work interpreted Javanese philosophical values such as urip iku urup—the belief that life should bring benefits to others. The upward-growing leaves and vines symbolized the continuous pursuit of truth and the sustainability of life.

Through the collaboration of these three academic fields, the Pusaka Kata Exhibition offered a comprehensive perspective on manuscripts as living cultural heritage. Rather than being regarded merely as historical artifacts preserved in archives, manuscripts were presented as enduring sources of knowledge that can continue to be read, understood, and reinterpreted by contemporary generations.

Author: Khotibul Umam

Students of the Dialectology class from the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada conducted a fieldwork program in Ngablak District, Magelang Regency, Central Java, as part of strengthening their linguistic research competencies. The activity focused on the study of Javanese dialect variations based on the geographical and social aspects of its speech communities.

Javanese is one of the regional languages with the largest number of speakers in Indonesia and is widely spoken across various parts of the archipelago. Through this fieldwork program, the students carried out dialectological research to observe the phonological, lexical, and semantic variations of Javanese used by communities in five villages in Ngablak District, namely Ngablak, Seloprojo, Genikan, Kanigoro, and Tejosari. These areas were selected due to their highland geographical characteristics, where vegetable farming serves as the primary economic activity of the local communities.

The social and geographical characteristics of the Ngablak community are considered to have a strong influence on the development of language variation. The communication patterns of agrarian communities, differences in altitude, and the geographical conditions of mountainous areas potentially contribute to the emergence of distinctive lexical variations, particularly those related to agricultural terminology and local wisdom.

The research was conducted through direct interviews with local residents using a 200-word Swadesh list as the research instrument. Conversations between the students and informants were recorded with the consent of the participants as part of the linguistic data documentation process. The recorded data were then transcribed phonetically to identify lexical variations found in each research location.

Furthermore, the collected linguistic data will be analyzed using dialectometric methods to map the levels of similarity and difference among dialects across villages. Through this activity, students not only gained direct experience in field-based linguistic research but also contributed to the documentation and mapping of regional language diversity in Indonesia.

This Dialectology fieldwork program reflects the commitment of the UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics to developing research-based learning while strengthening linguistic studies oriented toward the preservation of local languages and cultures.