Yogyakarta, September 2, 2025 – The Undergraduate Tourism Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an international guest lecture under the ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility program with the theme “Sustainability and Sustainable Practices in Tourism Enterprises.” The lecture featured Assoc. Prof. Halime Göktas Kulualp from Karabük University, Turkiye, shared valuable insights through the case study of Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage City recognized since 1994.

In her presentation, Prof. Kulualp described Safranbolu as a small but historically rich town in Karabük Province, located in the Black Sea region of Turkiye. For centuries, it served as an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, a trade route connecting Asia and Europe. The town has witnessed the presence of great civilizations, including the Hittites, Romans, and Byzantines, and reached its golden age under the Ottoman Empire. During this period, caravanserais such as the famous Cinci Han were established to host merchants and travelers passing through the region.

What makes Safranbolu truly unique is its remarkable Ottoman architecture. The town is renowned for its traditional houses, many of which are more than 300 years old, characterized by whitewashed walls, wooden frames, large windows, and private courtyards. These houses are living examples of how Turkish people once lived. Beyond its architecture, Safranbolu is also surrounded by natural beauty, with stunning sites like Tokatl Canyon and Bulak Caves attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The name Safranbolu comes from “saffron,” a rare and precious spice that grows in the area, combined with the name of the nearby region, Bolu. This name reflects the city’s cultural identity and historical wealth. UNESCO’s recognition highlights Safranbolu’s authenticity, integrity, and its importance as a living heritage for humanity. According to Prof. Kulualp, Safranbolu’s success in preserving its cultural legacy while embracing tourism offers an inspiring example of how heritage conservation and sustainable development can go hand in hand.

Through this guest lecture, UGM Tourism students were encouraged to see tourism not only as an economic activity but also as a responsibility to safeguard cultural heritage. The story of Safranbolu reminds us that sustainability in tourism is essential to protect history while ensuring benefits for local communities and future generations.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, September 2, 2025 – The Undergraduate Tourism Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a guest lecture as part of the ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility program with the theme “Sustainability and Sustainable Practices in Tourism Enterprises.”

The lecture featured Assoc. Prof. Göktaş Kulualp from Karabuk University, Türkiye. In his presentation, Prof. Kulualp elaborated on several key aspects of sustainable tourism.

He began by providing an overview of the introduction to sustainable tourism, covering its definition and basic principles. He then discussed global trends and policy frameworks set by UNWTO, including regulations for hotels, tour operators, and tourist destinations. According to him, after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in slow tourism, ecotourism, and nature-based travel.

Prof. Kulualp also highlighted sustainable tourism practices in Türkiye, particularly through eco-friendly certification programs. One example is the Green Star Certificate, awarded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism to environmentally conscious hotels, with assessments on energy and water efficiency, waste management, and the use of local products. In addition, he mentioned international eco-labels such as Green Key and Blue Flag, which are awarded to hotels and beaches that protect the environment.

These efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through sustainable tourism practices, the tourism sector is expected not only to generate economic benefits but also to maintain environmental and socio-cultural balance.

The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, allowing students to gain deeper insights into the implementation of sustainable tourism concepts in various countries, including their relevance to the Indonesian context.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Cirebon, 27/7/2025 – As part of their community engagement initiative, students from Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Community Service and Empowerment Learning Program (KKN-PPM) carried out a waste management program in Getrakmoyan Village, Pangenan District, Cirebon Regency, West Java. The program, titled “Eco Paving Education for a Sustainable Environment,” aims to address plastic pollution through practical, community-based solutions.

This interdisciplinary initiative brought together Anisah A’bidah, a student from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (Social Sciences track), and Sandhi Vardhana Rally, a student from the Civil Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering (Science and Technology track). Conducted on July 19 and 26, 2025, the program empowered local communities through a hands-on workshop on producing environmentally friendly paving blocks made from recycled plastic waste. The main beneficiaries were the village government and the local Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes), identified as key partners for ensuring the program’s sustainability.

The project began with a survey to map the potential and volume of plastic waste in the area, providing a foundation for developing technical training materials and implementation strategies. The team then collaborated with local leaders and BUMDes representatives to finalize the execution plan. All necessary tools and materials — including used drums, firewood, and plastic waste — were sourced independently by the team, while the paving molds were purchased by the students to support the production process.

The program received a warm welcome from Getrakmoyan Village Head, Mr. Junandi, who praised the initiative as both innovative and unprecedented in the village. “We greatly appreciate this activity, which offers practical benefits and could become a long-term solution to our plastic waste problem. We hope the results can not only be used for public facilities but also be developed further by the village or BUMDes as a viable economic product,” he stated.

With strong community involvement and institutional support from the village government, the project is expected to serve as a sustainable waste management model at the local level. Furthermore, this initiative contributes directly to the realization of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Through collaboration, education, and innovation, UGM students are helping communities turn waste into opportunity — creating not only paving blocks, but also pathways toward a more sustainable future.

Author: Anisah A’bidah

Bandung, July 20, 2025 — Students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) participating in the KKN-PPM Sekocihampelas program conducted a creative community empowerment initiative titled “Reusing Eggshell Waste as Calligraphy Decorations.” The workshop, held at Bening Saguling Foundation in Cihampelas, West Bandung Regency, engaged local Karang Taruna youth in transforming everyday waste into meaningful works of art.

The activity began with a presentation on the potential of eggshells as recyclable art materials, followed by a hands-on session where participants crafted calligraphy pieces using the discarded shells. This initiative served not only as a creative outlet but also as an environmental awareness campaign, encouraging responsible household waste management through artistic reuse.

This program was spearheaded by the KKN-PPM UGM student team and reflects the core values of the Arabic Study Program, which envisions language and art as powerful tools for community engagement. During the practical session, participants created a variety of calligraphy designs, including names, Islamic expressions, and animal motifs like birds. The energy and enthusiasm from the youth showcased their strong interest in art and sustainable practices.

Nur Kumalatuz Zahroh, the student unit coordinator and lead organizer, expressed hope that this initiative would serve as a catalyst for sustainable waste management habits in the community.

“We hope that this activity not only teaches participants to create art but also raises awareness about environmental conservation. What was once discarded waste, like eggshells, now has artistic and economic value,” she explained.

The program actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, by creatively repurposing organic waste into useful and aesthetic products. Furthermore, it aligns with SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals, as the activity was conducted in collaboration with local stakeholders—Karang Taruna youth and the Bening Saguling Foundation—underscoring the importance of community-based partnerships in promoting sustainability.

More than just an art workshop, this initiative became a collaborative platform for education, environmental awareness, and community empowerment. Through this participatory and cross-sector approach, UGM’s KKN-PPM students successfully delivered a program that combined creativity, sustainability, and local engagement.

Author: Nur Kumalatuz Zahroh

Yogyakarta, 10/7/2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again marked an academic milestone through the doctoral promotion session held on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Arina Isti’anah, a lecturer and researcher in the field of linguistics, officially earned her Doctorate degree after presenting a dissertation titled Ecological Discourse Analysis in Indonesian Tourism Promotion.

Through a corpus-based ecolinguistic approach, Arina’s research examined the language strategies used in the promotion of Indonesian tourism, focusing on English-language content on the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy. Her findings revealed that the narrative tends to overemphasize the physical environment—portraying Indonesia as an exotic tropical country rich in natural resources, yet isolated.

In her presentation, Arina revealed that tourism promotion practices are not only influenced by advertising genres but are also ideologically loaded, leaning toward neoliberalism and capitalism. The exploration of hidden islands and the glorification of natural beauty are wrapped in commodification and privatization, ironically under the guise of eco-friendliness.

Concluding her presentation, Arina emphasized that greenwashing has become a common pattern in tourism promotion. The “eco” and “green” labels often found in tourism campaigns do not always align with true ecological values. She also highlighted the need for further research on the Indonesian version of these texts and the translation strategies involved, including expanding the corpus and applying multimodal discourse analysis to enrich ecolinguistic discussion.

The doctoral promotion, held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, was attended by scholars from various disciplines, students, and colleagues from different institutions. Their presence witnessed Arina’s meaningful contribution to the development of ecolinguistics studies in Indonesia.

With this achievement, Dr. Arina Isti’anah is expected to continue her contributions to critical linguistic and ecological studies, inspiring the next generation of academics to explore how language functions as an ideological tool shaping people’s views of the environment.