Saturday, May 25, 2024, the UGM Archaeology Student Association (HIMA), Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, held a 2024 Dialogue Room Webinar on Gender Archaeology with a sub-theme entitled, “Gender Studies Based on Archaeological Findings” which is open to the public. This webinar was guided by Haybah Shabira as the Moderator of the activity and two special resource persons, namely UGM Archaeology Lecturer, Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A. and Archaeological Researcher at Pura Mangkunegaran, Tyassanti Kusumo Dewanti, M.A., who has a number of experiences and contributions in gender archaeological studies. This activity aims to increase the knowledge of archaeology students and the general public about the position or division of roles of people in the past, both men and women in living their daily lives in the social, economic, or political fields. The study is based on archaeological data findings in the form of reliefs, inscriptions, or ancient manuscripts.

The activity session was opened with remarks from the Advisor of HIMA UGM, Drs. Musadad, M.Hum., who paid attention to the importance of gender studies in the discovery of archaeological remains in the role and duties in the scope of society. Followed by the delivery of the first material given by Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., as an introduction and opening material to get to know more about gender archaeological studies in the discovery of archaeological remains. The next material was presented by Tyassanti Kusumo Dewanti, M.A., explaining previous research on the position and role of women in history, domination and power relations in 9th and 10th century Java, and evidence of the role of women based on findings in the inscription text. After the presentation ended, a question and answer session was opened to the webinar participants.

It is hoped that this Dialogue Room Webinar can be a forum for the general public and archaeology students to discuss and find out what archaeological issues are and be useful for prospective archaeologists if they face the same problems.

Monday, May 20, 2024, UGM Vocational School together with UGM Innovation and Creativity Center (GIK) opened the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival held from May 20, 2024 to June 1, 2024, at the UGM Vocational School. The increasing challenges of vocational needs in the future, this festival is present as a place to introduce the important role of Vocational education in the general public, including students, in the field of knowledge and skills to accelerate change and innovation in responding to technological developments. In its series of events, the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival presents exhibition exhibitions, various competitions such as photography and poster design, workshops, talk shows, master classes, seminars, Talent Day, Movie Day, Sekip Walk, and music performances.

The festival was opened with remarks from the Dean of UGM Vocational School, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Agus Maryono, IPM, ASEAN Eng, who said the role of information technology to accelerate all knowledge that can be distributed so that change can occur. He also emphasized that Vocational students are ready to fill innovations, manufacturing works, cultural works, economic works, health works by joining hands with all faculties related to GIK. The hope of the innovation is to make Vocational School a “lighthouse” for other vocational schools by applying the movement method that has been applied by UGM Vocational School, so that one change has an impact on other changes. This model has spread to all students and lecturers, to accelerate the pace of change starting from the pattern of thinking to become more responsive to change.

In the next moment, the speech was continued by Garin Nugroho, Chief Program Officer of Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM, who emphasized the importance of vocational education for the future, especially for Generation Z to answer future challenges through increasing skill capacity for the Generation Z population which amounts to more than 60% of the total population in Indonesia. On the same occasion, Garin also said the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival invited Vocational schools across Indonesia to map the ecosystem and challenges with the aim of preparing the next generation of Indonesia.

In line with Garin Nugroho, Aji Wartono, Head of Experience at Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM, also supported the organization of this festival as a place to prepare students to be able to jump directly into professional industries with vast potential and future opportunities. Aji reminded that Indonesia still has 150 manufacturing companies, the number of existing manufacturing companies is still relatively small, so further opportunities for the development of the manufacturing industry are wide open.

The opening event of the INOVOKASIA 2024 Festival can be a reference for the Faculty of Humanities UGM. Improving the quality of education and expanding student experience to prepare for the world of work according to changing industry needs is one of the goals of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM to always respond to changes accurately and precisely through industry cooperation.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, the Archaeology Student Association (HIMA UGM), Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, through the Community Service Division held the Archaeology Goes To School #1 work program, which is an introduction to archaeology by providing material exposure and games related to archaeology to students of SMP Negeri 2 Ngaglik, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region Province. This activity also collaborates with Mandira Brick, as a maker of disassembly game products in the form of miniature temples as educational games for the general public, including students. The activity took place from 10:00 WIB – 12:00 WIB and was two-way interactive interspersed with question and answer sessions and game sessions that divided students in a class into six groups to develop a miniature temple disassembly game.

The activity began with an opening session in a classroom of SMP Negeri 2 Ngaglik with a warm welcome by HIMA UGM students to students. This was followed by a general introduction session about UGM Archaeology and information about the HIMA UGM organization. As for the session after the general introduction, it continued with the presentation of material about Classical Archaeology with the aim of introducing students to restoration and conservation in the treatment of cultural heritage.

“Since our audience is junior high school students, we provide quite basic material about restoration, conservation, the restoration process and how to care for cultural heritage buildings, especially temple buildings. So we provide materials, such as: “The definition of restoration and conservation followed by the process of restoration activities in stages, ending with how to care for the restored temple so that it remains sustainable,” said Arya Sena Prasetio, Chief Executive of Archaeology Goes To School # 1 from the Community Service Division of HIMA UGM, explaining the reason for the presentation of material on Classical Archaeology.

After the material presentation session and interactive question and answer session ended, the students were divided into six groups of five people each to play with the miniature Sukuh Temple and Ratu Boko Temple presented by the Mandira Brick team. Six sets of Mandira disassembly toys were assembled by each group, guided by HIMA UGM students in the process. The toys were then given to the school of SMP Negeri 2 Ngaglik as a continuation of temple restoration and conservation lessons as a means of further learning. The event then ended with a photo documentation session with the students and closing by HIMA UGM students and the Mandira Brick team accompanied by a symbolic plaque and Mandira toys.

“Hopefully with the implementation of Archaeology Goes To School, it can introduce archaeology to school children and provide broader insights into the importance of cultural heritage, as well as motivate students to study more diligently with the existence of new learning media through Mandira Brick,” said Sena about his expectations from the activity

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, the Association of Indonesian Literature Scholars Commissariat Jember (HISKI Jember) in collaboration with the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Muhammadiyah Jember University (FKIP Unmuh Jember), the Department of Indonesian Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Jember (FIB UNEJ), Semiotics Journal, Cultural Context Literature Research Group (PERSADA), Oral Tradition and Local Wisdom Research Group (TERKELOK), Teen and Children’s Literature Research Group (TCLRG), and Center for English Literature and Culture (CELC), held a National Webinar entitled, NGONTRAS #32 (32nd Metasastra National Chat), This webinar invited the Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum, as a guest speaker who discussed the theme of travel literature with a presentation entitled, “Travel Writing: According to Carl Thompson”. This activity took place from 10.00 – 12.00 WIB with a series of opening, presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum. and Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum., question and answer discussion, and closing with a symbolic certificate award.

The presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., began with an explanation of the theme of travel literature according to Carl Thompson, who stated that travel literature is the result of an encounter and negotiations over the differences or similarities that accompany it. All travel writing has two intertwined aspects, a report on the wider world and a record of an unknown person or place, revealing the writer’s self along with values, inclinations, assumptions, and culture in addition to the culture addressed by the travel story. The function of travel stories is to inform the outside world, reveal the self, and represent the other.

In addition, a number of literary works are presented as examples of discussion, each of which is explained in terms of the three functions previously mentioned. The literary works are novels that are dissected for exposure to identify and review parts of the novel. From the series of national webinar activities that have been held, this activity is also part of the Community Service carried out by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., in the form of education and creating a national level literature and literature discussion space.

Erlangga Satrio Bintoro was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the announcement that he had graduated from IISMA 2024. It was a moment he had been looking forward to with great expectation and hard work. His first step was to tell his family, mentors, and closest friends. For him, sharing his happiness was the best way to start his new journey after passing such a crucial exam.

Since the beginning of the IISMA enrollment process, Erlangga Satrio Bintoro, a Cultural Anthropology, has prepared himself diligently. From conducting in-depth research about the university and country, to preparing essays and practicing interviews. For him, thorough preparation was the key to success in the exam.

In choosing a destination country and university, Erlangga strongly considers his interests and how it can help him achieve his future goals. For him, choosing according to his passion is the right step because it will be reflected in the essay and interview, which are important parts of the IISMA selection.

Erlangga would like to share his tips with his seniors in order to pass the IISMA selection successfully. According to him, prepare yourself as well as possible but don’t overdo it. Choose a country and university that matches your passion, because it will be reflected in the essay and interview.

Erlangga’s journey to success in the IISMA was also helped by the IISMA Preparation Course organized by the UGM Faculty of Arts Language Center. Through the course, Erlangga got a rough idea of how essays should be written, how interviews should go, and what is expected of participants by IISMA. The course contributed greatly to Erlangga’s success in his journey to become an IISMA 2024 awardee.