Yogyakarta, May 13, 2026 – The Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Program and the Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a national seminar. The seminar was titled “The US-Israel vs. Iran Conflict in the Middle East: Impact and Attitudes of Arab States.” It took place in the Soegondo Building, rooms 407-409, and featured three distinguished speakers: Agus Hidayatullah, Lc., M.A., Moh. Nur Salim, Lc., M.Sc. from the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, and Nikmatur Rahman Chaniago, S.S., M.MECASt. from the Indonesian Embassy in Tehran, Iran. The event was conducted in a hybrid format. Nur Salim attended in person, while the other two speakers joined online. The seminar began with remarks from KBTT professor Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and from the head of the Department of Intercultural Studies, Prof. Dr. Aris Munandar, M.Hum.

The first session was delivered by Moh. Nur Salim, Lc., M.Sc., who emphasized that the US-Israel vs. Iran conflict is not simply a battle between two camps, but a global issue with extraordinary impact. He also stated that China has great potential to mediate peace between the US, Israel, and Iran. Following Nur Salim, Agus Hidayatullah, Lc., M.A., presented the next session. He discussed the impact of the war on Egypt’s economy and diplomacy, while its impact on Indonesia included soaring energy prices and the safety of thousands of Indonesian citizens in the Middle East. As a member of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, he explained that the Indonesian Embassy plays a role in repatriating Indonesian citizens from various affected countries to Indonesia. Concluding the speaker sessions, Nikmatur Rahman Chaniago, S.S., M.MECASt., stated that the people of Tehran face a sociopolitical reality far more complex than media narratives suggest, demonstrating resilience through long-standing political stoicism. The Indonesian Embassy in Tehran’s role amidst geopolitical isolation is to protect Indonesian citizens by handling cases involving detained ship crew members and facilitating humanitarian aid.

The event concluded with a closing statement from the moderator, a souvenir presentation by the Head of the Master’s Program in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies, Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., and a group photo. The main takeaway for Middle Eastern Cultural Studies students is to ground academic analysis in humanitarian perspectives, emphasizing real-life experiences over purely geopolitical narratives. This approach ensures our understanding goes deeper than surface-level conflict.

Penulis: Jesisca Amanda Florantika

In an effort to expand its international academic network and enhance human resource capacity, the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) received a visit from the Project Assistant of ERC DEAGENCY. This visit, which also involved a scholarly exchange with affiliates of the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), serves as a concrete step by the faculty in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting was not merely an academic gathering but was also filled with discussion and sharing experience sessions involving the part-time staff of the Department of Anthropology.

The presence of these student staff members is crucial, considering they are the operational backbone who manage the department’s daily needs, ranging from social media, websites, graphic design, and information dissemination, to event organization, data management, and the library. Through this discussion space, they gained global exposure and practical learning outside the classroom. New insights regarding international standards in department management directly improved their professional competencies in digital communication, design, and managerial fields. This empowerment is a tangible manifestation of creating an inclusive and productive working environment on campus, while also serving as valuable preparation before they enter the professional workforce.

Furthermore, the exchange of information regarding data management and information dissemination encourages the creation of a more transparent, accountable, and effective department governance system. This cross-border dialogue between the UGM FIB Department of Anthropology, ERC DEAGENCY, and the University of Ljubljana is a manifestation of a global partnership that is essential for the sustainable transfer of academic knowledge. Through this synergy, the department hopes to continue optimizing the role of student staff not only as technical support but also as a driving force for service innovation to realize an educational institution that possesses integrity, is globally competitive, and delivers a positive impact on the academic community.

Author: Puspita Nindya Sari

Yogyakarta, May 7, 2026 – Professor Dr. Aris Munandar, M.Hum. was officially inaugurated as a Professor of English Pragmatics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The inauguration ceremony took place at the UGM Main Building on Thursday, May 7, 2026. In his inaugural speech, Prof. Aris emphasized the importance of developing English pragmatic competence oriented toward linguistic diversity in Indonesia.

Prof. Aris explained that English now serves as a crucial global communication tool for economic growth and education systems. Based on the concept of World Englishes, the diversity of the English language is divided into three circles. Indonesia falls into the expanding circle category. This position makes Indonesia a receiver of English norms from native-speaking countries, or the inner circle.

Indonesians learn English as a foreign language without a historical background of British colonialism. This condition creates unique challenges and characteristics. The characteristics of the English spoken by Indonesians are indirectly influenced by both the national language and regional languages. One of the most striking differences is seen in the application of politeness principles, which often differ from native speaker norms.

Today, intensive English communication occurs among speakers from developing nations. Prof. Aris gave an example of common interactions within the UGM campus environment between international students from Asia and Africa and the local academic community.

“As English has become an international lingua franca and the number of speakers in expanding circle countries continues to grow, there is a wide possibility of English communication occurring among fellow speakers from these expanding circle nations,” explained Prof. Aris during his speech.

Therefore, Prof. Aris believes that pragmatic competence with a multilingual orientation must be continuously developed. This approach aims to prevent society from adopting a monolingual view that could potentially generate negative perceptions of English variations in developing countries. He asserted that the diversity of English is an inevitable linguistic reality.

This condition has practical implications for language proficiency evaluations, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Such standardized tests are still considered biased because they heavily prioritize native speaker norms. As a solution, Prof. Aris proposed adjustments to local evaluation instruments. The Academic English Proficiency Test (AcEPT) at UGM needs to be designed as a relevant benchmark for speakers in Indonesia. This test should incorporate materials that reflect the local realities of Indonesian speakers without violating generally agreed-upon linguistic standards.

An inclusive understanding of English language diversity aligns with efforts to create an equitable and adaptive education system. Through a multilingual approach, cross-border interactions involving diverse cultural backgrounds can run harmoniously. Ultimately, this step supports the creation of an equal and inclusive global order, where every individual receives equal respect without losing their local identity roots. This resonates with UGM’s vision to remain deeply rooted in local wisdom while achieving global respect.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Ciamis, 25 April 2026 — The Department of Intercultural Studies, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Community Service Program (PkM) and Expert Lecture at Universitas Islam Darussalam on 25–26 April 2026. The event brought lecturers, students, and the pesantren community together in a setting that combined academic discussion with everyday interaction.

The visit also continued an existing connection between the two institutions, especially through Prof. Dr. K.H. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur. In his remarks, he described the program as more than a formal academic agenda. For him, it was a form of silaturahim, where knowledge is shared in a more personal and open way.

The delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Aris Munandar, who spoke about the role of American Studies in reading global influence. He pointed out that influence does not always come in direct or visible forms. In many cases, it appears through everyday habits such as academic writing, publication systems, and standards that scholars gradually follow. 

Therefore, according to him, the American Studies program plays an important role in helping scholars critically recognize and navigate these subtle influences, which often emerge through habits in academic writing, publication systems, and scholarly standards.

Several speakers then presented their topics in parallel sessions. Dr. Mahmudah discussed feminism in Arabic literature and its place in Islamic education. Dr. Amin Basuki focused on how American academic patterns can be seen in SINTA-indexed journals, especially in the way articles are structured and evaluated. Dr. Muhammad Zakki Masykur talked about Arabic and the works of Javanese ulama which showed that local traditions remain active in knowledge production. Meanwhile, Dr. Stedi Wardoyo explained how morality in Japanese society often grows from family life and social habits, not only from religion.

Outside the formal sessions, the program also included shared activities such as joining the Shalawat Burdah gathering with the pesantren community. Moments like this made the visit feel less formal and more connected. It showed that community service is not only about delivering material, but also about building relationships.

As an institution that provides education from early levels to university, Universitas Islam Darussalam also offers space for future collaboration, especially in character education. This program, in a simple way, shows that academic cooperation can grow through meeting, talking, and spending time together.

Ciamis, April, 25 2026 – Two lecturers from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Department of Intercultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Stedi Wardoyo, S.S., M.A. and Dr. Sri Pangastoeti, M.Hum., served as speakers in a Community Service Program (Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat/PkM) held at Universitas Islam Darussalam (Unida) and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam, Ciamis.

The event, titled “Religion and Morality in Japanese Society,” took place in Meeting Room 208 of Universitas Islam Darussalam from 10:34 a.m. to 12:11 p.m. and was attended by approximately 50 participants, consisting of university students, lecturers, and school students from Universitas Islam Darussalam and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam.

During the session, Dr. Stedi Wardoyo and Dr. Sri Pangastoeti compared religious values in Indonesia, particularly Islamic values, with socially based moral values in Japan, such as maintaining harmony in society. Both speakers also invited participants to reflect on the differences between these two moral systems, especially in their practical implementation in everyday life.

The discussion, which lasted around one hour and thirty-seven minutes, highlighted similarities between the two moral frameworks at the conceptual level, while also revealing disparities in their social practice. Participants showed strong enthusiasm throughout the event and actively raised questions, particularly regarding real-life cases that reflect gaps between moral values and social practices, such as theft, corruption, and other social issues.

Together with the audience, the speakers also discussed the possible impacts and long-term consequences arising from inconsistencies between moral principles and actual social behavior. The dynamic discussion reflected the participants’ strong interest in the intercultural theme presented during the program.

This community service activity represents UGM’s ongoing contribution to sharing intercultural perspectives with academics, students, and the wider community. Dr. Stedi Wardoyo expressed his hope that the comparison would encourage deeper reflection on individual morality. Meanwhile, Dr. Sri Pangastoeti hoped that understanding morality would not remain merely personal, but would also be practiced in everyday life to create a more positive impact on individuals, families, society, and the nation.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to both speakers by representatives of Universitas Islam Darussalam and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam as a token of appreciation for the knowledge and insights they had shared.

Author: Ahmad Affandy Ainurridho Zulkifli
Editor: Barra Taura Nursaid