The Merdeka Student Exchange Program is an initiative that allows university students to study at universities in Indonesia for one semester. It aims to enhance their learning experience and strengthen unity in diversity. PMM targets to involve 204 recipient universities and accept 15,505 students as participants of this program. One of the universities that received the program is of course Gadjah Mada University. There are many students who have exchanged to this campus and not a few who managed to qualify to study at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. The students came from various universities from all over Indonesia, and some even came from abroad, namely 2 students from Hankuk University, South Korea.

After almost 6 months of PMM students studying, they will finally be released to return to their respective universities after completing the Final Semester Examination. Therefore, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences took the initiative to organize a farewell event for them. The event was held at Teras Langit Turi on Thursday, June 13, 2024 and was attended by 24 students and a number of lecturers representing each study program. They gathered at 4pm at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences and departed together using the bus that had been prepared for them. After traveling for about half an hour, they arrived at the venue. There they were served various drinks, food, snacks, and heavy meals. While eating the dishes, they were invited to share their respective experiences during college. They captured the moment together before going home.

On Tuesday, June 4, 2024 yesterday, a National Seminar was held with the theme “Arabic Language Development in Various Media” as a tribute to Dr. Masrukhi. M.Hum before entering his retirement. The seminar was attended by his fellow lecturers and even attended by several officials such as the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., and Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum. Apart from lecturers, students who had been taught by him also attended the seminar. 

After the event was opened, Eka Setiawan and Pandhita Hapsari as the host handed over their duties to Dr. Arief Ma’nawi, S.S., M.Hum. as moderator to guide the seminar. The core event was the National Seminar with speakers including Prof. Dr. Syamsul Hadi, S.U., M.A., Prof. Dr. H Tulus Musthofa, Lc., M.A. and Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M.Hum. himself. The presentation of mementos was handed over by Dr. Mahmudah, S.S., M.Hum. as a representative of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies and Dra. Uswatun Hasanah, M.A. as a representative of Arabic Literature study program lecturers. The event was closed with a tumpeng cutting procession by the honorable Dr. Mohammad Masrukhi M.Hum.

The Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID) of Universitas Gadjah Mada regularly updates public information as a form of commitment to the implementation of information disclosure at UGM. In connection with this, PPID invited representatives of each faculty at Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Public Relations (Humas) section, to attend the 2024 Public Information Update Coordination Meeting which was held online on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 9 until 11 am.

Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M. as the Main Information and Documentation Management Officer expressed his gratitude for the attention and good cooperation. It is hoped that after this meeting, there will be concrete steps to improve transparency and accessibility of information within the university. Hopefully, the meeting results in a more proactive policy in providing relevant and up-to-date information to all stakeholders, be it students, staff, or the general public. Thus, Universitas Gadjah Mada can be increasingly recognized as an institution that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the information needs of the community.

On June 1, 2024 from 4 to 6 pm in the courtyard of Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Palmerah, Yuk! together with Perpustra continued their efforts to enlighten others through literacy discussions with Maman Suherman and Kalis Mardiasih as speakers. They invited literacy communities and publishers as parties who participate in fighting for the literacy movement. Perpustra UGM together with Palmerah, Yuk! has held a discussion related to efforts in nurturing literacy. This discussion highlighted the importance of access to books and efforts to make books as living objects that actively meet their readers, in order to continue our struggle to enlighten each other.

IMBASADI stands for the Association of Regional Language and Literature Students throughout Indonesia. On 17 to 19 May 2024, IMBASADI held a competition attended by students of regional literature study programs from all universities in Indonesia. The competition was held at the Mpu Kuturan Singaraja State Hindu College. Of course, the Javanese Literature study program owned by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University did not want to miss the opportunity to make the department, faculty, and university proud. They participated in the competition and managed to get many championships so that they were crowned the overall champion. The following is a list of student names and the championships they won:

– 2nd place in National Scientific Writing Competition (Haryo Untoro & M. Siswoyo)

– 1st place in Culture Poster (Meifira Arini Pitaloka)

– 3rd Place in Typography (M. Rafi Nur Fauzy)

– Imbasadi Female Runner Up (Ganes Larasati)

– Imbasadi Male Finalist (Rafif Wicaksono)

– GENERAL CHAMPION

Congratulations and sincere appreciation to the Javanese Literature Study Program for the outstanding achievement of winning the overall champion! This achievement is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and incredible collaborative spirit of the entire team and members of the study program. May this achievement be a driving force to continue to develop and strive for excellence in the field of Javanese literature, and become an inspiration for future generations. Continue to maintain the spirit of togetherness, innovation, and dedication that has become the foundation of success. Congratulations on this brilliant achievement, and may success continue to accompany you in the future!