SDGs 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta, April 24, 2024 – The Association of Arabic Literature Students UGM (IKMASA) held a Halal Bihalal event on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Siti Baroroh Building A201, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This event is a regular agenda of IKMASA conducted during the month of Shawwal and is mandatory for all Arabic Literature students at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event was attended by Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Arabic Literature Program, Arief Budiman, S.S., M.A., an Arabic Literature lecturer, and the speaker, who is an alumnus of Arabic Literature UGM, Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

The event began with an opening by the MC, followed by welcoming speeches and the recitation of the Shawwal pledge by the Head of the Program, the Arabic Literature lecturer, the Chair of IKMASA 2024/2025, and representatives of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 cohorts. This was followed by a presentation by the speaker, moderated Q&A sessions, games, the presentation of souvenirs, a documentation session, and concluded with a closing.

The agenda discussed the theme “Weaving Harmony in Togetherness, to Strengthen the Foundation of Unity,” which can be summarized with the following quotes:

“Halal bihalal is a cultural product in Indonesia initiated by Abdul Wahab Chasbullah. It was first held in 1948 at the Merdeka Palace to reconcile DI/TII, Masyumi, Kartosuwiryo, and others to prevent division at that time.” – Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

“The blessing of halal bihalal is that it can strengthen the bonds of friendship between one another, between students and lecturers, maintain harmony, and reinforce togetherness.” – Ustadz Ibnus-Sakan Al-Faishal, S.S., M.Sc.

It is hoped that through this general lecture with the theme “Weaving Harmony in Togetherness, to Strengthen the Foundation of Unity,” Arabic Literature students will be able to maintain their bonds of friendship, thereby creating a sense of togetherness among each other.

SDGs 4 Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education | SDGs 4: Cultural diversity | SDGs 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDGs 1: Non-discrimination

American Literature is one of the courses in the Master’s Program in American Studies that uses American literary works from the classical era to Post-Modernism as the objects and materials for discussion. This American Literature class provides students with a new experience in exploring the relationship between American literary works and the country itself. Based on the understanding that the narrative of a literary work represents the author’s thoughts on the events they have experienced and the occurrences around them, this class presents various understandings of American literature and how it projects the state of society in each era, such as the Romanticism, Realism, and Harlem Renaissance eras.

In this lecture, the discussion began with an explanation of the Post-Modernism era, which emerged around the 1960s. With the development of new art forms like performance art as a result of World War II, other forms of art, including literary works, were also influenced, especially in terms of characteristics. Some of the characteristics explained in this session include how writers began to focus on the experiences of others with different backgrounds, or write about how power and ideology from those in power can influence society’s perception of their surroundings, while also raising awareness among the public about everything they believe in and hold dear.

Using Amanda Gorman’s work, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ which was recited during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, the class discussion connected the author, a young Black woman, with America, particularly in its real-world context. Through presentations and discussions between students and the professor, this class produced various interpretations of how this poem depicts American democracy from a minority perspective. After lengthy discussions, the result of these student-professor dialogues and interpretations was that, despite America’s many ‘sins’ in the past, especially towards Black people, this poem serves as a call for all Americans, regardless of race, to pass on a better democracy and country to future generations.

Besides conducting an in-depth discussion on the meaning of a literary work, the conversation also delved into the writing style of Black authors, who use certain linguistic structures, and the presence of intertextuality, or the use of writings from other Black authors to reinforce the message being conveyed. Moreover, the discussion covered the characteristics of post-modernist literature and how ‘The Hill We Climb’ embodies one of these post-modernist traits.

On January 25th 2024 at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, a Faculty Working Meeting was held. The meeting discussed strategies for achieving Performance Achievement Targets, while the location of the meeting was in rooms 707 and 709 on the 7th floor of the Soegondo building. Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si., directly chaired the meeting which was attended by all lecturers at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences for approximately 4 hours starting from 9.00 am. The meeting was held in a hybrid manner and was attended by a total of 154 lecturers as meeting participants.

The Performance Achievement Target itself contains many things regarding the performance of each faculty’s resources, some of which are about things that the faculty has, the growth that is occurring, and what needs to be improved. Strengthening partnership cooperation in tridharma activities involving lecturers and students, developing an integrated innovation ecosystem, as well as increasing recognition of the excellence of study programs at national and international levels were also important points in the meeting. There are 30 indicators mandated directly by universities to faculties. Furthermore, the mandate giver who is the Chancellor of Gadjah Mada University, Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K), Ph.D., through the Planning Directorate will monitor and evaluate the achievement of performance indicator targets periodically/every quarter.