The Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held an Inauguration Night for New Students of the Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year at Pondok As-Salam Kalimasada, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, on Saturday–Sunday, 14–15 February 2026. Carrying the theme “Our Literature, One Family,” the event marked the initial momentum in shaping the academic identity of master’s students.

The main session commenced on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (WIB) and featured the Head of the Master’s Program in Literature, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. In his remarks, he emphasized that at the master’s level, students are expected to demonstrate a higher degree of academic maturity.

“Master’s students are not only required to master course materials. They must also understand the history and philosophy of UGM as the foundation for developing academic attitudes and ethics,” he stated.

Aprinus also highlighted the importance of building a collaborative academic culture. He stressed that an open tradition of discussion, accompanied by mutual support across cohorts, is a prerequisite for fostering a healthy, productive, and sustainable scholarly community.

The event also featured a sharing session with senior students—Khotibul Umam, Marsya Kamila, and Kharisma Qurrota A’yun—who shared their experiences regarding time management, academic dynamics, and strategies for preparing research proposals as initial preparation for graduate studies.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Professor of Philosophy at UGM, Prof. Drs. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, M.Hum., Ph.D., who elaborated on UGM’s Five Pillars as the philosophical foundation of the university. He explained that UGM is grounded in five principal identities: a National University, a University of Struggle, a Pancasila University, a People-Oriented University, and a Center of Culture. These pillars serve as the institutional direction as well as ethical guidelines for the entire academic community.

“UGM is not merely an educational institution, but a space for shaping the nation’s character. Therefore, its core values must be embodied in students’ daily conduct,” he remarked.

During the discussion session, Mukhtasar Syamsuddin also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary openness, particularly for literature students. According to him, the complexity of social and cultural issues demands cross-disciplinary dialogue; therefore, students should not construct rigid boundaries between literature, philosophy, and other fields of study. This perspective is highly relevant to the reflective and humanistic character of literary studies.

The main session concluded at 9:30 p.m. and was followed by performances by the 2025/2026 Even Semester cohort, including poetry readings and musical performances that strengthened solidarity among members. After the evening program, participants rested and continued the agenda the following day.

On the second day, Sunday (15/2), activities began with congregational dawn prayer, followed by a morning walk and group games designed to reinforce togetherness. The event concluded with a session for sharing hopes and a group photo before participants returned to their respective homes.

Through this inauguration night, the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, reaffirmed its commitment to postgraduate education that is oriented not only toward academic achievement but also toward the cultivation of integrity, interdisciplinary awareness, and moral responsibility in upholding the university’s core values. The event marked the beginning of the intellectual journey of 33 new students in developing critical, reflective literary studies that contribute meaningfully to society.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Rini Febriani Hauri]

Another international achievement has been secured by a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. M Deni Maulana, a student of the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program, won First Place at the Korean Culture International Poetry Contest Jeonbuk 3 held in Jeonju, South Korea, on November 28–29, 2025.

The international Korean poetry recitation competition brought together 48 participants from 16 countries, representing diverse academic and cultural backgrounds. The event was organized by the Jeonbuk Foreign Language Support Volunteer Association in collaboration with the Jeonju Jeonbuk City Government and the Department of Culture and Tourism. It aimed to introduce Korean literature to a global audience while strengthening cultural exchange through poetry.

Deni Maulana’s achievement is particularly noteworthy as it was accomplished while he was participating in a Student Exchange Double Major program at Jeonbuk National University under the Global Korean Scholarship Outstanding Student scheme. In the competition, Deni performed the Korean poem 빈방 (Empty Room) by Kim Jae-jin, a reflective work that demands emotional sensitivity and strong proficiency in the Korean language.

The competition consisted of rigorous selection and evaluation stages conducted by a panel of professional judges. Assessment criteria included accuracy of Korean pronunciation, mastery of intonation, expressive delivery, and depth of understanding of the poem’s meaning. Through an expressive yet controlled performance, Deni was considered successful in conveying the poem’s message to a cross-cultural audience.

Based on the judges’ final evaluation, First Place was awarded to M Deni Maulana from Indonesia. Second Place went to Sanya Koirala from Nepal, while Third Place was earned by Kato Minenhle from South Africa. The organizers stated that the finalists’ performances reflected a strong appreciation among the younger international generation for Korean literature.

This accomplishment represents not only a personal milestone for Deni but also highlights the active role of Indonesian students in fostering cultural dialogue at the global level. Through literature as a medium of expression, student participation in international forums such as this reinforces the values of mutual understanding, diversity, and international cooperation, which are essential to building an inclusive and sustainable future.

Source: M. Deni Maulana
[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Thursday, February 29, 2026 – ICESCO has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening linguistic and educational policies by hosting an international forum titled “التخطيط اللغوي والتخطيط التربوية” (Language and Educational Planning). The event was held virtually via Zoom, drawing participants from across the globe.

The forum brought together a diverse group of academics, educators, researchers, and students from Indonesia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, and several other nations. It served as a collaborative platform to explore the nuances of language and educational strategy. During the session, keynote speaker Dr. Ahmed Al-Rahban shared profound insights into the symbiotic relationship between linguistic policy and formal education systems.

Language planning was highlighted not merely as a tool for preserving national and native languages, but as a cornerstone of sustainable educational strategies. The discussion underscored how linguistic policies directly influence curriculum development, teaching quality, and the formation of cultural identity in an increasingly globalized world. Through interactive dialogues, participants exchanged experiences and best practices tailored to the unique educational landscapes of their respective countries.

The virtual nature of the event facilitated a broad and inclusive cross-border exchange. Despite the digital format, the enthusiasm of the attendees was evident through the dynamic Q&A sessions and active discussions that took place throughout the program.

Through this initiative, ICESCO aims to spark strategic ideas and insights that contribute to the refinement of language and education policies worldwide. This forum is part of ICESCO’s ongoing efforts to bolster international cooperation in the fields of education, linguistics, and culture.

Author: Indana Zulfa Maulida

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) recorded a significant academic achievement by placing four disciplines at the top national rank in the World University Rankings by Subject 2026 released by Times Higher Education (THE). These four disciplines contributed to two broad subject areas that also positioned UGM as the leading university nationally, namely Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities.

Based on the rankings, UGM secured first place nationally in the Social Sciences and Arts and Humanities categories. Within these two subject areas, FIB UGM contributed four leading disciplines: anthropology, languages, literature and linguistics, history, and archaeology.

Times Higher Education is a global higher education ranking organization that has provided university performance data since 2004. Its rankings are widely used by students, academics, university leaders, governments, and industry stakeholders to assess the performance of higher education institutions worldwide.

As stated on the official Times Higher Education website, subject rankings are designed to provide a more specific picture of institutional strengths in particular fields of study. “We create university rankings to assess the performance of higher education institutions on the global stage and to provide a reference source that helps readers understand the diverse missions and achievements of universities,” Times Higher Education explained in its official statement.

The World University Rankings by Subject cover 11 broad subject areas encompassing a total of 148 academic disciplines. Although they use the same methodology as the THE World University Rankings, the weighting of indicators in the subject rankings is adjusted to reflect the characteristics of each field, ensuring a fairer and more relevant assessment.

For the Social Sciences category in 2026, the assessment includes disciplines such as communication and media studies, politics and international studies including development studies, sociology, geography, and anthropology. Meanwhile, the Arts and Humanities category covers languages, literature and linguistics, history, philosophy, theology, architecture, archaeology, as well as performing arts and design.

The achievement of these four disciplines at FIB UGM reflects the faculty’s consistent development of strong and relevant academic and humanities research in response to global social dynamics. This accomplishment also underscores the role of higher education institutions in producing knowledge, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening cross-cultural understanding as essential foundations for sustainable and equitable development in the future. 

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 21 January 2026 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a Maguyubagya Gathering for Postgraduate Graduates at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium. The event served as a moment of fellowship and appreciation for the academic achievements of 46 graduates from the master’s and doctoral programs who participated in UGM’s January 2026 graduation period.

The gathering was attended by university and faculty leaders, lecturers, graduates, and their families. In her remarks, the Vice-Rector for Education and Student Affairs of UGM, Dr. Nursaktiningrum, M.Hum., emphasized that postgraduate education extends beyond the completion of theses or dissertations.
“The academic process is not merely about producing a thesis or dissertation, but also about shaping scholarly character and intellectual integrity. Knowledge becomes meaningful when it is brought to life through community engagement, research, and contributions to society,” she stated.

Dr. Nursaktiningrum also highlighted the achievement of efficient study completion at the doctoral level. According to her, one graduate was able to complete doctoral studies in a relatively short period.
“The fastest study duration at the doctoral level is three years, four months, and seven days. This demonstrates that pursuing doctoral studies does not necessarily require an excessively long time,” she explained.

Based on faculty records, the highest Grade Point Average (GPA) at the master’s level was achieved by Hanina Naura Fadhila from the Master’s Program in Anthropology, with a GPA of 3.93. Meanwhile, the shortest study duration at the master’s level was recorded by Iftinan Rose Putri Safana from the Master’s Program in Literature, who completed her studies in one year, two months, and eight days.
At the doctoral level, the highest GPA was attained by Erlin Kartikasari and Sahruman from the Doctoral Program in Humanities, with a GPA of 3.77, while the shortest study duration was achieved by Lalu Erwan Husnan from the same program, completing his studies in three years, four months, and seven days.

Representing outstanding graduates, Hanina Naura Fadhila expressed her appreciation to the faculty and lecturers for fostering an open and critical academic environment throughout her studies.
“I would like to thank the faculty and our lecturers for providing us with the space to speak the truth. We were able to engage in days-long actions without fear of academic sanctions, although silent pressures from those who disagreed still lingered. In the classroom, we learned to construct logic and engage in dialectical thinking to bridge theory and practice, as well as to understand the impacts of human phenomena and humanity itself,” she said.

The Maguyubagya gathering marked not only the culmination of academic journeys but also a reflection on a learning process that demands perseverance, integrity, and social responsibility. Through the graduates’ academic achievements and efficient study completion, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing scholars who excel intellectually while remaining sensitive to humanitarian issues and prepared to contribute meaningfully to society in a sustainable manner.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]