“Well-being is not merely a matter of finances; it is a state in which everyone at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences can work and study in a healthy and safe environment, feel valued, have room to grow, and know they are not alone when facing challenges.” This was stated by Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., in her remarks during the Dean Handover Ceremony at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. As the Dean-elect for the 2026–2031 term, she also expressed her gratitude to the Dean serving the 2021–2025 term and the entire team for their excellent collaboration. It is hoped that the achievements realized over the past five years will serve as a solid foundation for the incoming dean’s team.

Her address at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium that afternoon was witnessed by members of the Faculty Senate, lecturers, administrative staff, the head of the Faculty Student Executive Board, heads of departmental student associations, and student representatives from semi-autonomous bodies. Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., acting as the Senate Chair, opened the Dean Handover Ceremony.

Remarks were also delivered by the outgoing Dean of FIB UGM (2021–2026), Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si. In his speech, he acknowledged the solidarity of the entire academic community, which has enabled FIB UGM to reach its current milestones. “We stand upon a strong foundation and strong leadership—qualities we must uphold for as long as this faculty exists,” Prof. Setiadi emphasized to the audience. He affirmed that under the leadership of Dr. Under Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, FIB UGM will continue to evolve into an academic environment that is increasingly inclusive, innovative, and globally competitive.

The solemn ceremony proceeded with the signing of the official handover minutes and the transfer of the office handover report from Prof. Setiadi to Dr. Nur Saktiningrum. The proceedings concluded with a prayer and the offering of congratulations by senate members, faculty, administrative staff, and student representatives in attendance. With this official handover, FIB UGM is poised to embark on a new chapter under the leadership of the 2026–2031 term, focusing on well-being, academic integration, and a safe environment for growth for all members of the faculty.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]

Yogyakarta, 11 September 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully hosted the 2026 International Conference on Linguistic Studies on 10–11 September 2026. Held at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium and six parallel-session rooms, the conference brought together scholars, researchers, students, and language practitioners under the theme “Form, Meaning, and Function of Language in the Era of Digital Transformation.”

The conference served as an international forum for exchanging ideas, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives, and advancing linguistic scholarship amid the rapid development of digital technologies.

The opening ceremony was officially inaugurated by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada on Thursday, 10 September 2026. The first plenary session featured distinguished speakers Jerome Samuel, Xu Yun Yu, and Prof. Dr. Suhandano, followed by two rounds of parallel sessions covering a wide range of topics in contemporary linguistic research.

On the second day, Friday, 11 September 2026, participants attended additional parallel sessions before joining the closing plenary session, which featured Zara Maxwell-Smith, Nguyen Tanh Tuan, and Prof. Dr. Faruk. Throughout the two-day event, participants engaged in lively discussions on theoretical and applied linguistics, language technology, sociolinguistics, discourse studies, and other emerging issues related to language in the digital era.

One of the conference’s most memorable moments was the valedictory address delivered by Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A., marking his retirement from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Following a commemorative video presentation, Professor Wijana reflected on his academic journey and contributions to linguistic scholarship, making the session a meaningful highlight of the conference before the official closing ceremony.

The organizing committee extends its sincere appreciation to all keynote speakers, presenters, moderators, participants, and supporting institutions for their valuable contributions to the success of the conference. The active participation of scholars from diverse institutions and countries demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing linguistic research through international collaboration.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences also expresses its deepest gratitude and congratulations to Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A. on his retirement, honoring his remarkable dedication and invaluable contributions to the development of linguistics, higher education, and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

May the spirit of scholarship, collaboration, and academic service fostered through this conference continue to inspire future research, innovation, and international partnerships in the field of linguistics.

Author: Magister Linguistik

The international workshop “Commodity, Plantation, and Colonialism in Indonesia: Current Research in Social, Economic, and Architectural History” will be held on July 23–24, 2026, at Pavillon 333, the Architecture Museum of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. This workshop is part of the exhibition series “Nge-Téh / Tea Time: Architectures of the Colonial Commodity Chain from Indonesia to Germany, 19th Century,” which runs from July 23–26, 2026. The workshop brings together scholars from various disciplines engaged in the study of commodity history, plantations, and colonialism. This event aims to foster dialogue encompassing architectural, social, economic, and cultural history from a historical perspective, spanning the early modern to the contemporary periods that shaped the tea commodity chain from Indonesia to Europe. Through an interdisciplinary lens, the workshop explores how colonial plantation systems not only shaped the physical landscape but also created social, economic, and cultural relationships whose influence is still felt today.

This workshop was held in conjunction with a visit by Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi, known as the “Historical Anthropologist.” He was invited to serve as the keynote speaker and spoke about plantations in Indonesia from 1870 to 2020. His contributions to the advancement of knowledge serve as a fine example for students. Through research rooted in the experiences of local communities, knowledge of Indonesia’s colonial history can be enriched and introduced to an international audience as part of efforts to foster a more inclusive understanding of global history.

In addition to the discussion sessions, a “Nge-Téh / Tea Time” exhibition was also held. The exhibition explored the history of tea as a colonial commodity, from the plantations in West Java, through the processing and distribution via Batavia and Hamburg, to its consumption by the public in Germany. A variety of historical archives, photographs, tea trade artifacts, ceramic artworks, and documentary films were displayed to illustrate Indonesia’s connection to global trade networks. The exhibition also underscored that although Indonesia was never a German colony, the tea trade linked the two regions within the global colonial economic system.

This workshop serves as an important forum for strengthening international collaboration in the fields of colonial history, anthropology, architecture, and Southeast Asian studies. The discussions that emerged not only shed light on the colonial past but also encouraged critical reflection on sustainability, historical justice, and the importance of incorporating local communities’ perspectives in understanding the history of global commodities.

Author: Dewi Widyastuti

Picture: Prof. Pujo Semedi

SLEMAN — The Malam Inisiasi for new students of the Master’s in Literature Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), offered more than an introduction to academic life. It became a space where students came together, got to know one another, and expressed themselves through a diverse range of artistic performances.

Held under the theme “Antara Kata dan Kita: Sebuah Cerita yang Ditulis Bersama,” the event took place on August 28–29, 2026, at Pondok A. Salam, Kalimasada, Sleman, and brought together new students of the Master’s in Literature Program for the 2026/2027 Academic Year.

The evening opened with remarks from Head of the Master’s in Literature Program Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, S.S., M.Hum., followed by a session on UGM’s philosophy and institutional values delivered by Prof. Drs. M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, M.Hum., Ph.D. of Arts.

Students were also introduced to several academic initiatives within the program, including Academic Student Networking (ASN) and International Dissemination.

The artistic performances became one of the evening’s highlights. Rather than relying on elaborate staging or formal performance facilities, the students created an intimate and spontaneous setting where they could share their talents, ideas, and personal experiences.

Alya performed Nadin Amizah’s “Bertaut,” while Deni presented a musical interpretation of his own poetry. Chaca took the audience through a personal story in an English-language storytelling performance.

Adit, Nurdin, Riki, and Veto presented a theatrical piece addressing a range of social issues, including environmental and political concerns, accompanied by poetic verses. Fajri followed with a poetry reading, while Eloi brought the performances to a close with a dance.

The range of performances underscored the many ways literature and art can be expressed—not only through writing, but also through voice, music, movement, the body, and personal experience. For the students, the simple stage became a space to introduce themselves while sharing their perspectives and creativity.

Reflecting on the event, Aprinus Salam described the students’ performances through the idea of “radical art” and “zero-rupiah art.”

For Aprinus, radical art is art that is free from political and economic agendas. It is created simply as an act of artistic expression and as an affirmation of friendship and community.

One of its defining characteristics, he argues, is the absence of monetary exchange. The artists perform without payment, while the audience attends without paying. Art, in this sense, is not created for profit or accumulation, but for the sake of expression itself.

Art can also become a way of strengthening solidarity within a community. It allows people to express friendship, affection, and a sense of belonging, while at the same time revealing something of their individual character.

“The courage to free oneself from that is itself a form of radicalizing life,” Aprinus wrote.

He further noted that art is often confined to designated spaces governed by administrative requirements and formal structures. When this happens, art—which can originally function as a form of resistance—can instead become commercial entertainment and a commodity.

Against this tendency, Aprinus sees zero-rupiah radical art as a form of authentic resistance. Poetry, prose, and literature can emerge without being shaped by commercial interests, external agendas, or institutional co-optation. What remains is the experience of art itself: admiration, wonder, and emotional resonance.

That spirit, he said, was evident in the performances presented by the new Master’s in Literature students during the Malam Inisiasi on August 28.

Aprinus acknowledged that putting on a performance requires preparation and practice. Yet technical skills alone cannot produce everything that makes an artistic performance meaningful.

“What cannot be trained is the ability to bring forth spirit, personal character, and profound feeling,” he wrote.

His reflection captures what made the evening distinctive. In the midst of an event welcoming students into their new academic community, art became a space for students to reveal their personalities, share their experiences, express their ideas, and build solidarity.

Malam Inisiasi thus became more than a welcoming event. Through performances created and presented by the students themselves, the evening turned into a shared stage where words, voices, bodies, and ideas came together—becoming, in its own way, a story written together.

Author: Khotibul Umam

Yogyakarta— The Literary Camp with Nature and the Universe, organized by the Master’s Program in Literary Studies at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), at Pondok A. Salam, Kalimasada, featured a Literary Oration session on Friday evening, August 14. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., the session brought together two speakers from the academic community of FIB UGM: Muhammad Lutfi Dwi Kurniawan, a doctoral student in Humanities at FIB UGM, and Rini Febriani Hauri, a master’s student in Literary Studies at FIB UGM.

The Literary Oration was an important part of the camp, providing a space for reflection on literature, the relationship between humans and nature, technological developments, and the future of the humanities.

In his presentation, “Unveiling the Pulse of the Text: Biopoetics and the Crisis of the Human–Nature Boundary in Literature,” Muhammad Lutfi Dwi Kurniawan introduced biopoetics as a way of exploring the relationship between life, human beings, nature, and literary works.

Broadly speaking, biopoetics is an interdisciplinary approach that brings together biology—the study of life—with poetics, literature, the arts, and other forms of creative expression. It opens up a way of understanding literature not simply as a product of language and culture, but as part of a wider conversation about life and humanity’s relationship with the biological world around us.

In his presentation, Lutfi offered the Achilles tendon as an intriguing example. This important part of the human body connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The name Achilles comes from Achilles, the legendary Greek hero immortalized in Homer’s epic Iliad. The example illustrates how traces of literature and mythology can become embedded in the language through which human beings describe and understand the world—even in scientific terminology.

From this perspective, biopoetics becomes particularly relevant as the boundary between humans and nature is increasingly being questioned. Literature can provide a space to explore how people understand life, how nature is represented, and how relationships between humans and other living beings are shaped through language, imagination, and experience.

The theme “Unveiling the Pulse of the Text” thus takes literature into a broader intellectual territory, bringing textual studies into conversation with questions of life and the environment. Biopoetics allows literature to engage with scientific knowledge while also inviting us to reconsider the human position—not as something entirely separate from nature, but as part of a larger web of life.

Meanwhile, Rini Febriani Hauri presented “Reading Literature in the Age of Algorithms: Experience, Interpretation, and the Future of the Humanities.” Her presentation invited participants to reconsider the experience of reading literature amid rapid digital transformation and the relentless flow of information.

During her presentation, Rini quoted Franz Kafka:

“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.”

The quotation offered a starting point for thinking about reading as more than an act of gathering information. Reading can be an experience that moves us, unsettles us, and even transforms the way we understand ourselves and the world.

In a digital culture increasingly defined by speed, where information arrives continuously and algorithms help determine what we see and read, Rini encouraged participants to read slowly. The invitation to slow down becomes a form of pause, and perhaps even a quiet resistance to the pressure to move constantly from one piece of information to another and to form immediate judgments.

Reading slowly gives the reader space to allow a text to work its way inward. It creates an opportunity to attend to language, discover layers of meaning, question one’s own experience, and encounter interpretations that might otherwise be missed in hurried reading.

In the age of algorithms, the experience of reading therefore becomes increasingly significant. As technology becomes capable of producing, circulating, and processing an almost limitless amount of text, the human capacity to read, feel, interpret, and make meaning remains something worth preserving.

Together, the two presentations brought into focus two important questions facing contemporary literature: the relationship between humans and nature, and the relationship between humans and technology. On the one hand, biopoetics invites us to reconsider the boundary between humanity and the living world. On the other, the discussion of literature in the age of algorithms asks us to consider how technology is reshaping the experience of reading and interpreting literary works.

Bringing these two themes together broadened the intellectual scope of the Literary Camp. Literature was not treated merely as an activity of reading and writing, but also as a space for understanding a changing world, questioning the boundaries of human experience, and reconsidering the future relationship between humans, nature, and technology.

Held at night, the Literary Oration also formed an integral part of the distinctive atmosphere of the Literary Camp. After spending the afternoon outdoors and experiencing the natural surroundings of Kalimasada, participants gathered to listen, discuss, and exchange perspectives on literature and the wider questions of human life.

The Literary Camp thus offered more than an opportunity to camp and socialize. It created an intellectual space where literary works, ideas, nature, science, technology, and human experience could meet within a single shared experience.

Author: Khotibul Umam