Dili, Timor Leste, 12 February 2026 – The visit of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to Timor Leste, led by Prof. Dr. Muti’ah Amini, marked a strategic effort to expand institutional networks and strengthen academic, cultural, and educational diplomacy collaborations with partner institutions. Following a meeting with Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), the UGM delegation continued its agenda with a visit to the Indonesian Cultural Center (PBI) located at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Dili.

The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Jose Paulo, staff member of the Indonesian Cultural Center. The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere, highlighting the potential for collaboration between UGM and PBI as part of broader efforts to strengthen academic and cultural relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste. Several strategic areas of cooperation were identified during the discussion:

1. Internship Program for UGM Students
The Indonesian Cultural Center expressed its openness to hosting UGM students for internship programs focusing on the teaching of Indonesian culture, arts, and traditions to local communities. This initiative is expected to provide students with practical experience while reinforcing Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy mission in Timor Leste.

2. Development of a “UGM Corner” at the Indonesian Cultural Center
PBI welcomed the proposal to establish a dedicated “UGM Corner” featuring infographics, educational promotional materials, and a concise institutional profile of UGM. The presence of this corner is anticipated to enhance UGM’s visibility in Timor Leste and increase prospective students’ interest in its academic programs.

3. Donation of Indonesian Book Collections
The UGM delegation also discussed plans to donate Indonesian publications to enrich the library collection of the Indonesian Cultural Center. This initiative aims to support literacy development, improve access to information, and foster greater understanding among the Timorese community of developments in Indonesian knowledge and culture.

4. Facilitation of Research and Community Engagement Collaboration
PBI conveyed its readiness to facilitate collaboration between UGM and relevant institutions in Timor Leste in the areas of research, community engagement, and cultural diplomacy initiatives. Such collaboration is viewed as strategic in strengthening Indonesia–Timor Leste academic relations while contributing meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge and cultural practices.

This visit underscores UGM’s commitment to playing an active role in educational and cultural diplomacy within Southeast Asia. The meeting with the Indonesian Cultural Center also opens long-term opportunities for multidisciplinary and socially impactful collaborative initiatives.

Contributor : Adwidya S. Yoga, S.Pd., M.A.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, February, 11, 2026 – Universitas Gadjah Mada officially inaugurated Collabhub by ParagonCorp, located at the Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas UGM. The establishment of this collaborative space marks a strategic step in strengthening the ecosystem of innovation, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning within the university.

UGM Rector, Ova Emilia, stated that the inauguration was both a joyful and special occasion. She expressed her appreciation to ParagonCorp for bringing new hope in the form of a space dedicated to networking, learning, and enhancing student productivity.

“Wherever we are, we always learn from and teach one another,” she remarked. She hopes that Collabhub will become a productive and inclusive collaborative space capable of generating positive impacts for students, the broader community, and the world at large.

Collabhub is designed as a multifunctional collaboration zone, featuring a mini library, quiet areas for focused work, and spaces for discussion and inspiration. The facility is expected to serve as a co-learning hub that fosters idea exchange, creativity, and character development among students.

Chief Executive of the ParagonCorp Institute, Salman Subakat, expressed his heartfelt emotion, having followed the development journey of GIK since its early stages. He emphasized the importance of nurturing students’ sensitivity and empathy throughout their learning process.

“As Javanese people say, we should not merely feel capable, but be capable of feeling,” he noted, underscoring the significance of human values in collaboration and innovation.

Meanwhile, the President Director of GIK UGM, Alfatika, explained that the co-learning hub initiative had been planned since last year. According to her, every meaningful initiative requires time before it can come to fruition. She reaffirmed that GIK is a home for students to grow and create authentically, with a strong commitment to providing the best space for the academic community.

On this occasion, ParagonCorp also symbolically presented an endowment fund of IDR 25 billion to support the sustainable development of student innovation and creativity. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting as an official mark of the opening of Collabhub by ParagonCorp.

This collaboration also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the provision of inclusive and adaptive collaborative learning spaces; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the strengthening of innovation infrastructure based on university–industry partnerships; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), reflected in the strategic synergy between UGM and ParagonCorp in building a sustainable and impactful learning ecosystem.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Dili, Timor-Leste, February 12, 2026 – Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a cooperation meeting with Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) on Thursday (12/2) at 11:00 a.m. local time. The meeting marked an initial step in exploring strategic collaboration in the fields of culture, language, literature, history, and tourism.

The UGM delegation was warmly welcomed by Ms. Celine, a 1992 Biology alumna of UGM, and Prof. Armindo Maia, the first Rector of the former Universitas Timor Timur, now UNTL. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere, highlighted by an exchange of experiences from their time studying in Yogyakarta, reflecting the long-standing historical ties between the two institutions.

In the opening session, UNTL presented the history of its institutional relationship with UGM, including the establishment of the Indonesian Cultural Studies Center, which holds significant potential to be further developed as a platform for collaboration in the tridharma of higher education—education, research, and community service. The meeting was attended by UNTL’s leadership, including the Rector, Vice Rector for Cooperation, university founders, Head of the Cultural Studies Program, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, and representatives from other faculties.

UNTL Rector, Prof. Dr. Eng. Joviano António da Costa, M.Eng., expressed the institution’s commitment to strengthening university-to-university (U2U) partnerships, particularly in the areas of culture, language, tourism, and related disciplines that offer mutual benefits.

As Head of the UGM Delegation, Prof. Dr. Muti’ah Amini presented the profiles of academic programs within UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences, along with several ongoing academic initiatives. She also highlighted UNTL’s strategic plan to develop its History Study Program through collaboration with UNESCO and UGM’s History Study Program. This collaboration is considered strategically important for strengthening academic capacity, curriculum development, and research quality enhancement.

Beyond the field of history, UNTL emphasized the need to strengthen human resources in the tourism sector, including human resource management, attraction management, and destination development. The Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at UNTL noted that opportunities for joint research and collaborative publications are widely open and have the potential to provide substantial contributions to both institutions. The Dean of the Faculty of Education also expressed hope that the faculty would be integrated into the cooperation framework currently being formulated. Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Culture, Ms. Celine, underscored the urgency of cross-regional research collaboration in arts and culture to enrich academic perspectives and strengthen international networks.

Both parties agreed that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would serve as an essential initial step to ensure that the implementation of collaborative programs proceeds legally, systematically, and sustainably across the agreed fields. This collaboration aligns with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through academic capacity building and knowledge exchange, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through competency-based tourism sector development, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthened international cooperation networks.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue dialogue in order to further strengthen the historical, academic, and programmatic ties between UGM and UNTL, while expanding both institutions’ contributions to the advancement of knowledge and culture in Southeast Asia.

Contributor : Adwiya S. Yoga, S.Pd., M.A.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, January 24, 2026 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), hosted the 2026 The 1st CAUGM Korean Festival, a cultural event that offered the general public a hands-on experience of Korean culture. The festival was held on Friday (January 24) at the Margono Corridor, FIB UGM, and was open to anyone with an interest in Korea.

Korean Festival 2026 was a collaborative initiative between students of Universitas Gadjah Mada and Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea. The event aimed to strengthen cross-national cultural relations while serving as a platform for cultural exchange between Indonesia and Korea through an educational and entertaining approach.

A wide range of programs was featured during the festival, including Taste Korean Cuisines, which allowed visitors to sample Korean traditional foods in limited portions, as well as cultural experience booths that offered direct exposure to Korean culture. Visitors had the opportunity to try on Hanbok, traditional Korean attire, and to learn about traditional Korean musical instruments through interactive booths provided at the venue.

In addition, the event was enlivened by special performances from UGM and CAU students, as well as a Random Play Dance session that was open to visitors and became a major attraction, particularly for fans of Korean pop culture. The entire series of events began at 10:00 a.m. (WIB) and was open to the public without any mandatory registration.

The implementation of Korean Festival 2026 aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through the provision of cross-cultural learning spaces beyond the classroom, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through international collaboration between educational institutions in Indonesia and South Korea. The festival also reflects the spirit of SDG 11, which focuses on building inclusive communities by providing safe and open public spaces for cultural interaction.

Through Korean Festival 2026, FIB UGM reaffirmed its commitment as an academic space that supports cultural diplomacy, global exchange, and the strengthening of cross-cultural understanding among students and the wider community.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Javanese script is one of the traditional writing systems in Indonesia that is still known and used today. This script is classified as an abugida or syllabic script and is part of the Kawi script family (Maulana, 2020). Since ancient times, Javanese script has played an important role in documenting various knowledge, cultural values, and literary works recorded in Javanese manuscripts.

Technological developments and globalization have had a significant impact on patterns of communication within society. The increasingly dominant use of the Latin alphabet, particularly among the younger generation, has led to the Javanese script and other regional scripts being marginalized. The lack of use in everyday life has the potential to result in a decline in the ability to read and write Javanese script among future generations.

This situation calls for revitalization efforts that can adapt regional scripts to the changing times. This revitalization is an effort to introduce the script symbolically and encourage its active use today.

One form of Javanese script revitalization that is relevant to technological developments is through the provision of Javanese fonts. Fonts are digital representations of scripts that enable their use on various platforms, such as computers, devices, digital documents, and online media.

The existence of Javanese fonts facilitates the learning and teaching process, as the script can be written, read, and studied in a practical manner. In addition, Javanese fonts also open up opportunities for the use of script as an aesthetic element in graphic design and creative works. 

To date, various Javanese fonts are available and accessible through various media. However, in order for their use to be sustainable, both for writing and aesthetic purposes, the use of license-free Javanese fonts is a more appropriate choice.

License-free fonts allow for widespread use without legal barriers or licensing fees. This greatly supports the use of Javanese script by educational institutions, cultural communities, designers, and the general public. 

As a form of support for the preservation of Javanese script, in 2020 the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Office released a Javanese font developed by Apri Nugroho. There are two types of fonts introduced, namely nyk Ngayogyan and nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg. Both fonts can be downloaded via the following links:

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan.font

• Fon nyk Ngayogyan Jejeg

https://aksaradinusantara.com/fonta/nyk-ngayogyan-jejeg.font

In addition to providing fonts, the developers also provide installation guidelines, typing instructions, and keyboard layouts. These guidelines are intended to make it easier for users to install and use Javanese fonts correctly and consistently.

The use of Javanese script is also linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 17. In the context of SDG 4 on quality education, the existence of Javanese script supports the provision of inclusive, contextual, and locally-based teaching materials, thereby facilitating the learning process and improving students’ cultural literacy. Meanwhile, the achievement of these goals cannot be separated from SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals, because the development and utilization of Javanese phonetic script requires collaboration between the government, academics, technology developers, cultural communities, and the wider community.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Editor : Haryo Untoro

Bibliography

Maulana, R. (2020). Aksara-Aksara di Nusatara: Seri Ensiklopedia. Writing Tradition Project