Yogyakarta, April 7, 2026 – Students of the Master’s Program in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted a field study as part of the Museum Collection Conservation course at the Affandi Museum and the Kotagede area on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The activity was supervised by Mrs. Dr. Mahirta, M.A., as the course lecturer, alongside Mrs. Mimi Savitri, M.A., Ph.D., and was attended by 11 students. The field study formed part of the learning process, providing students with the opportunity to carry out direct observations, particularly in relation to the conservation of museum collections and cultural heritage areas.

At the Affandi Museum, students observed museum curatorial arrangements, collection management, and conservation practices applied to various collection objects. Through this activity, students were expected to become familiar with different types of museum collections and their handling methods, while also understanding that each object requires a conservation approach tailored to its specific characteristics.

The field study continued with a visit to the Kotagede area. At this site, students observed the cultural heritage landscape and identified various conditions related to preservation efforts, including recognizing cases encountered in the field and understanding possible approaches to addressing them.

Through this series of field activities, students gained an understanding of conservation principles and their application, both in museum contexts and in cultural heritage areas. In addition, the field study introduced fundamental aspects of museum management and curatorial concepts as part of preservation practices.

[Archeology, Muhammad Irsyad]

Amid the overwhelming flow of information, writing is often reduced to a mere technical skill—the ability to arrange words so they read smoothly. Yet in an academic context, writing is fundamentally an intellectual act: a way of thinking, responding, and ultimately taking a position in relation to reality.

In a workshop organized by the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. emphasized that students should not remain confined to the classroom. Ideas, he argued, must be brought into the public domain—into mass media and shared spaces where discourse is exchanged and debated. “Students need to be present in the public sphere through their writing. It is also important to include institutional affiliation as a form of academic responsibility,” Aprinus noted.

There is often a noticeable gap between academia and the wider public. Overly technical language, ideas circulating within limited circles, and a tendency to write merely for assignments can strip knowledge of its broader relevance. This is where the essay finds its significance.

Unlike formal academic writing, essays do not demand rigid structures. They allow space for subjectivity, reflection, and even doubt. Paradoxically, this is precisely where their strength lies—in the courage to take a stance, not merely present data.

However, this freedom is not without direction. Essay writing still requires strategy. There is a long, often invisible process behind it: reading, experimenting, failing, and trying again. Prof. Aprinus illustrated that the journey of writing can be winding—from critiques that fail to “break through” to discovering more nuanced, even ironic ways of expressing ideas.

Writing, then, is not only about the end result, but about the process of finding one’s voice.

One approach offered is to use literary works as a lens for interpreting reality. Fiction is no longer seen as a separate world, but as another way of understanding the real one. From there, writers can build bridges between imagination and concrete social conditions.

Depth, too, becomes essential. In an age that favors speed and superficiality, there is a call to slow down and immerse oneself in a single idea, figure, or perspective until it is fully internalized—not to imitate, but ultimately to move beyond it.

In this session, there was no conventional Q&A. Instead, participants were invited to reflect directly through reviews of the essays they had previously submitted. The feedback may have seemed simple, yet it touched on fundamental aspects: appropriate length, fresh and relevant titles, and the courage to take a clear stance.

What may appear technical, in fact, conceals deeper questions: for whom do we write, and why?

When students begin to write for mass media, they are not merely practicing a skill—they are assuming a role. They step into the public sphere as thinking individuals who do not simply consume information, but actively produce it.

At this point, writing becomes more than just an academic exercise. It becomes a path home—a way for intellectuals to reconnect with the very reality that gave rise to them.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Khotibul Umam]

Yogyakarta, April 1, 2026 – Another remarkable achievement has been accomplished by a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Alma Syahwalani, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, has been selected for the Google Student Ambassador (GSA) 2026 program organized by Google Indonesia.

Out of approximately 81,000 applicants from across Indonesia, only 2,000 students were chosen as Google Student Ambassadors for 2026. Alma is among the representatives from Universitas Gadjah Mada and the only student from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to be selected for this prestigious program. In total, 34 UGM students were selected as Google Student Ambassadors this year.

The Google Student Ambassador program is an exclusive initiative by Google that appoints selected students to represent the company within their campuses. Ambassadors serve as technology leaders and change agents who actively promote the use of digital productivity tools and artificial intelligence innovations, particularly Gemini technology, to support students’ learning and research activities.

Throughout the program, Google Student Ambassadors take on various strategic roles, including organizing workshops, creating AI-based educational content, leading campus technology communities, and assisting fellow students in optimizing the use of Google tools. The program will run for four months, from April to July 2026.

Alma’s achievement is not only a personal milestone but also brings pride to FIB UGM on a national level, particularly in the fields of digital literacy and technological innovation. Her participation is expected to have a positive impact on the campus environment by enhancing students’ understanding and use of digital technology. This aligns with efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through the advancement of digital literacy; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the application of AI and technological innovation in academic settings; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between higher education institutions and the global technology industry.

[Public Relations FIB UGM]

Yogyakarta, March 30, 2026  – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again achieved international recognition. Based on the results of the QS World University Rankings 2026 by Subject, six study programs at FIB UGM have successfully secured positions in the global rankings.

The achievement in the Arts and Humanities field, which is ranked 189th globally, reflects the consistent academic quality of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM in the realm of humanities. This accomplishment is further strengthened by six study programs that are also ranked globally, namely Anthropology (ranked 51–100), English Language & Literature (151–200), Modern Languages (151–200), Archaeology (151–200), History (151–200), as well as other fields that highlight FIB UGM’s strength in cultural and humanities studies on a global scale.

This achievement is a source of pride for Universitas Gadjah Mada and further affirms FIB UGM’s position as one of the leading centers for cultural and humanities studies worldwide. The ranking also reflects the contributions of various stakeholders in building a high-quality, innovative, and globally competitive learning ecosystem. This aligns with the commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive and excellent higher education.

In its official post on Instagram, FIB UGM expressed appreciation to all members of its academic community who contributed to this achievement. This success is expected to serve as motivation to continuously enhance the quality of education, research, and international collaboration in the future, while also supporting SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through the strengthening of global networks.

This achievement further reinforces FIB UGM’s commitment to advancing sustainable knowledge and cultural development that is relevant to global challenges, in line with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, particularly in terms of cultural preservation and strengthening community identity.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Human migration and displacement are increasingly relevant issues in this era of global cross-regional relations. On Friday, February 13, 2026, the Department of Anthropology at Gadjah Mada University held a film screening and discussion on this topic. When The Water Horse Seeks a New Home is a short film by director Andrianus “Oetjoe” Merdhi, who has produced many films about various communities in Indonesia. The film was also produced with the assistance of Gerhard Hoffstaedter from the University of Brisbane and Prof. Dr. Antje Missbach (Mbak Antje) from the University of Bielefeld. Broadly speaking, this film tells the story of the experiences of Rohingya refugees who crossed the sea to seek asylum in Aceh, Indonesia. The screening was attended by Mbak Antje and facilitated by Dr. Realisa Darathea Masardi (Mbak Lisa) as the event organizer from the Department of Anthropology at UGM.

The film begins with an exposition from the perspective of a Rohingya migrant who fled to Aceh. During their journey, the group faced many challenges, such as engine failure that forced them to drift at sea for several days, unable to control their direction. They received assistance from several patrol officers in the waters they crossed, but no one gave them permission to dock. After a long journey, they finally arrive on the coast of Aceh.

Upon arrival, many local residents express their rejection of their presence. During negotiations with residents over where to live, the refugees wait on the coast, near their boat, not allowed to go far. After that, they settle in a crowded and squalid refugee camp. The residents’ rejection was actually justified, due to concerns about the behavior of the Rohingya refugees. However, there were also residents who empathized with these refugees. After the refugees moved to the camp, he found a hippopotamus toy belonging to one of the refugee children. Some time later, he tried to return the toy, but it turned out that the child and her family had left the camp and could not be contacted.

The empathy shown stems from a sense of shared destiny, because he himself was once a refugee. The Aceh war forced him to leave his home and family. So, he has experienced what the Rohingya refugees are experiencing today. This perspective shows the human side of this conflict, and reveals that many similar experiences have been endured by communities in Indonesia itself.

After the screening, Ms. Antje opened a discussion and QnA session with the audience. A lively discussion ensued, focusing on how civilians can respond and help these refugees. The discussion also touched on how the state can handle this crisis, balancing the interests of its citizens with providing humanitarian assistance to refugees. After the discussion, the event concluded with the Department of Anthropology presenting a memento to Ms. Antje.

Author: Amadeus Abhirama Paramanindita