SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 5: Gender Equality | SDGs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the Department of Anthropology invited Eric C. Thompson, a lecturer from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the National University of Singapore (NUS), to discuss his latest book titled The Story of Southeast Asia (2024). The book discussion event, attended by the academic community within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), provided fresh perspectives for the participants on the historical materialism approach in contemporary anthropological studies. On this occasion, Thompson provided a general overview of the book’s content and arguments about several sections he found particularly interesting when discussing the Southeast Asian region.

The book The Story of Southeast Asia uses historical and anthropological perspectives to examine the diversity of traditions and cultures within contemporary Southeast Asian communities, highlighting a long process. Cultural contacts between communities, established since the era of Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, the introduction of Islam through trade, and the influence of European colonial occupation have uniquely shaped the identity and cultural practices and traditions in Southeast Asia. Through his presentation, Thompson demonstrated how these processes illustrate Southeast Asian people’s agency and the formation of social and economic networks marked by trade. The creation of these networks is considered the beginning of the formation of cultural and social identities in Southeast Asia. After the book’s content presentation by the author, Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi, acting as the moderator, guided the Q&A session, which received enthusiastic responses from the attendees. Some questions prompted the author and discussion participants to reflect on how the process of identity formation requires sensitivity and critical thinking towards data, documents, and artifacts to provide historical and anthropological interpretations.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SGDs 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta (06/03/2024) – After spending the month of Ramadan full of wisdom, it is time to celebrate the blessings and warmth of Syawalan. The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program held a Syawalan event with great joy and a spirit of togetherness. This event took place in the hallway of the 4th floor of the Margono building on May 2, 2024, starting at 04.00 PM WIB until completion, attended by students from the 2020-2023 batch along with all the lecturers.

The festivity of the syawalan event was warmly opened by Bagus Ulin Nuha, a student from the class of 2023 who acted as the announcer of the event. Followed by remarks from Gilang Cahyo Nusantara, as the head of the Kamastawa Department Student Association (HMJ), and Dr. Daru Winarti, M. Hum. as the head of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. In her speech, Dr. Daru Winarti, M. Hum. expressed her gratitude for the presence and togetherness that was established in this special moment.

After the speeches, it was followed by the reading of the Syawalan pledge led by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a 2023 student, and followed by all attendees. The syawalan event was also enlivened with a tausiah delivered by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer in literary studies. The tausiah brought an important theme about the true meaning of Eid al-Fitr, inviting the audience to reflect and interpret the moment of fitri more deeply. After the sermon, the event continued with a joint prayer led by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A. The peak of the warmth of the event occurred during the halal bi halal session, where all attendees jointly expressed their apologies and forgiveness, strengthening the ties of brotherhood among them. The moment of joy was immortalized in a group photo session which was also the closing session of the syawalan activity.

Syawalan is not only a religious ritual, but also a place to strengthen the relationship between students and lecturers as part of the family in the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. This syawalan activity is also interpreted to be self-reflective, learn to forgive, and build harmonious relationships. Through this moment, it is hoped that awareness of the importance of good relationships and respect for others will continue to be instilled, become part of the formation of a quality person, and be ready to face a bright and challenging future.

Author: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta, May 9, 2024 – The management of the Association of Arabic Literature Students at Universitas Gadjah Mada organized the IKMASA Leader Camp on Thursday and Friday, May 9-10, 2024, at Joglo Green House Sleman Yogyakarta. This annual event was attended by all the management members of the Association of Arabic Literature Students at UGM.

The event was attended by Garin Arivian Muhammad, S.S., an alumnus of Arabic Literature class of 2020 and the keynote speaker, Muhammad Nabil Sahabuddin, the Chair of IKMASA, and the management members of the Association of Arabic Literature Students 2024/2025.

The IKMASA Leader Camp began with a presentation by Garin Arivian Muhammad, S.S., who delivered a lecture on “Building Leadership Spirit: Cultivating a Culture of Empathy and Loyalty Towards the Organization.” In his presentation, Garin emphasized the importance of empathy and loyalty as the foundation for achieving organizational goals, summarized in his quote, “It’s impossible to achieve the maximum organizational goals if you don’t feel empathy and loyalty towards the organization.”

Garin also explained essential principles for an organization, including the importance of fostering empathy by engaging in existing issues and contributing the best. He stressed the need to work specifically, understand job responsibilities, and perform them with full dedication. Additionally, Garin highlighted the importance of thorough planning as a guide in carrying out organizational activities.

It is hoped that the IKMASA Leader Camp will enable the management of the Association of Arabic Literature Students 2024/2025 to continuously improve their work quality and execute the IKMASA work programs to the fullest.

SDGs 1: No Poverty | SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnership for The Goals

Thursday (28/03/2024) Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi was invited as a speaker at the Seminar Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045 with the topic Poverty Alleviation from a Public Policy, Economic, Social and Cultural Perspective. This seminar was held live in the Benny S. Muljana (BSM) Meeting Room, Menteng Bappenas Building, Central Jakarta and broadcast via the RI Bappenas Youtube channel. In accordance with his expertise in the field of social culture, Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi delivered a lecture with the title Dissecting the Myths of Poverty in Indonesia.

In his story, Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi touched on three types of structural poverty as a trigger for forum discussion. According to him, structural poverty occurs as a result of the placement of human populations in certain social relations which cut off their access to sources of prosperity, whether they are resources, factors of production or employment opportunities. In this discussion, poverty occurs as a consequence of certain social relations. People become poor not because they are lazy or cursed by God to have bad luck because they are or are placed in unfavorable social relations. The three structural poverty are: (A) Resource destruction poverty; (B) Poverty loses access to production activities, and (C) Poverty loses access to sources of prosperity.

SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals 

Assalam Fil Alamin (ASFA) Foundation has officially collaborated with the UGM Masters in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was carried out by the Head of the ASFA Foundation, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin with the Head of the Intercultural Studies Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada and advisor to the ASFA Foundation, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. on Thursday, January 11th, 2024. This event took place in Jenggala, Jakarta and was attended by leaders of Islamic boarding schools and leading Islamic boarding school-based universities on the island of Java, including the Secretary General of the Gontor Alumni Islamic Boarding School Forum, KH. Anang Rikza Mashhadi, Ph.D, Rector of La Tansa University Banten, Dr. KH. Soleh Rosyad, Rector of Darunnajah University, Dr. Hasan Darojat, and the Rector of Darul Quran University, Dr. Anwar Sani.

In his remarks, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin said, “Asian countries are located near the equator which is a marker for fertile areas so that they become strategic centers of human movement and dynamics, including us in Indonesia. Our challenge going forward is to prepare superior human resources so that we are ready to face increasingly fierce global competition.” The Deputy Chief of Police for the 2016-2018 period also said that it was hoped that this collaboration would be a means of strengthening human resources, both in the educational and economic fields.