Yogyakarta, 13 November 2025 — The Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), with Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Kalijaga, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, and Pondok Pesantren Muhammadiyyah, took part in the Arabic Language Teaching Training organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). The training brought together not only participants from Indonesia but also representatives from various countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Russia, and others.

The ICESCO training focused on four fundamental theories in Arabic language teaching and learning. The first was the Grammar–Translation Theory, which is suitable for advanced learners and emphasizes reading, writing, and vocabulary mastery, particularly for academic, religious, and literary purposes. The second was the Behaviorism Theory (as-Sulukiyah), which views language as a form of behavior shaped through repetition and imitation, highlighting the significant role of environment in language acquisition. The third theory, Cognitivism (al-Ma‘rifiyyah), underscores that language learning involves active mental processes such as attention, information processing, and comprehension, placing learners as active participants rather than passive recipients. The final theory, Communicative Theory (at-Tawasuliyyah), emphasizes real-life language use within social contexts, prioritizing fluency and communicative ability over strict grammatical accuracy. This theory also acknowledges dialectal variations as an integral part of everyday language use.

In its concluding remarks, ICESCO highlighted that no single theory is entirely sufficient. Each has strengths and limitations, meaning effective Arabic language instruction requires an integrated approach that adapts to context. The training also emphasized the growing role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in designing lessons, generating exercises, and visualizing theoretical applications in more engaging and effective ways.

The Arabic Study Program at UGM’s participation in the ICESCO training reinforces the university’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of Arabic language educators and learners on campus. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through this involvement, the Arabic Study Program at UGM continues to advance as a progressive and globally connected center for Arabic language and cultural studies.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

Yogyakarta, 27 November 2025 – The Arabic Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada held an Academic Writing Workshop for students of the 2023 cohort who are entering the thesis preparation stage. The workshop featured Adwidya Yoga, M.A., publishing manager at the Bureau of Journals and Publications, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, as the guest speaker.

The workshop aimed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of effective academic writing techniques, covering both undergraduate thesis composition and the preparation of publishable journal articles. In his presentation, Adwidya Yoga emphasized that academic writing requires precision, a strong logical flow, and a well-structured research strategy. He also clarified the differences between an undergraduate thesis, a master’s thesis, and a doctoral dissertation, enabling students to recognize the analytical standards expected at the undergraduate level.

Adwidya further elaborated on the essential components of journal article writing, including topic selection, research storytelling, source exploration, the use of clear and effective academic language, and strategies for identifying credible journals. He highlighted the importance of building a coherent research narrative through a structured format consisting of introduction, methods, findings and discussion, conclusion, and abstract.

In addition, the speaker shared practical tips on avoiding predatory journals, identifying indicators of journal credibility, and understanding the peer-review process before article submission. Students were also introduced to various writing and reference management tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, DeepL, Grammarly, and VOSviewer to support more efficient and accurate academic work. He underscored that the use of technology and AI tools must be accompanied by ethical responsibility, including the inclusion of a Statement of Originality and AI Tools Fair Use in the publication process.

Through this workshop, the Arabic Study Program at UGM reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing students’ academic competencies in a practical, forward-looking manner. This initiative is expected to strengthen research literacy among the 2023 cohort as they enter the thesis-writing stage with greater confidence, and to encourage the production of scholarly work that is high-quality, credible, and relevant to the development of Arabic studies and the humanities.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program held a workshop titled “Exploring the Types and Meanings of Culture from Sesajen” on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the Margono 4th floor lobby. This event was attended by Dr. R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A., as the lecturer in charge of the course, as well as students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program and various other study programs. The guest speaker was Faizal Noor Singgih, S.T.P., a cultural practitioner and ceremonial master of ceremonies.

In his presentation, Faizal Noor Singgih explained various aspects of offerings, ranging from types and functions to cultural meanings. He emphasized that offerings in Javanese tradition are essentially a form of prayer or hope to God Almighty through a series of symbols contained within them. In addition to being a spiritual tool, offerings also serve as a medium of social communication, a form of respect from the Javanese people towards their environment, and an expression of the local community’s culture.

The participants were enthusiastic, saying that this activity provided them with new insights into offerings as part of Javanese culture. The workshop was closed with a prayer and a meal together.

Through this workshop, it is hoped that students will gain a deeper understanding of Javanese culture. The presence of speakers from the cultural sector is considered to enrich perspectives, both in terms of theory and practice. Thus, cooperation from various parties is essential to continue studying, preserving, and reviving Javanese culture.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

Saturday, November 22, 2025 – students from the Middle Eastern Studies Program at Gadjah Mada University held a Community Service activity at Sekolah Teladan Yogyakarta. This activity was part of the students’ efforts to make a positive contribution to society, particularly in increasing understanding of Middle Eastern culture, one of which was through education. The event was held at Teladan School in Yogyakarta with the theme “Middle East Talk: Building Global Insight through Education, History, and Middle Eastern Culture”. UGM Middle Eastern Culture Studies students collaborated with teachers and students at the school through various educational sessions featuring interactive discussions and games.

The event began with a speech from the Chair of PKM KBTT, Ahmad Fikri, followed by a speech from the Director of Teladan School. In his speech, the director emphasized the importance of community service activities as a way to apply what has been learned and to increase students’ social awareness of their surroundings. After the speeches, the next series of activities was a presentation on education in Egypt by KBTT students, Himma Hameesha and Fikri Labib. The two presented on many topics, ranging from Egyptian culture and social life in Egypt to tips on obtaining scholarships to study in Egypt. The next speakers discussed Yemen, with material presented by KBTT students Lanang Hutama and Lc.

At the end of the event, souvenirs were presented by KBTT students to the School Director as a representative of the Yogyakarta Teladan School community who had contributed to this activity. The event closed with a group photo session and the hope that similar activities could be carried out regularly as a form of real service from the world of education to the wider community. This community service activity is expected 

to strengthen the relationship between the world of education and the community, as well as broaden the horizons of students at Sekolah Teladan Yogyakarta to better appreciate global cultural diversity, especially that of the Middle East. Additionally, this activity also serves as proof that students of the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program at UGM not only study for themselves but are also ready to make a positive impact on the surrounding community.

[Jesica Amanda Florantika]

Friday, November 21, 2025 – The Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies program at Gadjah Mada University held an Inspiring Alumni event as part of its efforts to provide insight and inspiration to students and alumni who are preparing to enter the professional world. M. Asykari Muslim (Owner and CEO of Hayfa Academy), an alumnus and speaker at this event, presented a theme titled “Middle Eastern Entrepreneurs: The Synergy of Science, Technology, and Creativity in the Digital Age.” The event, at 709 of the Soegondo building, aimed to connect the current generation of students with alumni who have had successful careers in various fields, while also strengthening the academic and professional networks between the two parties.

The inspiring Alumni event began with a speech from Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., Secretary of the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Department. In her speech, Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum. emphasized the importance of building bridges between the academic world and the professional world through the firsthand experiences of successful alumni. “Through this event, we hope that students can gain a realistic picture of career opportunities in the professional world and understand how the skills they acquire in college can be applied in real life,” she said.

The alumni motivated the participants to continue developing themselves, to remain adaptable to the changing times, and to take advantage of every opportunity available. “As KBTT alumni, we must take advantage of all available opportunities, from our ability to speak Arabic or other languages. Look for opportunities to work, don’t be afraid to try, take advantage of available technology. If we want to build something, whatever it is, whether it’s a business or something else, we must use knowledge as a starting point, because without knowledge, no idea will last long,” said M. Asykari Muslim, M.A.

The question and answer session provided an opportunity for students to interact directly with alumni, deepen their understanding of the world of work, and build connections that will be useful for their future career development. The event concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to alumni who shared their experiences and knowledge during the event. The event ended with a group photo and the hope that such activities will continue to be held in the future to strengthen the relationship between the study program and alumni and encourage students to be better prepared for the future.

[Jesica Amanda Florantika]