Ciamis, April, 25 2026 – Two lecturers from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Department of Intercultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Dr. Stedi Wardoyo, S.S., M.A. and Dr. Sri Pangastoeti, M.Hum., served as speakers in a Community Service Program (Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat/PkM) held at Universitas Islam Darussalam (Unida) and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam, Ciamis.

The event, titled “Religion and Morality in Japanese Society,” took place in Meeting Room 208 of Universitas Islam Darussalam from 10:34 a.m. to 12:11 p.m. and was attended by approximately 50 participants, consisting of university students, lecturers, and school students from Universitas Islam Darussalam and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam.

During the session, Dr. Stedi Wardoyo and Dr. Sri Pangastoeti compared religious values in Indonesia, particularly Islamic values, with socially based moral values in Japan, such as maintaining harmony in society. Both speakers also invited participants to reflect on the differences between these two moral systems, especially in their practical implementation in everyday life.

The discussion, which lasted around one hour and thirty-seven minutes, highlighted similarities between the two moral frameworks at the conceptual level, while also revealing disparities in their social practice. Participants showed strong enthusiasm throughout the event and actively raised questions, particularly regarding real-life cases that reflect gaps between moral values and social practices, such as theft, corruption, and other social issues.

Together with the audience, the speakers also discussed the possible impacts and long-term consequences arising from inconsistencies between moral principles and actual social behavior. The dynamic discussion reflected the participants’ strong interest in the intercultural theme presented during the program.

This community service activity represents UGM’s ongoing contribution to sharing intercultural perspectives with academics, students, and the wider community. Dr. Stedi Wardoyo expressed his hope that the comparison would encourage deeper reflection on individual morality. Meanwhile, Dr. Sri Pangastoeti hoped that understanding morality would not remain merely personal, but would also be practiced in everyday life to create a more positive impact on individuals, families, society, and the nation.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to both speakers by representatives of Universitas Islam Darussalam and Pondok Pesantren Darussalam as a token of appreciation for the knowledge and insights they had shared.

Author: Ahmad Affandy Ainurridho Zulkifli
Editor: Barra Taura Nursaid

Yogyakarta, April 16, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a benchmarking visit from the Agricultural Extension Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Halu Oleo (UHO). The meeting, held in Room S111 of the Soegondo Building, aimed to discuss preparations for international accreditation through ACQUIN (The Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute).

The event was attended by the Dean of FIB UGM, Professor Dr. Setiadi, M.A., alongside the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., and members of the FIB UGM Quality Assurance Unit (UJM) team. Meanwhile, Universitas Halu Oleo was represented by a delegation led by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and the accreditation preparation team.

During the meeting, the FIB UGM team presented their experiences from undergoing the accreditation process in late 2025. This experience served as a crucial point of discussion because FIB UGM received high praise from international assessors for the quality of its facilities, curriculum, and study program readiness.

The Dean of FIB UGM, Professor Setiadi, stated that the key to success in achieving international accreditation lies in an institution’s ability to map its internal strengths. This significantly determines the assessors’ evaluation during the visitation process.

“During the ACQUIN accreditation process, FIB UGM maximized its various potentials as presentation material for the assessors,” Professor Setiadi remarked to the meeting attendees.

The two-hour discussion also covered technical steps regarding globally recognized educational quality standardization. The UHO delegation had the opportunity to explore the managerial and academic processes implemented at FIB UGM as a reference to improve the quality of their own study programs.

In addition to focusing on accreditation, both parties agreed that this meeting serves as a gateway for broader collaboration. Strengthening relationships between higher education institutions is considered necessary to spur new innovations in the educational sector.

“We must strengthen our future collaboration to mutually support the programs and innovations of each institution,” Professor Setiadi added.

This visit is expected to accelerate Universitas Halu Oleo’s preparations for achieving international recognition. This collaboration between higher education institutions reflects a shared commitment to maintaining sustainable educational quality, ultimately producing a generation with global competitiveness in the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, April 23, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held the Mengayubagya ceremony to honor its postgraduate graduates of Period III for the Academic Year 2025/2026 in a solemn and proud atmosphere. The event served as a moment of appreciation for the graduates’ academic achievements, as well as a milestone marking the beginning of their professional careers and contributions to society.

The ceremony was attended by the Dean of FIB UGM, Setiadi, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Nur Saktiningrum, Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, Suray Agung Nugroho, as well as representatives from various departments and study programs within FIB UGM.

A total of 108 postgraduate graduates participated in the ceremony. In his remarks, the Dean of FIB UGM expressed optimism regarding the future development of postgraduate programs. He highlighted several ongoing academic innovations, including the introduction of a fast-track program, as well as strengthened collaborations with international universities through double degree and joint degree schemes. According to him, these initiatives will broaden opportunities to enhance both the number and quality of postgraduate students at FIB UGM.

On this occasion, an award was also presented to an outstanding graduate, Hadijah Rima, who achieved a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.00. This accomplishment is expected to inspire fellow graduates to continuously strive for academic excellence.

The Mengayubagya ceremony was not merely a formal event, but also a moment of reflection on the academic journey and a source of hope for the graduates’ future contributions in building a more knowledgeable and culturally enriched society.

This event aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive and high-quality higher education, as well as the development of human resources to face global challenges. It also supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through strengthened international collaborations in double degree and joint degree programs.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, April 22, 2026 — The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a Javanese script font socialization event in Room Margono 402. This event was aimed at faculty and student representatives as an effort to increase understanding of the use of Javanese script in the digital realm.

This socialization was motivated by various obstacles faced by the academic community in using Javanese script fonts. Some of the problems that frequently arise include differences in keyboard layouts compared to the Latin alphabet, font illegibility on certain devices, indicated by the appearance of a tofu symbol or a box (an illegible sign), and differences in compatibility between keyboard layouts, such as Windows and Macintosh. These conditions are considered to hinder the use of Javanese script, even though this script plays a vital role in cultural studies and preservation within the study program.

To address this issue, this event featured Setya Amrih Prasaja, S.S., M.Pd., an alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, known as the developer of digital Javanese script fonts. Representatives from the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Office (Kundha Kabudayan) also attended the event, demonstrating their support for cultural preservation efforts through technology.

In his presentation, the speaker explained the process of developing Javanese script fonts and keyboard layouts, including the technical challenges faced in implementing them across various platforms. He also outlined the steps for introducing digital Javanese script at the national and international levels, as well as developing a system that can be operated on various devices. Furthermore, participants were introduced to several Javanese script fonts that are freely accessible without licensing constraints.

Through this activity, participants are expected to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the use of Javanese script keyboards and fonts in a digital context. Furthermore, this outreach is expected to encourage the dissemination of knowledge to the academic community and a wider audience, as part of efforts to preserve and strengthen the existence of Javanese script in the digital era.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta, April, 4, 2026 – The Student Association of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Student Association, or Kamastawa Student Association, held its first meeting, or inaugural meeting, of the Sahacitta Cabinet in the Auditorium on the 7th floor of the Soegondo Building. This event served as a means of building camaraderie among the board members and introducing the organizational structure and work program plans for the next term.

The event began at 7:30 a.m. WIB with an opening reception, followed by a serving of cokekan (rice cake) to open the atmosphere. In addition to all board members and students, the event was also attended by lecturers from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, as a token of support for student activities.

The event was then officially opened by various Executive Chairs and the Chair of Kamastawa Student Association 2026. On this occasion, the advisor of Kamastawa Student Association, Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.IP., M.A., also delivered various keynotes and symbolically inaugurated the Sahacitta Cabinet.

Entering the main session, the board introduced the Sahacitta Cabinet by explaining the philosophy of the name, visual identity, and direction of the organization. Etymologically, “Sahacitta” comes from the Sanskrit words “saha,” meaning “together,” and “citta,” meaning “feeling.” This naming reflects the spirit of togetherness and a unified consciousness to achieve the organization’s goals.

The event continued with an explanation of the division structure and the board members who will implement the work program for the period. Each division explained its function and focus as part of the organization’s development efforts, as well as its contribution to the preservation and development of Javanese language, literature, and culture.

The event concluded with a joint documentation session marking the beginning of the Sahacitta Cabinet administration. Through this activity, it is hoped that all board members can work synergistically to strengthen the organization’s role, both in the academic environment and in the wider community.

[Javanese, Language, and Literature, Haryo Untoro]