On Friday, June 12, 2026, the Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program received an accreditation visit from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT). This visit is part of the program’s efforts to improve academic quality standards, governance, and educational services in accordance with nationally established criteria. Through this accreditation process, the KBTT UGM Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies program affirms its commitment to continuous improvement and quality enhancement as a leading and competitive center for Middle Eastern studies.

In a series of visitation activities, this activity began with remarks from Prof. Indra Wijaya Kusuma, M.B.A., Ph.D. as Chief of Satuan Penjaminan Mutu dan Reputasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPMRU). The activity was continued by the BAN-PT assessor team in reviewing various documents, ranging from curriculum, graduate profiles, research activities and publications, to track records of community service. In addition, the assessors also conducted interview sessions with faculty leaders, study program managers, lecturers, education staff, students, and alumni representatives. The constructive dialogue between the assessors and the academic community of the KBTT UGM Masters Program provided a space for shared reflection to see the achievements, challenges, and opportunities for future study program development.

The Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies (MBTS) at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) views this accreditation visit as a crucial opportunity to strengthen its superior quality, both in academic and non-academic aspects. Full support from all stakeholders is expected to help the study program achieve the highest accreditation ranking and strengthen its reputation as a reference for Middle Eastern cultural studies in Indonesia. With a spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement, the KBTT study program is committed to continuously providing quality education that is responsive to the social, cultural, and scientific dynamics of the Middle East region.

Author:  Jesisca Amanda Florantika

The Archaeology Student Association (HIMA) of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Underwater Archaeology (ABA) Division, conducted an Open Water Training as part of the development of students’ diving skills. The training was held for six days, from July 23 to 28, 2026, in Karimunjawa, Jepara, Central Java, with Sentra Selam Jogja serving as the supporting instructor. During the training, participants practiced diving in open water to apply the skills they had learned in previous training sessions.

The Open Water Training was a further stage in the diving learning process, providing students with direct experience in adapting to marine conditions. The activity also supported the development of students’ skills in observation and documentation in underwater environments related to archaeological studies, while also providing an opportunity to obtain diving certification. Through the Open Water Training, HIMA UGM aims to improve the skills and field experience of members of the Underwater Archaeology Division while preparing students to take part in underwater archaeological research and maritime studies.

Author: Jovinka Aldinova Kiranamurti
Photo Credits: Ramadhani Alifi Cahya Saputra dan Sentra Selam Jogja

YOGYAKARTA – To prepare competitive graduates ready to enter the professional world, the Undergraduate Program in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully organized the Career Path & Career Readiness Series 2026. Spanning two comprehensive sessions in late July, this series of events was specifically designed to broaden perspectives on career opportunities while equipping students with practical skills to navigate the job recruitment process.

The preparatory program commenced with an online session titled Archaeo Connect: Alumni Career Talks on Saturday (25/7). This inspiring session featured three distinguished alumni of the UGM Archaeology Undergraduate Program: Cindi Shandoval, S.Ark., Candrika Ilham, S.Ark., and Dimas Luthfi, S.Ark. Guided by UGM Archaeology student Insqa Visia Spiritualita Holistica as the moderator, the three guest speakers shared captivating insights into their diverse career journeys.

Various professional pathways for archaeology graduates were thoroughly explored during this session, ranging from cultural heritage-based entrepreneurship and heritage consultancy to corporate museum management. Through their success stories, the alumni advised students to continuously enrich their experiences, expand their professional networks, and hone their competencies as early as possible during their university years.

The series then continued on Monday (27/7) with an offline Career Readiness Session. Hosted by Sheba Nur Majjid as the Master of Ceremonies and moderated by Khariza Erfani, this tactical session featured Tita Anwar, M.Psi. as the guest speaker.

In this second session, students did not merely listen to theoretical presentations; they acquired technical knowledge on drafting competitive curriculum vitae (CVs), strategies for building personal branding, and effective tips for conquering various stages of job interviews. To provide a comprehensive and realistic overview, students were also actively engaged in recruitment simulations and various case studies.

Through the Career Path & Career Readiness Series 2026 initiative, the UGM Undergraduate Program in Archaeology hopes that students will have a more directed career roadmap upon graduation. The synergy between cross-professional alumni and career development practitioners is expected to serve as a learning space that not only broadens horizons but also boosts the confidence of UGM Archaeology students in taking decisive steps toward their future careers.

Author: Muhammad Irsyad

 Three female students from NCCU Taiwan went on a trip to Surabaya: Lina, Juleha and Bela. They set off from Yogyakarta on Friday, 31 July 2026, travelling on the Sancaka train. The journey took four hours, and what caught their attention most was the bustling station. They were amazed by the sheer number of food stalls inside the station.

During their train journey, they ordered packed lunches containing chicken, eggs and sweetcorn. “It tasted good, but it was a bit expensive,” said Lina. They also noticed how spotlessly clean the train carriages were.

When they arrived in Surabaya, Mrs Ani, their teacher who had previously taught at NCCU, came to collect them. She then took them on a tour of the city of Surabaya.

The first place they visited was the university, where Mrs Ani works. On the way, they noticed that the roads in Surabaya were wider than those in Yogyakarta, and there were fewer motorbikes. During the journey, they also saw a great many high-rise buildings and luxurious houses. When they arrived at Airlangga University, they were amazed by the beautiful scenery there. There was a large lake and trees, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

After wandering around for a few minutes, they went on to have lunch at Weby Heritage. They ordered nasi weby, the special mixed rice dish, and soto Betawi. The food at this restaurant was absolutely delicious and tended to be saltier than the food in Yogyakarta.

After that, they went to the zoo. There were lots of unique animals there, such as Komodo dragons, orangutans and Sumatran tigers. However, they only saw the Komodo dragons, which looked lazy and listless.

Author: Lina
Editor: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman

The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has produced many alumni who have contributed to the preservation and development of the Javanese language, literature, and culture. One of them is Aji Setyowijaya, a member of the 2008 cohort who is now dedicated to the world of batik as a craftsman of traditional Yogyakarta batik.

The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture had the opportunity to visit and interview Aji Setyowijaya, hereafter referred to as Mas Aji, in person on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. The 2008 alumnus, who was also a recipient of a scholarship from Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo (YAD), also known as Yayasan Keluarga Hasyim Djojohadikusumo (YKHD), explained that his interest in batik began with his admiration for inherited batik cloths. He often came across old batik fabrics of exceptional quality and beauty, but they had become so fragile that they were no longer suitable for use. “I used to enjoy looking at inherited batik cloths. The fabrics were beautiful and I wanted to wear them, but they had become too fragile. Eventually, I was motivated to try reproducing old batik cloths. At the same time, during my university years, I also enjoyed wearing rasukan, or traditional Javanese attire,” he said.

This interest encouraged him to begin learning batik-making in 2009. He studied various batik techniques by observing and learning directly at several batik centers in Yogyakarta. During this early period, Mas Aji focused on understanding the principles and techniques of traditional Yogyakarta batik as the primary foundation before developing his own works.

Building on this understanding, between approximately 2013 and 2015, Mas Aji began producing antique batik, also known as batik kama or batik lawasan. According to him, during that period both the public and collectors highly appreciated batik lawasan because it was assumed to have originated several decades earlier. “At that time, in the batik trade, people appreciated antique batik, or kama, or lawasan, with the assumption that the batik was 50–70 years old,” he explained.

However, this experience also gave rise to a sense of concern. According to Mas Aji, batik should not merely be regarded as a classical work that ends with reproducing the past. Batik should continue to develop without abandoning its traditional roots. Based on this perspective, he began incorporating his personal identity into every work he created while also expanding his exploration beyond the characteristic style of Yogyakarta batik.

In line with this spirit, since 2018 Mas Aji has devoted himself to studying natural dye techniques for traditional Yogyakarta batik. For him, learning about natural dyes is not merely about producing a wider range of colors, but also about rediscovering the technical knowledge inherited from earlier generations of batik artisans.

In his creative process, Mas Aji does not work alone. He collaborates with his colleague, Yahya Adi Sutikno, who focuses on the design process, while Mas Aji is primarily responsible for production. This collaboration enables them to produce a wide range of batik works through complementary approaches.

Their works include sample pieces featuring various batik motifs on a single piece of cloth consisting of 27, 260, and even 480 motif samples, as well as replicated batik, batik lawasan, and batik resulting from transformation, media transfer, and various forms of creative batik. Their exploration extends beyond batik cloth itself to other textile media, such as sarung and other types of fabric.

In addition to producing batik cloth, Mas Aji is also active in Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia, a community that brings together enthusiasts and advocates of Indonesian traditional textiles. His dedication to batik is also reflected in his contribution to the book Pesona Padu Padan Wastra Indonesia as a fashion contributor featuring the use of traditional Yogyakarta batik.

Behind all of these creative processes, Mas Aji believes that one aspect that must continue to be preserved in the world of batik is technical knowledge. According to him, discussions of batik have largely focused on philosophical meanings, symbolism, and cultural values, while knowledge of batik-making techniques is at risk of disappearing if it is not documented and passed on. “In my opinion, that domain (philosophy) is not easily lost because there is already abundant literature about it. But technical knowledge can disappear. For example, where should a parang motif begin, and in which direction should it be made? There are specific ways and methods.” For Mas Aji, preserving technical knowledge is just as important as preserving the philosophical values of batik because both are integral parts of the batik-making tradition.

Toward the end of the interview, Mas Aji also shared a message for students of the Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, encouraging them not to be afraid of exploring opportunities beyond the classroom. “Make big problems smaller, and ignore the small ones. Do not hesitate or be afraid to try and explore. Also, do not limit your horizons to classroom learning alone.”

Mas Aji Setyowijaya’s journey demonstrates that the study of the Javanese language, literature, and culture does not end within the academic sphere, but can also be realized through cultural preservation practices that benefit society. Through his dedication to studying batik-making techniques, reproducing traditional batik, developing innovations grounded in established principles, and continuously exploring new possibilities in the world of wastra, Mas Aji has shown that cultural heritage can continue to live and develop with the times without losing its identity.

For mahadaya who would like to learn more about Mas Aji’s works and activities, they may visit his Instagram account, @setyowijaya, and his Facebook page, Batik Setyowijaya. Through these social media platforms, Mas Aji shares his creative processes, his works, and his activities in preserving and developing the art of batik. 

Author : Haryo Untoro