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

Yogyakarta – An online academic discussion jointly organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia once again provided a platform for students to deepen their understanding of Arabic language and literary studies. Led by Dr. Nur Kholid, M.P., a lecturer in the Arabic Literature Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, the session offered an interactive discussion on metaphor and linguistic analysis. During the online meeting, participants explored the concepts of musyabbah and musyabbah bih, focusing on how meaning is constructed through comparisons expressed either explicitly or implicitly. Dr. Kholid presented the material in a systematic manner by analyzing a variety of examples, enabling students not only to understand linguistic structures but also to appreciate the deeper meanings and interpretations embedded in Arabic texts.

Throughout the discussion, students examined several examples of metaphor, including the comparison of soldiers to lions in battle, tears to pearls, and spring as a symbol of human happiness. These illustrations helped participants understand how Arabic employs figurative language to convey meaning in a more vivid, meaningful, and contextual way.In addition to metaphor, the discussion expanded to the interpretation of word meanings in Arabic. The diverse perspectives shared during the session demonstrated that linguistic analysis is not limited to a single interpretation but is open to various analytical approaches and viewpoints. This approach encouraged students to broaden their perspectives while strengthening their understanding of Arabic linguistics and literary studies.

Overall, the discussion was conducted smoothly in an engaging and interactive atmosphere. Students actively participated throughout the discussion and question-and-answer session, reflecting their enthusiasm for the topic. Through this academic activity, participants are expected to enhance their understanding of Arabic studies while further developing their linguistic and analytical skills.

Author: Indana Zulfa

The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has sent seven students to participate in the 2026 Integrated Archaeological Research of Indonesia (Penelitian Arkeologi Terpadu Indonesia/PATI), organized by the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) in collaboration with six archaeology study programs across Indonesia. The program, which will be held from 27 July to 8 August 2026 in Manyarejo Village, the Sangiran Early Man Cultural Heritage Site, Sragen, Central Java, serves as a field-learning and collaborative research program for archaeology students from universities across Indonesia.

Representing the UGM Department of Archaeology are Agatha Kiara Christy and Muhammad Miftah Syafiq in the Archaeology stream, Zeldera Tahani Sifa, Helena Ken Grace Natalie, and Galih Nugroho in the Museum stream, as well as Nur Sulistyaningsih and Sarah Jasmine Kahiking in the Conservation stream. Throughout the program, the students will be accompanied by Dr. Mahirta, M.A., Dr. Fahmi Prihantoro, S.S., M.A., and Dr. Sektiadi, S.S., M.Hum. as academic supervisors from Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Carrying the theme “Unearthing the Cultural Horizon of Sangiran’s Past,” PATI 2026 will focus on rescue excavations, conservation, and the development of an open-air museum model and community-based site management. Through this program, the students are expected to gain hands-on field experience, expand their academic network with archaeology students from other universities, and further strengthen their knowledge and skills in archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation.

Author : Muhammad Irsyad
Photo Credits : Evelyn Warasti