Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) reaffirmed its commitment to international academic collaboration and knowledge exchange through its active participation in the CHSS 2026 Conference held at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan, from 23 to 27 September 2026. The conference brought together scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across Asia and beyond to discuss contemporary challenges and opportunities facing societies in the region.

UGM was represented by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, Dr. Aprillia Firmonasari, and Dr. Merry Andriani from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, who participated in a range of academic and networking activities throughout the conference. Their involvement contributed to scholarly discussions on issues affecting Asia and the Global South while strengthening partnerships between UGM and international institutions. Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro also serves as the Hub Leader for UGM in the academic cooperative project among Association for Asian Studies (AAS), Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences and Supporting Underrepresented Scholars of Asia (CHSS), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

The conference featured an extensive program consisting of pre-conference workshops, panel presentations, roundtable discussions, exhibitions, cultural activities, and networking forums. Participants explored a wide range of topics, including migration, education, governance, gender studies, climate resilience, public health, cultural heritage, and regional cooperation. Through these sessions, attendees exchanged perspectives and research findings while identifying opportunities for future collaborative initiatives.

In addition to academic presentations, the conference emphasized intercultural engagement through exhibitions and cultural showcases that highlighted the diversity and dynamism of Asian societies. These activities provided participants with valuable opportunities to connect across disciplines and national boundaries. UGM’s participation in the conference reflects the university’s ongoing efforts to promote internationally engaged scholarship and foster meaningful partnerships that address global and regional challenges. The event also served as a platform for expanding academic networks and exploring collaborative research opportunities with institutions across Asia and beyond.

Building on the momentum generated in Lahore, Universitas Gadjah Mada will host a similar international workshop in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 19 to 23 October 2026. The workshop is designed as an inclusive academic forum that welcomes participants from diverse disciplinary, institutional, cultural, and geographical backgrounds. In line with UGM’s commitment to social equality and inclusivity, the program will provide a platform for scholars, researchers, practitioners, and community representatives to engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and exchange knowledge on issues of societal relevance. Through this initiative, UGM seeks to foster an academic environment that values diversity, promotes equitable participation, and encourages cross-cultural and interdisciplinary engagement.

Through its participation in CHSS 2026 and its forthcoming role as host, UGM continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing impactful research, fostering international dialogue, and contributing to the development of inclusive and sustainable solutions to contemporary global challenges. For Universitas Gadjah Mada, these engagements represent not only opportunities for scholarly exchange but also strategic efforts to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in facilitating regional and global academic collaboration.

Yogyakarta, 9 September 2026 — The Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Keluarga Mahasiswa Linguistik Gadjah Mada (Kalingga UGM), held an Expert Lecture entitled “Indonesian for Foreign Speakers” on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. Conducted online via Zoom, the event featured two speakers who explored various aspects of teaching and learning Indonesian as a foreign language.

The first speaker, Nguyen Thahn Tuan from Vietnam National University, Vietnam, delivered a presentation entitled “Teaching Indonesian in Vietnam: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Prospects.” His presentation explored the dynamics of Indonesian language teaching in Vietnam, highlighting the challenges encountered, opportunities for development, and future prospects for Indonesian language learning.

The second speaker, Dr. Wira Kurniawati, S.S., M.A. from Universitas Gadjah Mada, presented “Learning Language, Learning to Use Language: The Acquisition of Pragmatic Competence among BIPA Learners.” Her presentation highlighted the importance of pragmatic competence in language acquisition, particularly among BIPA learners. The discussion emphasized that language learning involves not only mastering linguistic structures but also developing the ability to use language appropriately in different communicative contexts.

The event was moderated by Nur Fahmi, S.S., a student of the UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics.

The Expert Lecture provided participants with an opportunity to broaden their perspectives on the teaching and learning of Indonesian as a foreign language. The presentations offered complementary perspectives on BIPA development, ranging from Indonesian language teaching overseas to the acquisition of pragmatic competence among learners.

Through this event, the UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics continues to promote linguistics scholarship that responds to the growing role of Indonesian in a global context. The event also served as a platform for sharing academic knowledge and experiences to support the wider international development of the Indonesian language.

The UGM Master’s Program in Linguistics extends its appreciation to the speakers, moderator, organizing committee, and all participants for their valuable contributions to the success of the event.

Author: Master of Linguistics

Yogyakarta, September 11, 2026 — The Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), held the 2026 Alumni Gathering of the Master’s Program in Linguistics FIB UGM on Friday, September 11, 2026. The gathering took place in a warm and convivial atmosphere, providing an opportunity for alumni to reconnect, strengthen relationships, and build a stronger alumni network.

The gathering served as a meaningful occasion for alumni to come together, share experiences, and exchange ideas on the development of the Master’s Program in Linguistics FIB UGM. Through informal conversations and discussions, alumni shared valuable feedback and suggestions that are expected to contribute to the continued development of the program.

One of the key highlights of the event was the establishment of the Alumni Association management board of the Master’s Program in Linguistics FIB UGM. The formation of this board marks an important step toward strengthening communication and coordination among alumni, creating opportunities for collaboration, and encouraging alumni to contribute more actively to their alma mater.

In addition to the gathering and discussions, the event featured various entertainment activities that added to the warmth and lively atmosphere of the occasion. The convivial setting reflected the spirit of togetherness and community that the program hopes to foster among its alumni.

Through this gathering, the Master’s Program in Linguistics FIB UGM hopes that the alumni network will continue to grow and serve as a platform for meaningful collaboration in academic, professional, and other areas that benefit alumni, the program, and the wider community.

The 2026 Alumni Gathering reaffirmed that the relationship between an alma mater and its alumni does not end upon graduation. Continued communication, friendship, and collaboration are essential to building a strong alumni community and supporting the ongoing development of the Master’s Program in Linguistics FIB UGM.

From our almamater, staying connected and growing together.

Author: Magister of Linguistics Program

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM held an Open Doctoral Defense for linguistics candidate Intan Pradita on Wednesday (September 23, 2026). The event took place at the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, FIB UGM, from 09.00 to 11.00 WIB, attended by academics and invited guests.

During the defense, Intan Pradita presented her doctoral dissertation entitled “Acceptability of Lexical Collocations in English Research Articles by Indonesian and Anglo-American Academics: A Corpus-Based Comparative Study.”

The research highlights the growing importance of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) in international academic publishing. The use of lexical collocations—combinations of words that naturally co-occur—serves as a crucial aspect of academic writing. This study specifically focuses on the acceptability of collocations written by non-Anglophone academics, acknowledging that while certain word combinations may meet grammatical criteria, they are not necessarily perceived as natural or conventional within global academic discourse.

The study employed a comparative corpus-based approach, analyzing more than 250,000 word tokens from research articles in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT). Data were collected from two primary sources:

PRAYA Corpus: Comprising 32 research articles written by Indonesian academics.
PRANA Corpus: Comprising 31 research articles written by Anglo-American academics.

The analytical focus was directed toward four dominant collocation patterns in academic writing: Adverb + Verb, Adverb + Adjective, Verb + Noun, and Adjective + Noun.

Through her findings, Intan elaborated on the patterns, functions, and meanings of lexical collocations utilized by both groups of academics. The research affirms that collocation variations used by Indonesian academics maintain functional acceptability within international academic discourse. The outcomes of this study are expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of linguistic studies, scientific article writing, and the understanding of diversity in academic English.

The open defense proceeded smoothly under the supervision of Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A. as promoter and Dr. Tofan Dwi Hardjanto, M.A. as co-promoter, reflecting FIB UGM’s ongoing commitment to supporting high-quality academic achievements and research at the doctoral level.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the City Government of Subulussalam, held a National Seminar titled “Hamzah Fansuri and the Tradition of Archipelago Poetics.” The event, held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Auditorium on the 3rd Floor of the Poerbatjaraka Building, FIB UGM, featured prominent academics and literary experts, including Prof. Dr. Faruk, S.U., Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum., and Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum.

In her opening address, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., representing FIB UGM, emphasized the importance of studying Malay literature within a modern context. According to her, Malay literature is not merely a record of the past, but an essential medium for preserving cultural memory.

“The study of Malay literature opens up a space for inheritance while addressing contemporary challenges. Through this study, we maintain continuity and cultural memory. We hope this seminar becomes a productive dialogue that opens new perspectives between literature and culture in building a cultured, ethical, and good nation,” she stated.

The panel discussion highlighted the vital role of Sheikh Hamzah Fansuri, who is regarded as the pioneer of Indonesian poetry. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Faruk examined Hamzah Fansuri as an innovator of Malay verse (syair), while Prof. Dr. Sangidu elaborated on the Sufi aspects of Hamzah Fansuri’s literary works. Prof. Sangidu expressed deep appreciation for monumental works such as Syaraabul Asyiqin, which have been preserved to this day. He also noted that historical sites related to Hamzah Fansuri remain intact and continue to be alive within the community.

In addition to classical literary studies, the dimension of social theory and literary development was addressed by Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam through his presentation on the traces of Hamzah Fansuri in modern Indonesian poetry. In his session, he also explained the dynamics of social theories, such as Marxism, which was banned during the New Order era but subsequently opened new avenues for social analysis and critical thinking in the post-reform era.

Through this seminar, participants were invited to re-examine the roots of archipelago literature while drawing upon local cultural and ethical values to address the future challenges of national character building.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]