For many students, studying abroad is more than just an academic opportunity but also a journey of self-discovery. This is certainly true for Rizkya Laili Trianisa (Nisa), an English Department student from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), batch 2024, who is currently participating in a one-semester exchange program at Jeonbuk National University (JNU) in South Korea. The program, which is part of a partnership between JNU and UGM, offers students the chance to broaden both their academic and cultural perspectives. Nisa first learned about this opportunity through the Office of International Affairs in UGM (OIA UGM), as she shared, “I found the information through OIA’s social media and website.” 

Her decision to study in South Korea was not merely influenced by the global popularity of K-culture, but rather by a deeper sense of familiarity. Having previously spent three semesters in Korea during her high school years, Nisa already had some understanding of the country and its environment. “I think my sense of similarity with Korea plays a big role,” she explained. This sense of connection was further strengthened by her choice of Jeonbuk National University, which is located in Jeonju—a city often compared to Yogyakarta by Indonesian students. “A lot of Indonesian people think that Jeonju is similar to Jogja” she said, describing both cities as places rich in historical culture with a rhythm of life that is “a bit slower yet still hectic, just like Jogja.” 

Before departing, Nisa prepared not only in practical terms but also mentally. She emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind when entering a completely new environment. This mindset proved especially useful when she arrived in South Korea during the transition from winter to spring. “The very cold weather shocked me,” she admitted, recalling the snowy rain and strong winds she encountered. Despite anticipating the cold, experiencing it firsthand was entirely different. However, instead of allowing the shock to overwhelm her, she chose to see it from a different perspective. “Before coming here, I told myself that everything is new. I wanted to learn everything from zero. So instead of shocking, it is more fascinating”, she reflected.

Like many exchange students, Nisa also faced challenges during her time abroad. Not everything went according to plan, and many of the difficulties she encountered were beyond her control. Nevertheless, she found strength in the people around her. Being surrounded by fellow students who were going through similar experiences helped her cope with these challenges. “One thing that I like is the fact that I am not alone. I have friends to talk to about what we should do to make our journey better and more memorable.” With this support system, she gradually developed a more resilient mindset, believing that “every day is like a new page and a new chance,” a perspective that continues to guide her throughout the program. 

Academically and personally, this exchange program has brought meaningful changes to Nisa’s life. She has become more confident and proactive in class, something she previously struggled with. “I try to be more proactive… I voice my opinions and ask questions,” she explained. At the same time, being exposed to a diverse international environment has broadened her perspective. These experiences continue to shape her growth as she strives to become a better version of herself.

Reflecting on her journey, Nisa encourages other students to carefully consider their own paths before applying for an exchange program. She points out that UGM offers numerous opportunities for studying abroad, and choosing the right one requires self-awareness. “UGM actually has tons of programs and exchange opportunities,” she noted. “Take your time acknowledging who you are and who you want to be, and match that with the program offered.” For Nisa, this experience has been nothing short of transformative. As she concluded in her own words, “This exchange journey is such a life changer for me—it shifted my perspective, developed my lifestyle, and improved my daily habits.” Through moments of challenge, adaptation, and discovery, her story reflects how studying abroad is not just about changing places, but about growing into someone new.

[English Literature, Maulina Artyansa]

Yogyakarta, April 7, 2026 – Students of the Master’s Program in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted a field study as part of the Museum Collection Conservation course at the Affandi Museum and the Kotagede area on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The activity was supervised by Mrs. Dr. Mahirta, M.A., as the course lecturer, alongside Mrs. Mimi Savitri, M.A., Ph.D., and was attended by 11 students. The field study formed part of the learning process, providing students with the opportunity to carry out direct observations, particularly in relation to the conservation of museum collections and cultural heritage areas.

At the Affandi Museum, students observed museum curatorial arrangements, collection management, and conservation practices applied to various collection objects. Through this activity, students were expected to become familiar with different types of museum collections and their handling methods, while also understanding that each object requires a conservation approach tailored to its specific characteristics.

The field study continued with a visit to the Kotagede area. At this site, students observed the cultural heritage landscape and identified various conditions related to preservation efforts, including recognizing cases encountered in the field and understanding possible approaches to addressing them.

Through this series of field activities, students gained an understanding of conservation principles and their application, both in museum contexts and in cultural heritage areas. In addition, the field study introduced fundamental aspects of museum management and curatorial concepts as part of preservation practices.

[Archeology, Muhammad Irsyad]

Amid the overwhelming flow of information, writing is often reduced to a mere technical skill—the ability to arrange words so they read smoothly. Yet in an academic context, writing is fundamentally an intellectual act: a way of thinking, responding, and ultimately taking a position in relation to reality.

In a workshop organized by the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. emphasized that students should not remain confined to the classroom. Ideas, he argued, must be brought into the public domain—into mass media and shared spaces where discourse is exchanged and debated. “Students need to be present in the public sphere through their writing. It is also important to include institutional affiliation as a form of academic responsibility,” Aprinus noted.

There is often a noticeable gap between academia and the wider public. Overly technical language, ideas circulating within limited circles, and a tendency to write merely for assignments can strip knowledge of its broader relevance. This is where the essay finds its significance.

Unlike formal academic writing, essays do not demand rigid structures. They allow space for subjectivity, reflection, and even doubt. Paradoxically, this is precisely where their strength lies—in the courage to take a stance, not merely present data.

However, this freedom is not without direction. Essay writing still requires strategy. There is a long, often invisible process behind it: reading, experimenting, failing, and trying again. Prof. Aprinus illustrated that the journey of writing can be winding—from critiques that fail to “break through” to discovering more nuanced, even ironic ways of expressing ideas.

Writing, then, is not only about the end result, but about the process of finding one’s voice.

One approach offered is to use literary works as a lens for interpreting reality. Fiction is no longer seen as a separate world, but as another way of understanding the real one. From there, writers can build bridges between imagination and concrete social conditions.

Depth, too, becomes essential. In an age that favors speed and superficiality, there is a call to slow down and immerse oneself in a single idea, figure, or perspective until it is fully internalized—not to imitate, but ultimately to move beyond it.

In this session, there was no conventional Q&A. Instead, participants were invited to reflect directly through reviews of the essays they had previously submitted. The feedback may have seemed simple, yet it touched on fundamental aspects: appropriate length, fresh and relevant titles, and the courage to take a clear stance.

What may appear technical, in fact, conceals deeper questions: for whom do we write, and why?

When students begin to write for mass media, they are not merely practicing a skill—they are assuming a role. They step into the public sphere as thinking individuals who do not simply consume information, but actively produce it.

At this point, writing becomes more than just an academic exercise. It becomes a path home—a way for intellectuals to reconnect with the very reality that gave rise to them.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Khotibul Umam]

Amidst the warm and heartfelt ambience of Eid Al-Fitr, the English Department program conducted a Syawalan event at Gadjah Mada University Club (UC), Universitas Gadjah Mada. It was held on Thursday, 31st March 2026, as an annual occasion for lecturers and former lecturers to seek and offer forgiveness while also fostering the bond within the English Department family. Not just Syawalan, this year’s event is particularly special because it also marks the farewell of a recently retired lecturer, Dra. Rio Rini Diah Moehkardi, M.A.

The attendance at this event includes lecturers and retired lecturers from the English Department, along with their families. Throughout the event, they get to talk and reminisce about the memories they shared as part of the English Department family. The Eid atmosphere remains lively, with many hands greeting each other warmly.

The event began with a greeting and speech from Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A., a former Head of the English Department. He proceeds to give a word on the ups and downs the English Department has faced due to the lecturers that must leave—whether to study abroad or retire—one by one. Thankfully, owing to the contribution and hard work from the remaining lecturers, they managed to bounce back and maintain the major’s credibility.

He also pays tribute to Dra. Rio Rini Diah Moehkardi, M.A., for her remarkable contribution to the English Department. In this opportunity, Mr. Adi, as a representative of the English Department, handed over a token of appreciation for Mrs. Rio: a memory book filled with words and thoughts from lecturers and students of the English Department. Mrs. Rio expresses her gratitude upon receiving the gift, thanking her fellow lecturers who accompany and enrich her experience in the English Department.

Congrats on your retirement, Mrs. Rio! Thank you for being a part of the English Department family. We hope you will stay healthy, happy, and lively as ever.

Author: Gulma Zahra Auradatu

The Deskripsi Bahasa (DB) Journal, managed by the Master’s Program in Linguistics at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially achieved SINTA 3 accreditation in 2026. This achievement was established based on a decree from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) following a comprehensive reaccreditation assessment process since March 2025.

First published in 2018, the journal previously held a SINTA 4 ranking since 2023. Currently, the DB Journal is led by Professor Dr. Sajarwa, M.Hum., as the Chief Editor. This accreditation upgrade serves as clear evidence of improved journal governance, publication consistency, and scientific contributions that are increasingly recognized at the national level.

Alongside this achievement, the DB Journal has also released its latest issue. “We are proud to announce that Deskripsi Bahasa Volume 9, Number 1 of 2026 has been published online, presenting credible research articles on linguistic studies,” stated the DB Journal editorial team in an official statement. This edition features five research articles that are freely and openly accessible to the public.

This scientific publication is issued regularly twice a year, specifically in March and October. The journal’s focus encompasses structural linguistics, social linguistics, and applied linguistics, which includes forensic linguistics, translation, language teaching, and psycholinguistics. Readers and prospective authors can view the complete scientific scope of this journal through its official website at journal.ugm.ac.id/v3/db.

For upcoming publications, the DB Journal, published in collaboration with the Linguistics Forum (Forum Linguistik), is currently accepting manuscript submissions for Volume 9, Number 2, which will be released in October 2026. The journal charges an article processing fee of IDR 679,592, applicable once an article is accepted. The journal’s management specifically provides a fee waiver option for authors with financial limitations by submitting relevant reasons and evidence.

The accreditation upgrade and open access policy reaffirm the institution’s commitment to providing quality literature that reaches all levels of society. This continuous effort supports the equitable expansion of knowledge access while also encouraging the creation of innovative research beneficial for solving various linguistic issues within the community.

[Humas FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]