Two female students from the Arabic Literature Program at UGM are participating in an internship program at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for three months from April to June 2024. The two students are placed in two different directorates, namely the Directorate of Protocol and the Directorate of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI).

The first student, Eurrydice Setianingroem, is placed in the Directorate of Protocol. During the internship, Eurry is involved in various tasks related to diplomatic relations, diplomatic receptions, and diplomatic administration. This experience is expected to provide practical insights into how protocol is applied in various events and diplomatic activities. According to her, “Interning at the Directorate of Protocol gave me the opportunity to see firsthand how diplomacy is conducted and to meet important people, of course. This experience is very valuable and will serve as a foundation for my future career.”

Meanwhile, the second student, Aisyah Dina, is placed in the Directorate of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI). Aisyah is involved in various activities related to the protection and support for Indonesian citizens abroad, including handling cases, case documentation, and providing legal assistance. Aisyah gains understanding and insights into the challenges faced by Indonesian citizens abroad, especially in the Middle East, and how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a role in protecting their rights. This aligns with the efforts to achieve SDG 16, which is peace, justice, and strong institutions.

By directly participating in activities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these two students are expected to apply the knowledge they have gained in college to real-world practice, as well as to develop skills that will be useful in their future careers. They not only gain valuable practical experience but also contribute directly to the process of diplomacy and citizen protection, which are essential elements in achieving sustainable development goals.

Vienna, Austria—On June 29, 2024, the University of Vienna, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Austria-Indonesia Fellowship Association held an international workshop titled “Insular Southeast Asia,” initiated by Dr. Gabriele Weichart with the support of ASEA UNINET. The workshop aimed to bring together scholars and students in the social sciences and related fields, focusing on the islands of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Timor-Leste). Participants were invited to share their latest research, research experiences, and explore new areas and opportunities for future projects in research, teaching, and other collaborative models.

Three lecturers from the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, contributed to the workshop. Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., and Gabriele Weichart (University of Vienna) presented a project titled “From cash crop to lifestyle: the long history of coffee in Indonesia,” Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant., M.A. presented a brief project titled “Participatory Digital Ethnography Learning Center: teaching e-fieldwork, digital ethnography and collaborative research at UGM,” and Wahyu Kuncoro, S.Ant., M.A. presented a brief project titled “Nurturing the future: pesantren, piety, and ‘good citizen’.” In this workshop, Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant., M.A. served as an organizer from Universitas Gadjah Mada along with Gabriele Weichart, Sanderien Verstappen, and Daniela Paredes Grijalva from the University of Vienna.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), held another Macapatan Jumat Legen event on Thursday, June 27th, 2024. This event took place at the Javanese Studies Center (Pusaka Jawa) and raised a popular Javanese literary work, namely Serat Wedhatama.

Serat Wedhatama, a literary work written by Kanjeng Gusti Pangeran Arya Adipati (KGPAA) Mangkunagara IV, is a work full of piwulang about the concept of divinity and moral teachings in life and society. The manuscript of Serat Wedhatama kept at the Mangkunegaran Palace Library in Surakarta consists of 100 stanzas and is divided into several pupuhs, namely:

1. Pupuh Pangkur: 14 pada (stanzas)
2. Pupuh Sinom: 18 pada (stanzas)
3. Pupuh Pocung: 15 pada (stanzas)
4. Pupuh Gambuh: 35 pada (stanzas)
5. Pupuh Kinanthi: 18 pada (stanzas)

The event presented Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum., as the speaker, and was attended by participants from various circles. In addition, Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., participated in developing Serat Wedhatama in the opening ceremony and several students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program participated in playing gamelan, adding to the solemn atmosphere of the event. The liveliness of the participants in reading and developing Serat Wedhatama created an atmosphere full of beauty.

Prof. Dr. Hendrokumoro, M.Hum, on the occasion, emphasized that Serat Wedhatama, with its philosophical values and moral messages, can be applied in daily life. However, the actualization needs to be considered so that it can be relevant to the current conditions.

Macapatan Jumat Legen aims to revive the Macapatan tradition and preserve this tradition for the younger generation. Preserving this tradition and extracting information from literary works such as Serat Wedhatama is an important step in improving the quality of public education. The collaboration of various parties, such as between the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program and the Pusaka Jawa UGM, is an effort to maximize these preservation efforts. Thus, the organization of Macapatan Jumat Legen is in line with the 4th and 17th points in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

Author : Haryo Untoro

Arabic Literature students from Padjadjaran University and North Sumatra University delivered farewell to the Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program at UGM, Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum., after completing a one-semester of Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka (PMM) at UGM Arabic Literature. This moment took place in Yogyakarta on June 25th, 2024.

During this exchange program, the students had the opportunity to attend various courses offered by the Arabic Literature Study Program at UGM. Additionally, they were involved in cultural and academic activities that enriched their understanding of the Arabic language and culture. Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati expressed her pride in the dedication and enthusiasm for learning shown by the three students.

This student exchange program not only provided students with the opportunity to broaden their academic horizons but also to build networks and collaborations between universities in Indonesia. It is hoped that this experience will greatly benefit the students in their academic and career development in the future.