Jakarta – Muhammad Ghazi Al Ghifari and Amalia Faradilla, students of The Arabic Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, are participating in an internship program at the Directorate of Zakat and Waqf Empowerment, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Jakarta. Students are assigned to the administrative subdivision under the guidance of Fehmi Kurnia, S.E., M.Tr.A.P., and Iqbal Fadli Muhammad, S.E.I., M.Si. The internship program, which runs from August 26, 2024, to November 29, 2024, aims to provide practical experience in managing zakat and waqf as part of Islamic philanthropy.

During the internship, students are involved in various activities, including analyzing data from the National Zakat Management Report (LPZN) 2022–2024, processing data on zakat collection and distribution, creating an amil (zakat administrator) data matrix, compiling and editing books, editing videos, and preparing presentation slides on zakat, infaq, sadaqah, and other religious social funds (ZIS-DSKL). They also have the opportunity to participate in official external activities, visit the National Amil Zakat Agency and Amil Zakat Institutions, attend the World Zakat and Wakf Forum 2024, and the inauguration of Firdaus Memorial Park.

Through this internship program, students gain a deeper understanding of zakat and waqf management as well as the relevant regulations. With the knowledge and experience they acquire, they are expected to contribute to improving the welfare of the community through Islamic philanthropy.

[S1 Sastra Arab, Amalia Faradilla]

Yogyakarta, 23/2/2025 – University Club Boulevard hosted a seminar and workshop aimed at improving the role of PELBAKORI instructors in preparing prospective Indonesian migrant workers to work in South Korea. Welcomed by the dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si., the event was a follow-up to an audience held in January 2025 between the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) and PELBAKORI, which focused on the government-to-government (G to G) labour dispatch programme.

Seminar dimulai dengan upacara pembukaan yang mencakup lagu kebangsaan Indonesia, diikuti dengan pembacaan doa. Suasana penuh semangat saat para undangan disuguhkan penampilan tari kipas Korea (Buchaechum) yang dibawakan oleh para mahasiswi dari Program Studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Korea. Pertunjukan yang memukau ini tidak hanya menunjukkan keindahan budaya Korea, tetapi juga menciptakan suasana positif untuk kegiatan hari itu. 

One of the crucial issues identified in this programme is the language barrier faced by Indonesian migrant workers, which is a concern for Korean employers. Many workers have difficulty understanding work instructions, resulting in miscommunication and potential conflict. To address this, PELBAKORI is committed to improving the quality and skills of prospective migrant workers, especially in language acquisition, by collaborating with academic institutions.

Instructors from vocational training centres (LPK) that are members of PELBAKORI play an important role in this initiative. They are tasked with equipping migrant workers with the language skills necessary to succeed in South Korea. Therefore, it is imperative that these instructors continue to improve their teaching skills in Korean.

The Korean Language and Culture Study Programme at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has been a key partner of PELBAKORI since 2018. This collaboration aims to create synergy between academia, vocational training institutions, and KP2MI to improve the quality of prospective migrant workers. The ultimate goal is to prepare these workers to become ambassadors of the nation who contribute to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, in accordance with KP2MI’s tagline #BerangkatMigranPulangJuragan.

The seminar was attended by distinguished guests, including Dwi Setiawan Susanto, Director General of Promotion and Utilisation of Overseas Employment Opportunities at KP2MI, and Abri Danar Prabawa, Director of Vocational Institutional Development for Indonesian Migrant Workers at KP2MI. Also present will be the heads of UPT BP3MI from Yogyakarta, Central Java, and East Java, as well as Shin Jiwon from the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS).

The event will also feature expert speakers, including Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., MA, Ph.D. from the department of Korean Language and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Didin Samsudin, S.E., M.M., CHCM., CIT. from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, and Dr Hwang Who Young, M.A. from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Their insights will be invaluable in discussing challenges and solutions related to language training for migrant workers.

As part of the workshop, participants will engage in interactive sessions designed to improve their teaching methodologies and language teaching techniques. This practical approach aims to empower instructors to better prepare their students for the realities of working in South Korea, ensuring they can communicate and integrate well in the workplace.

This seminar and workshop is a significant step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in terms of access to education and decent work for all. By investing in the education and training of migrant workers, Indonesia not only improves their competitiveness but also fosters a more skilled workforce that can contribute positively to the economy.

In conclusion, collaboration between PELBAKORI, KP2MI, and academic institutions is crucial to the success of Indonesian migrant workers in South Korea. By overcoming the language barrier and improving the quality of training, this initiative will help create a generation of skilled workers who can be ambassadors for Indonesia abroad.

[Public Relations Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Bulan Churniati]

Yogyakarta, 14/2/25 – In order to assist exchange students regarding their study plans at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Public Relations and Cooperation Unit together with the Academic Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Coordination Meeting for Exchange Student Study Plans in the Multimedia Room of the Margono Building on Friday, February 14, 2025 which was attended by Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka Participants of the FIB Dean Consortium throughout Indonesia and Abroad.

This activity began with remarks from the Deputy Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum. who conveyed warm greetings to the students present and also ensured that each student no longer had obstacles to their study plans at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada in this semester. In addition, Mrs. Ningrum also conveyed the various activities that can be participated in by exchange students, such as traditional dance, gamelan, batik, and many more which are coordinated in the Semi-Autonomous Student Organizations of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

After discussing student activities, the session continued with a presentation on course selection procedures by the Academic Team of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The session was conducted with the involvement of one of the student exchange participants from Japan, Takeru Homma, who was willing to volunteer in the practice of course selection.

In addition to listening to the explanation from the Academic Team of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, all students who attended also seemed enthusiastic to build networks among each other with small talk about their origin and views on UGM and Yogyakarta. Hopefully, the Coordination Meeting of the Exchange Student Study Plan will be a positive step in strengthening the relationship between students and faculty, as well as opening opportunities for them to get to know more about the culture and student activities at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 4/2/2025 – Prof. dr. Martijn Eickhoff gave a presentation on the extreme violence committed by the Dutch military during the Indonesian War of Independence in a discussion organized by the Universitas Gadjah Mada Department of History and several Dutch institutions on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in Room 709 Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The discussion was attended by 24 participants, including the Head of the History Department of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Abdul Wahid.

In his presentation, Prof. dr. Martijn Eickhoff outlined the key findings of the book “Beyond the Pale” which is the result of a comprehensive research involving 30 Dutch researchers, 11 Indonesian researchers, and 6 international researchers. The research began in September 2017 with the full support of the Dutch government without any intervention. “The official view of the Dutch government in 1969 that the armed forces as a whole behaved correctly in Indonesia and that there were only a few excesses is no longer tenable,” he says.

The research reveals that the Dutch military frequently and structurally used extreme violence, including torture, summary executions, rape, destruction of property and burning of villages. Political, military, civilian and legal officials at the time tolerated, promoted, covered up and took no action to punish perpetrators of violence.

Prof. dr. Martijn Eickhoff explains some of the factors that led to the extreme violence, including the underestimation of the strength of Indonesian nationalism that led to unrealistic political and military strategies, and the willingness to use extreme violence to destroy the Republic and take control of decolonization. This is in line with what he asserts, “The Dutch armed forces as an institution are responsible for this widespread and structural extreme violence. The Dutch government as a whole is responsible for what happened”.

In response to the results of this study, the Rutte Cabinet immediately offered support and apologies aimed primarily at Indonesian victims, the Indisch community, and veterans. However, some segments of the veteran and Indisch communities expressed disappointment and anger. Activist groups also criticized the study for ignoring centuries of colonial injustice.

In Indonesia, the positive response has mainly come from academics, while the reaction from the government and the public has been cool. This discussion is part of an effort to bridge the historical narratives between Indonesia and the Netherlands in the Indonesian War of Independence.

[Public Relation of Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Muhammad Ebid El Hakim]

Yogyakarta, 28/1/2025 – As the host of Temu Budaya Nusantara (TBN) XXX Imbasadi, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) remains serious in the competition that is part of the big series. The earnestness of the UGM delegation, represented by ten students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, paid off with championships in three branches of the competition, including the following:

1. 1st place in the National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN) – Haryo Untoro, Daffa Pharaja Mustofa, and Miktahul Ulumudin

The work competed in LKTIN has the title Implementation of Asthabrata Concept as the Foundation of Generation Z Life. This study raises the material object in the form of Asthabrata’s leadership concept in Yasadipura I’s Serat Rama, which turns out to be relevant and can be a life guide for generation Z.

2. 1st place in Batik Design Competition – Meifira Arini Pitaloka

The batik designed by Meifira Arini Pitaloka presents a butterfly with various batik motifs on its wings, as well as other supporting motifs. From her work, there is an in-depth philosophy of Indonesian culture as the identity of the people of the archipelago, with its various forms, patterns, and philosophies, and continues to live and develop throughout the ages.

3.     3rd Place in Storytelling Competition – Ghibran Arsha Daffa’ Musaffa’

Ghibran Arsha Daffa’ Musaffa’ presented a story entitled Nyai Rangga Wati. The story focuses on the quarrel between a couple, Joko and Wati, in Malioboro. During the argument, Joko did not want Wati to continue her desire to become a Jathilan player, which he considered an ancient and backward art. The argument ended with their relationship breaking down. In the end, Wati continued to pursue her dream as a Jathilan dancer and was dubbed by the community as Nyai Rangga Wati.

Imbasadi’s XXXth Nusantara Cultural Gathering took place over five days, from November 11-15, 2024. The event themed Manggala Gajah Mada: Ancala Raksi Budaya ‘Pioneer Gajah Mada: Bagai Gunung Pengharum Budaya’ took place with a variety of events, such as various competitions, batik, tilik UGM, until the peak night in the form of awarding champions, wayang kulit performance of the Gajah Mada Kridha play, and cultural tours to Pura Pakualaman.

There are seven (7) competitions held, namely cultural performances, National Scientific Writing Competition (LKTIN), fairy tale competition, batik design competition, Tiktok archipelago competition, documentary film competition, and essay competition.

The delegates who participated in the event consisted of the 3 youngest batches, from the batch of 2022 there was Haryo Untoro, then from the batch of 2023 represented by Meifira Arini Pitaloka and Nisrina Almasevi, while the batch of 2024 was represented by Dhaffa Pharaja Mustofa, Ghibran Arsha Daffa’ Musaffa’, Harvesto Qodam Sahaja, Miktahul Ulumudin, Nurcholish Ramadhan, Noviyanti Alfitri, and Shabrina Fitra Azzahra.

With the implementation of the XXXth National Cultural Meeting, it is hoped that it can generate enthusiasm for students to continue to appreciate, explore, preserve, and develop traditional and cultural heritage in Indonesia. The existence of the TBN-XXX can also be a place to strengthen the relationship of students of regional language and literature study programs throughout Indonesia, and unite the spirit to realize the goals of sustainable development for the advancement of national civilization. 

Our gratitude goes to all parties who participated in supporting and organizing this activity. Thank you also to all students majoring in regional literature throughout Indonesia who have attended and tried together to preserve and enliven the diversity of Indonesia in full harmony. Hopefully in the future, Imbasadi can present real efforts in cultural preservation and spread benefits to the people of Indonesia. 

Indonesia is diverse, Imbasadi unites

[Public Relation Javanese Literature FIB UGM, Haryo Untoro]