Yogyakarta, April 23, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held the Mengayubagya ceremony to honor its postgraduate graduates of Period III for the Academic Year 2025/2026 in a solemn and proud atmosphere. The event served as a moment of appreciation for the graduates’ academic achievements, as well as a milestone marking the beginning of their professional careers and contributions to society.

The ceremony was attended by the Dean of FIB UGM, Setiadi, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Nur Saktiningrum, Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, Suray Agung Nugroho, as well as representatives from various departments and study programs within FIB UGM.

A total of 108 postgraduate graduates participated in the ceremony. In his remarks, the Dean of FIB UGM expressed optimism regarding the future development of postgraduate programs. He highlighted several ongoing academic innovations, including the introduction of a fast-track program, as well as strengthened collaborations with international universities through double degree and joint degree schemes. According to him, these initiatives will broaden opportunities to enhance both the number and quality of postgraduate students at FIB UGM.

On this occasion, an award was also presented to an outstanding graduate, Hadijah Rima, who achieved a perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.00. This accomplishment is expected to inspire fellow graduates to continuously strive for academic excellence.

The Mengayubagya ceremony was not merely a formal event, but also a moment of reflection on the academic journey and a source of hope for the graduates’ future contributions in building a more knowledgeable and culturally enriched society.

This event aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes the importance of inclusive and high-quality higher education, as well as the development of human resources to face global challenges. It also supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through strengthened international collaborations in double degree and joint degree programs.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, April 22, 2026 — The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a Javanese script font socialization event in Room Margono 402. This event was aimed at faculty and student representatives as an effort to increase understanding of the use of Javanese script in the digital realm.

This socialization was motivated by various obstacles faced by the academic community in using Javanese script fonts. Some of the problems that frequently arise include differences in keyboard layouts compared to the Latin alphabet, font illegibility on certain devices, indicated by the appearance of a tofu symbol or a box (an illegible sign), and differences in compatibility between keyboard layouts, such as Windows and Macintosh. These conditions are considered to hinder the use of Javanese script, even though this script plays a vital role in cultural studies and preservation within the study program.

To address this issue, this event featured Setya Amrih Prasaja, S.S., M.Pd., an alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, known as the developer of digital Javanese script fonts. Representatives from the Yogyakarta Special Region Cultural Office (Kundha Kabudayan) also attended the event, demonstrating their support for cultural preservation efforts through technology.

In his presentation, the speaker explained the process of developing Javanese script fonts and keyboard layouts, including the technical challenges faced in implementing them across various platforms. He also outlined the steps for introducing digital Javanese script at the national and international levels, as well as developing a system that can be operated on various devices. Furthermore, participants were introduced to several Javanese script fonts that are freely accessible without licensing constraints.

Through this activity, participants are expected to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the use of Javanese script keyboards and fonts in a digital context. Furthermore, this outreach is expected to encourage the dissemination of knowledge to the academic community and a wider audience, as part of efforts to preserve and strengthen the existence of Javanese script in the digital era.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta, April, 4, 2026 – The Student Association of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Student Association, or Kamastawa Student Association, held its first meeting, or inaugural meeting, of the Sahacitta Cabinet in the Auditorium on the 7th floor of the Soegondo Building. This event served as a means of building camaraderie among the board members and introducing the organizational structure and work program plans for the next term.

The event began at 7:30 a.m. WIB with an opening reception, followed by a serving of cokekan (rice cake) to open the atmosphere. In addition to all board members and students, the event was also attended by lecturers from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, as a token of support for student activities.

The event was then officially opened by various Executive Chairs and the Chair of Kamastawa Student Association 2026. On this occasion, the advisor of Kamastawa Student Association, Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.IP., M.A., also delivered various keynotes and symbolically inaugurated the Sahacitta Cabinet.

Entering the main session, the board introduced the Sahacitta Cabinet by explaining the philosophy of the name, visual identity, and direction of the organization. Etymologically, “Sahacitta” comes from the Sanskrit words “saha,” meaning “together,” and “citta,” meaning “feeling.” This naming reflects the spirit of togetherness and a unified consciousness to achieve the organization’s goals.

The event continued with an explanation of the division structure and the board members who will implement the work program for the period. Each division explained its function and focus as part of the organization’s development efforts, as well as its contribution to the preservation and development of Javanese language, literature, and culture.

The event concluded with a joint documentation session marking the beginning of the Sahacitta Cabinet administration. Through this activity, it is hoped that all board members can work synergistically to strengthen the organization’s role, both in the academic environment and in the wider community.

[Javanese, Language, and Literature, Haryo Untoro]

Yogyakarta, April 9, 2026 – A photography exhibition titled “Life Behind the Ride: Resilience and Risk in Indonesia’s On-Demand Economy” opened in the West Lobby of the Anthropology Building, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, and will be on display for six weeks. Organized by EthnoLab at the University of Toronto, Canada, the exhibition is the outcome of the long-term research project “Ubering the City,” led by Dr. Sheri Gibbings, Dr. Elan Lazuardi (Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM), Dr. Robbie Peters, and Dr. Joshua Barker, involving collaboration among researchers, students, and photographers.

This exhibition highlights the impact of the digital economic transformation on the urban transportation landscape in Indonesia through a visual ethnographic approach. The presence of the gig economy has not only displaced traditional motorcycle taxis but also reshaped social networks, mobility patterns, and urban planning. One of the key contributors to this exhibition is Syahrul Zidane, a Master’s student in Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Despite the distance and time zone differences, coordination between the UGM and University of Toronto teams was conducted intensively through online meetings.

Before his involvement in Toronto, Zidane had previously contributed to exhibitions at Gadjah Mada University and Wilfrid Laurier University. He was responsible for exhibition layout, photo curation, as well as the design of books and digital materials such as the digital catalog and contributor book. Now, he is once again involved in an exhibition at the University of Toronto alongside Dr. Emily Hertzman, the exhibition’s curator, and Austin from the School of Cities.

In this project, Zidane is also working on the exhibition space layout, visual curation, and the design of various elements such as description text and the digital catalog. He admits that this experience has given him a unique sense of fulfillment: “It feels very rewarding to me because I can contribute my skills in exhibition management, and it’s like going back to my college days (undergraduate studies) in the arts, particularly in curatorial work and exhibition layout,” Zidane explained. Zidane’s involvement reflects the role of Indonesia’s younger generation in the international academic arena while highlighting the importance of global collaboration.

[Anthropology,  Dewi Widyastuti]

The Japanese Popular Culture course, organized by the Japanese Language and Culture Program, welcomed guest students to its class on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The course instructor, Lili Febriyani, S.S., M.Si., invited students from various cohorts to provide reviews and feedback on the poster assignments prepared by each group.

The presence of guest students aims to enrich the learning process through a more diverse range of perspectives. In addition to receiving evaluations from the instructor and fellow students, participants also received input from students across different cohorts, including those who have and those who have not yet taken the course. Furthermore, this activity helped train students’ abilities to present ideas and respond to questions directly.

The guest students in attendance were from the 2021 and 2022 cohorts who had taken the Popular Culture course, as well as the 2024 and 2025 cohorts who had not yet taken the course. During this activity, the guest students observed and evaluated the posters presented by each group, focusing on design, clarity of content, and the ability to convey the material.

The posters created by each group explored the theme of the representation of heterosexual women in Japanese media, employing diverse visual approaches and analyses. Each group presented the content of their poster in detail and responded to questions posed by the visiting students.

At the end of the session, the visiting students shared their general impressions and evaluations through representatives from each class. This activity is expected to encourage students to be more open to diverse perspectives and to strengthen academic interaction among classes in the learning process.

Author: Nur Shafiyah Salma Putri