On Tuesday, June 4, 2024 yesterday, a National Seminar was held with the theme “Arabic Language Development in Various Media” as a tribute to Dr. Masrukhi. M.Hum before entering his retirement. The seminar was attended by his fellow lecturers and even attended by several officials such as the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si., Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., and Head of the Arabic Literature Study Program, Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum. Apart from lecturers, students who had been taught by him also attended the seminar. 

After the event was opened, Eka Setiawan and Pandhita Hapsari as the host handed over their duties to Dr. Arief Ma’nawi, S.S., M.Hum. as moderator to guide the seminar. The core event was the National Seminar with speakers including Prof. Dr. Syamsul Hadi, S.U., M.A., Prof. Dr. H Tulus Musthofa, Lc., M.A. and Dr. Moh. Masrukhi, M.Hum. himself. The presentation of mementos was handed over by Dr. Mahmudah, S.S., M.Hum. as a representative of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies and Dra. Uswatun Hasanah, M.A. as a representative of Arabic Literature study program lecturers. The event was closed with a tumpeng cutting procession by the honorable Dr. Mohammad Masrukhi M.Hum.

The Information and Documentation Management Officer (PPID) of Universitas Gadjah Mada regularly updates public information as a form of commitment to the implementation of information disclosure at UGM. In connection with this, PPID invited representatives of each faculty at Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Public Relations (Humas) section, to attend the 2024 Public Information Update Coordination Meeting which was held online on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 9 until 11 am.

Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M. as the Main Information and Documentation Management Officer expressed his gratitude for the attention and good cooperation. It is hoped that after this meeting, there will be concrete steps to improve transparency and accessibility of information within the university. Hopefully, the meeting results in a more proactive policy in providing relevant and up-to-date information to all stakeholders, be it students, staff, or the general public. Thus, Universitas Gadjah Mada can be increasingly recognized as an institution that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the information needs of the community.

Friday, May 31, 2024, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM held a routine activity of Cheerful Friday, Healthy FIB held in the yard of FIB UGM. The routine activity in the morning was attended by all teaching staff and lecturers of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with five types of activities available: Line Dance, healthy gymnastics, table tennis and badminton, Fitness/Gym, and healthy walking.

Starting at 07.00 WIB, the academic community with an atmosphere of enthusiasm underwent various types of sports activities available with joy. This activity is not only to improve health and physical fitness, but also to strengthen relationships with the extended family of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. Exercising together is a commitment to promote physical and mental health and well-being among the academic community.

A collaborative research study between the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Department of Anthropology at Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) is currently underway (May – October 2024) focusing on eating habits and food-giving traditions for toddlers. The research, titled “Eating Habits and Food-Giving Traditions for Toddlers in Efforts to Prevent Stunting in Rural Sundanese Areas,” is being conducted by two researchers: Dr. Atik Triratnawati, M.A. from UGM and Erna Herawati, S.Ant., MA., PhD. from UNPAD. They are academics with extensive track records in anthropological research, particularly related to public health.

This study focuses on the eating habits and food-giving traditions for toddlers in Cileles Village, Jatinangor District, Sumedang, West Java. The village was chosen as the research site due to its paradoxical condition: despite having good access to natural resources and healthy food, it still has a relatively high stunting rate. This phenomenon indicates issues in consumption patterns and food-giving traditions. One interesting early finding is the high consumption of aci (tapioca flour)-based foods, which are suspected to contribute to the high stunting rate. Aci-based foods are often given as main meals, not just snacks, even to toddlers.

The main objective of this research is to enhance understanding of the eating patterns and food-giving traditions that can influence stunting in rural Sundanese areas. The study also aims to identify and promote local foods with good nutritional content while minimizing the provision of foods that can cause stunting. This research has broader implications in efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) points 1, 2, and 3, which are No Poverty, Zero Hunger, and Good Health and Well-being for all ages. By improving the nutrition of toddler food and educating the community about the importance of healthy eating patterns, it is hoped that significant improvements in the health and well-being of the people in Cileles Village and other areas with similar issues can be achieved.

The research involving Dr. Atik Triratnawati and Erna Herawati is expected to make a significant contribution to efforts to address stunting in rural Sundanese areas. By highlighting the importance of understanding eating habits and food-giving traditions and identifying healthier local foods, this study aims to encourage positive changes in community eating patterns. The output of this research will be published in a scientific journal in October 2024, making the results accessible to various interested parties, both academically and practically. Thus, it is hoped that this research will not only provide new insights but also serve as a foundation for more effective health policies and programs in the future.

Author: Afif Naufal Widiadi