Yogyakarta, 12 November 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada once again welcomed an educational visit from SMA Negeri 15 Surabaya, with a total of 146 students and accompanying teachers participating in the event. The visit aimed to introduce the academic environment, cultural atmosphere, and student activities at FIB UGM while providing students with insights into campus life at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The visit was guided by the UGM Campus Tour team in collaboration with FIB UGM Public Relations. The event began with a screening of the Universitas Gadjah Mada and Faculty of Cultural Sciences profile videos, followed by a presentation from FIB Public Relations on various admission pathways to UGM, the Single Tuition Fee (UKT) system, and an introduction to the Autonomous Art Bodies (BSO) as well as several student organizations within FIB.

After the presentation session, participants were invited to explore and get a closer look at the facilities and learning environment at FIB UGM, followed by a tour around the Balairung (Main Building/GSP), one of Universitas Gadjah Mada’s main landmarks. The event took place in an interactive and enthusiastic atmosphere, both from the participants and the guides.

This school visit activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Through this initiative, FIB UGM actively contributes to expanding access to higher education information and strengthening collaboration between universities and secondary schools, supporting the development of skilled and competitive human resources.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, November, 13, 2025 — The Badan Seni Otonom (BSO) Sastra Oebah from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again achieved an outstanding accomplishment by winning a gold medal in the Modern Dance Competition at the Gadjah Mada Sports and Arts Week (Porsenigama) 2025.

The Modern Dance contingent of FIB UGM, led by Oryza Sativa Rosyadi, delivered an exceptional performance after going through a series of selection stages. Previously, the FIB UGM team successfully advanced from the preliminary round and secured a spot in the Top 5 of the Modern Dance competition. In the final round, held on 9 November 2025, the team achieved first place, surpassing contingents from various other faculties across UGM.

This achievement not only serves as recognition of the creativity and dedication of FIB students in the field of dance but also reflects the spirit of collaboration and perseverance in developing artistic potential within the campus environment.

The accomplishment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Through events like Porsenigama, students are provided with opportunities to develop their talents and creativity while strengthening an inclusive, empowered, and sustainable artistic community within the university.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Academics from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (FIB UGM) reaffirmed their role in Indonesian philological studies by actively participating in the XX International Symposium on Nusantara Manuscripts (SIPN) and the Eighth National Conference (Munas) of the Nusantara Manuscript Society (MANASSA), held 15–17 October 2025 in Jakarta. The event, titled ‘Nusantara Manuscripts: Collective Memory and the Future of Indonesian Philology,’ was organized by MANASSA, the National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). It united researchers, academics, and cultural activists from Indonesia and abroad to discuss the future direction of philology and to build manuscript research networks in the digital era.

In this biennial scientific forum, lecturers and students from the Faculty of Humanities, Gadjah Mada University, played an active role as speakers and presenters. These included Dr Sudibyo, M.Hum.; Dr Arsanti Wulandari, M.Hum.; Dr Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A.; Dr R. Bima Slamet Raharja, S.S., M.A.; and Dr Phil. Ramayda Akmal, S.S., M.A. Five FIB UGM students also presented their research: Nanda Nursa Alya (Master of Linguistics), Priyo Joko Purnomo (Master of Literature), Ajeng Aisyah Fitria (Master of Literature), Sarwo Edi Wardana (Master of Literature), Tarlen Handayani (Master of Anthropology), and Anugrah Maulana Fadhli (Master of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies). Their involvement reflects their seriousness and dedication in building a dynamic, critical, and relevant manuscript research ecosystem in Indonesia to face the challenges of the times.

A special moment coloured this year’s symposium: Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., a retired lecturer from FIB UGM, received the Pustaka Paripalana 2025 for her dedication to preserving the archipelago’s manuscripts, especially through her work at the Pura Pakualaman Library, Yogyakarta. The Jury Chair, Prof. Dr. Oman Fathurahman, noted that the award reflects Dr. Sri Ratna’s perseverance, diligence, and consistency in safeguarding the nation’s knowledge heritage. The forum concluded by appointing Dr. Agus Iswanto, MA.Hum., as Chairman of MANASSA for 2025–2029. He carries the mission to encourage the younger generation to explore philology and manuscript studies (17/10).

FIB UGM representatives actively participated in SIPN XX. Their involvement demonstrated academic contributions and affirmed their commitment to making manuscripts a bridge between the nation’s past and future knowledge.

Author: Amanda Jesisca

Yogyakarta, November 3, 2025 – The Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continued its tenth session of the Entrepreneurship course with the theme “Optimizing Digital Potential in Business Development.” This session built upon the previous meeting’s topic, focusing on the use of digital media for business promotion but with a more practical and creative approach through a review of student group assignments.

In this meeting, lecturer and guest speaker Reisa Nurma Boruregar, S.S., centered the discussion on reviewing students’ creative video projects that illustrated their personal five-year life plans. Through this assignment, students were encouraged to project their future goals—such as graduation targets, plans for pursuing a master’s degree, or professional career aspirations—and transform these ideas into engaging and innovative visual content.

The assignment aimed to train students in building personal branding and self-promotion through digital media, aligning with the current professional landscape that values online presence and digital identity. Each group presented their video projects in class and received direct feedback from Reisa and their peers on aspects such as visual presentation, narrative flow, and communication strategy.

Through this tenth session, Arabic Literature students gained deeper insights into digital promotion strategies while applying them in a personal and reflective context. This project-based learning approach also demonstrated that the Entrepreneurship course in Arabic Literature UGM goes beyond theory, emphasizing hands-on creativity and digital literacy as essential skills for modern graduates.

The course also contributes to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering practical, 21st-century skill-based learning; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by preparing students to thrive in creative and digital industries; and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting the use of technology and innovation in sustainable self-development and entrepreneurship.

[Arabic Literature, Muhammad Ardiansyah]

Yogyakarta, November, 4, 2025 – Students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program participated in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on mapping ancient manuscripts organized by the Library and Archives Office (Dinpersip) of Salatiga City, Central Java, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The event took place in the Regional Secretariat room of the Salatiga City Library and Archives Office. The students were accompanied by their supervising lecturer, Yosephin Apriastuti Rahayu, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program who specializes in philology. 

The event began with an opening and remarks from the Mayor of Salatiga and the Head of the Library and Archives Office. In her remarks, the Head of the Library and Archives Office of Salatiga City, Sri Sarwanti, S.H., M.Si., said that there were 37 ancient manuscripts in the Salatiga area. Of these, five manuscripts have been transcribed and translated. All manuscript data has been digitized and stored in the Khastara system owned by the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia or Perpusnas.

The event was interspersed with macapat songs and continued with a presentation on the mapping and preservation of ancient manuscripts, especially those still stored in communities or non-institutions.

One of the interesting points was presented by Dr. Munawar Holil, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer in philology from the Regional Literature Study Program for Javanese Literature, University of Indonesia. He provided information about the discovery of a manuscript containing the story of Sri Tanjung, with a different version of the story compared to the popular one. This manuscript was found by residents at an antique market.

This FGD activity was enthusiastically welcomed by the students. In an interview on November 4, 2025, one of the participants, Novia Hikmatul Mubarokah, said that this activity provided valuable experience regarding the process of archiving manuscripts. “I feel very happy and interested, because the FGD discussed ancient manuscripts from the city of Salatiga that have been documented by the archives office,” she said.

Mapping ancient manuscripts is considered an important step in preserving the nation’s cultural and intellectual heritage. Manuscripts are not only traces of culture, but also reflect the civilization of the archipelago, containing values, ideas, literary works, and religious knowledge from the past.

The participation of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in this activity is expected to motivate the younger generation to continue preserving manuscripts, exploring the information contained within them, and developing this knowledge so that it can be useful to society. In addition, cooperation between various parties, from the government, academics, communities, to the public, is expected to continue as an effort to care for and preserve the cultural heritage of the Indonesian nation.