Yogyakarta, October 18, 2025 – Students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), have once again brought pride to their university at the national level. The team, consisting of Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh, successfully won 2nd Place in the Essay Presentation Competition at the Arabic Fair 2025.

The Arabic Fair 2025 is an annual competition organized by the Arabic Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), and supported by the QISAR Arabic Student Association. The event serves as a platform to broaden academic perspectives and enhance students’ competencies in Arabic language and literature.

In the Essay Presentation category, Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh competed against participants from universities across Indonesia. The category challenged students not only to compose their ideas in a written essay but also to present them persuasively and comprehensively before the judges. Through determination and hard work, the UGM team demonstrated their exceptional quality, securing the 2nd best position and outperforming many other competitors. Remarkably, both are first-semester students, making their achievement even more impressive as they competed alongside senior-level participants.

Expressing their gratitude, the team emphasized the importance of confidence and perseverance in academic pursuits. “We worked day and night to prepare for this competition. But we believe this achievement is not the end of our journey, it’s just the beginning of a long road ahead,” said Muhammad Al Hasan on behalf of the team.

The accomplishment of Muhammad Al Hasan and Faqih Hidayatulloh adds another milestone to the list of achievements of UGM’s Arabic Study Program students at the national level. Their success is expected to inspire and motivate fellow students to continue participating actively in competitions and academic initiatives. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM extends its warmest congratulations to the team for their remarkable achievement.

[Arabic Literature, Faqih Hidayatulloh & Muhammad Al Hasan]

Yogyakarta, November 1, 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Student Exchange Program Evaluation as part of the closing activities for both national and international student exchange programs for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year.

The event took place at two destinations, Gamplong Studio Alam and Kopi Ingkar Janji in Kulon Progo. In addition to serving as a reflection on the implementation of the exchange program, the activity also aimed to strengthen the bonds between exchange students, lecturers, and faculty administrators in a warm and collegial atmosphere.

The event was attended by Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., and Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. In their remarks, the faculty leaders expressed their appreciation to the exchange students for their enthusiasm and dedication during their studies at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

Various positive impressions were shared by the participants. Moza, a Japanese Literature student from Universitas Udayana who joined the exchange program in the Tourism Study Program at FIB UGM, shared how much she enjoyed the program and her interest in learning across disciplines. From Universitas Andalas, Zakiya and Farah also shared their memorable academic experiences at FIB UGM. “Academically, nothing compares to UGM,” said Zakiya, while Farah appreciated the proactive support provided by the study program’s administrative staff.

Tiara Nur Aisyah from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta also expressed her gratitude to the faculty for their assistance throughout the administrative process. “FIB UGM is truly cultured, distinctive, and full of character,” she said.

From the international participants, Ciro from Italy shared his fascinating experience studying Indonesian at FIB UGM. He was impressed by the warm and interactive academic environment. “Here, lecturers truly act as mentors and take part in discussions with students. The atmosphere is very comfortable and makes us feel at home,” he shared.

Beyond sharing experiences, the event also served as a platform for reflection and discussion to evaluate and further improve the exchange program in the future. The event concluded with a group photo session involving all participants and faculty leaders, marking the end of the activity in a friendly and memorable manner.

The implementation of the student exchange program at FIB UGM aligns with the university’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this initiative, FIB UGM contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing cross-cultural, cross-institutional, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities that broaden students’ perspectives and enhance their global competencies. Moreover, this activity strengthens the realization of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering sustainable collaboration between domestic and international universities to build an inclusive, continuous, and human-centered educational network.

In this way, FIB UGM not only serves as an academic space for the development of knowledge and culture but also as a platform for nurturing young generations who are open to diversity and committed to achieving sustainable development at the global level.

[Public Relations, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

The Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, is once again holding its annual Gugur Gunung 14 event as part of the 70th anniversary of the study program’s establishment. Established on September 19, 1955, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program has now entered its seventh decade of research, development, and preservation of Javanese culture in both academic and wider communities.

This year, Gugur Gunung carries the theme Tataning Ucap Sirnaning Dhesti, which means “organizing speech to avoid misfortune.” This theme forms the basis of values in fostering a spirit of mutual cooperation, unity, and togetherness in order to achieve the noble goal of preserving and realizing the sustainability of Javanese language, literature, and culture.

The first series of activities is a Javanese cultural exhibition which will be held on September 17-18, 2025, on the 1st floor of the Margono Building, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During the exhibition, visitors are invited to explore various forms of Javanese culture through traditional games, gamelan musical instruments, wayang kulit (shadow puppets), ancient manuscripts, and weton (birth date calculations). Visitors can not only observe, but also interact directly and gain knowledge about the philosophical meaning behind each culture on display.

The highlight of the Gugur Gunung 14 event will be held on September 19, 2025, at the Poerbatjaraka Building Auditorium on the 3rd floor. The highlight of the evening will feature a variety of art performances, including classical dance, creative dance, and the dance drama “Adisari: Cahaya Kasih di Balik Penaklukan” (Adisari: The Light of Love Behind Conquest).

Full screenshot of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Knowledge Channel (2025, September 30) at [13:00]. Accessed from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLnTciXTCEg.

The dance drama was adapted from the text and illustrations of the Babad Metawis Skriptorium Pakualaman manuscript, which was initiated by Sri Paku Alam II. In addition to showcasing the richness of traditional art, the event was made even more special by the collaborative performance of students from Osaka University. It also served as a moment of farewell and appreciation for Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., who was retiring from her position. 

The Gugur Gunung 14 event is not just an anniversary celebration, but also a concrete means of preserving and reviving Javanese culture. Through this event, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program affirms its commitment to maintaining the sustainability of the noble values of Javanese culture so that they remain relevant amid the tide of modernity.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro

Bibliography
Kanal Pengetahuan Fakultas Ilmu Budaya UGM. (2025, 29 September). Alih Wahana Manuskrip Kuna ke Seni Pertunjukan, Adisari: Cahaya Kasih di Balik Penaklukan [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLnTciXTCEg.

Yogyakarta, October 29, 2025 — A warm and emotional atmosphere enveloped the 4th floor hallway of the Margono Building on Wednesday afternoon. The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, witnessed a special event hosted by Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., a retired lecturer from the department. On this occasion, she distributed a book titled Sastra Menitra to the program and students from various batches as a memento and token of appreciation for the academic journey she had undertaken with the students.

The Sestra Manitra book is not merely a collection of writings, but rather a collaborative work by students from the classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024 who took courses taught by Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., in the even semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. The course covered Creative Written Javanese Language, Philology, Codicology, Communicative Spoken Javanese Language, and New Javanese Poetry Texts.

Presentation of the Sestra Manitra book to representatives of the class of 2022

Presentation of the Sestra Manitra book to representatives of the class of 2023

Presentation of the Sestra Manitra book to representatives of the class of 2024

The class of 2022 contributed through Javanese-language coverage, while the class of 2023 presented illumination results in the form of rubrikasi, renggan, wedana renggan, and wedana gapura renggan. Meanwhile, the class of 2024 wrote various forms of Javanese literature, including parikan, geguritan, macapat, sengkalan, wangsalan, saduran, piwulang, and dongeng.

Etymologically, the title Sastra Menitra means “writings that are composed with deep feeling based on real means.” This meaning reflects the depth of the writings produced by the students through the use of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—as gifts and creative powers from God Almighty.

The event began at 4:30 p.m. with an opening and prayer led by Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum. The event continued with a speech from the Head of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum. The atmosphere became solemn when all participants sang the song Panyuwunan “permohonan” (prayer) composed by the late Dr. I. Kuntara Wiryamartana, SJ. The situation became even more solemn with the reading of a poem recited by Noviyanti Alfitri, a student from the class of 2024.

Entering the main session, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., symbolically handed over the book Sastra Menitra to Dr. Daru Winarti, M.Hum., which was then followed by distribution to lecturers and students. More than just a book handover ceremony, this moment became a form of deep appreciation and remembrance for the entire academic community.

In the introduction to the book, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum., expressed her hope that Sestra Manitra would become a fond memory for students and a sincere tribute to the late Dr. I. Kuntara Wiryamartana, SJ., who had been a teacher and role model from his undergraduate studies to his current service.

She also hopes that this work will inspire the younger generation to continue learning, studying, and preserving Javanese culture. “May Sestra Manitra be useful for anyone who wants to study Javanese language, literature, and culture,” wrote Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum.

The book handover ceremony for Sastra Menitra concluded in a warm and grateful atmosphere, marking a beautiful farewell between a dedicated educator and the students who will carry forward the spirit of preserving Javanese culture in the future.

[Javanese Literature, Languange and Culture, Haryo Untoro]

Yogyakarta, October 31, 2025 — The American Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), held a Public Lecture titled “Trauma and Cultural Awareness” at the Soegondo Building, FIB UGM.

The event featured Dr. Jack Leslie Redfern, Jr. from Goshen College, Indiana, United States, an affiliate professor renowned for his expertise in cross-cultural studies and trauma psychology.

In his presentation, Dr. Leslie explained that trauma is an intense emotional, psychological, or physical response to an event or series of events that exceed an individual’s capacity to cope. According to him, trauma can leave lasting effects on one’s functioning and overall well-being.

Furthermore, Dr. Leslie emphasized that trauma is not only defined by the objective event but also by the subjective experience of the person who undergoes it. He added that repeated minor stressors (chronic adversity) can have an impact as severe as a single catastrophic event.

In addition, cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping how trauma is recognized, expressed, and addressed within a society. Dr. Leslie illustrated this by referring to conditions in several rural Javanese villages, where values such as saving face and preserving family honor (rasa malu) often discourage individuals from disclosing experiences of domestic violence. Instead of seeking professional help, such cases are typically resolved internally through community elders or neighborhood meetings (RT/RW).

Through this public lecture, students were encouraged to understand that trauma management cannot be separated from the social and cultural contexts of a community. Cultural awareness, he explained, is essential for fostering empathy and developing more humane approaches toward trauma survivors.

This activity also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). Through academic programs like this, FIB UGM reaffirms its commitment to deepening students’ understanding of mental health and cultural diversity while fostering awareness of the importance of inclusive, human-centered social support.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]