The Master’s Program in Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), recorded a notable academic achievement at the Postgraduate Graduation Ceremony for Period II of the 2025/2026 Academic Year, held in Yogyakarta on Tuesday (January 21, 2026). One of its graduates, Iftinan Rose Putri Safana, earned the distinction of fastest graduate, completing her studies in 1 year, 8 months, and 8 days.

The postgraduate graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences this period conferred degrees upon 46 graduates, consisting of 38 master’s graduates and 8 doctoral graduates. Of the total master’s graduates, 21 received the cum laude distinction, with an average Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.77.

Iftinan’s achievement as the fastest graduate reflects academic consistency, careful study planning, and the effectiveness of the learning process and academic supervision within the Master’s Program in Literature. Completing a master’s degree in less than two years demonstrates that postgraduate education can be pursued optimally without compromising academic quality.

In her remarks at the Mangayubagya (farewell and appreciation) ceremony for graduates of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Vice Dean of FIB UGM, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., emphasized the vital role of education in shaping individuals who are critical and socially responsible. She cited Paulo Freire’s thought that the task of education is to form people who will later become agents of change.

“Education does not change the world. Education changes people. People change the world. Education at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, including in the Master’s Program in Literature, is directed toward shaping graduates who possess intellectual sensitivity and a commitment to humanitarian values,” she said.

Academic excellence at the master’s level was also demonstrated by the highest GPA achievement, attained by Hanina Naura Fadila, a graduate of the Anthropology Study Program, with a GPA of 3.93. In her address as the representative of master’s students, Hanina invited graduates to view their academic work as a form of intellectual responsibility.

The achievements of the Master’s Program in Literature graduates at this graduation ceremony align with UGM’s commitment to supporting quality education, through the provision of excellent, reflective postgraduate education oriented toward holistic human development.

Author: Khotibul Umam

Singapore, January 5, 2026 – Randy Setiawan, an educational staff member of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was selected as a delegate in the Transforming University Libraries Leadership and Innovation Programme (TULLIP) organized by NUS Libraries. The program brought together 19 participants from various countries and was held over five days, focusing on strengthening leadership, innovation, and digital transformation in university libraries.

The TULLIP program was designed to foster collaboration between librarians across the ASEAN region and the global academic community. Through a series of workshops, seminars, roundtable discussions, and learning visits, participants were equipped with strategic skills to address the challenges of library management amid a rapidly evolving information landscape.

Throughout the program, participants took part in a range of thematic sessions. The first day explored leadership in driving transformative change within libraries. The second day highlighted the use of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and innovation in leading academic libraries. The third day focused on library partnership practices in supporting education and research. On the fourth day, libraries were positioned as living labs through the management of collections, infrastructure, and spatial design. The program concluded on the fifth day with a case study-based problem-solving session.

In one of the presentation sessions, Setiawan outlined the challenges faced by the FIB UGM Library, particularly in relation to limited collection storage space. “In yesterday’s paper presentation, we highlighted an issue faced by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Library, namely the need to accommodate space as the library collection continues to grow,” Setiawan explained.

He added that older collections remain in high demand among students. “In addition, there is an urgent need to transform library collections from physical formats to digital ones. This is due to the limited capacity of the temporary library space, which can only accommodate around 15 percent of the total collection,” he said. As a result, approximately 85 percent of the collection must be stored long term and is at risk of deterioration.

Setiawan also shared that the workshop sessions provided participants with insights into effective and up-to-date collection digitization processes. On the same occasion, he introduced efforts to promote the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM’s rare collections through the Lawang Sejarah platform, which can be accessed at langka.lib.ugm.ac.id.

The participation of the FIB UGM delegate in the TULLIP program reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to adapting to developments in information technology and strengthening the role of libraries as centers for learning and research. Through enhanced human resource capacity and international networking, libraries are expected to better support an inclusive, impactful, and sustainability-oriented academic ecosystem.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

On 29-31 October 2025, UIN Syeikh Nurjati Cirebon held a Curriculum Workshop attended by representatives from several IQLAB members from various universities in Indonesia. The event began with a ceremony and several speeches, one of which was from the chair of the Workshop committee, Erfan Gazali, M.Ag. This was followed by a speech from Dr. Uki Sukiman, the chair of Iqlab Indonesia at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, who explained the importance of this organisation in uniting the increasingly developing Arabic Language and Literature programmes, both in terms of scholarship and the growing number of Arabic Language and Literature programmes.

On the second day, the event continued with the Implementation of the Self-Assessment of Study Program Curricula, guided by Haeruddin, M.A., and Dr. Uki Sukiman. In this event, participants were invited to conduct a self-assessment of the curricula of their respective study programmes. This event aimed to increase participants’ understanding of the importance of self-assessment in curriculum development. In the evening, the event continued with the Promotion of the UGM Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Master’s Programme, presented by Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum., who introduced the programme to participants.

On the third day, participants were invited to learn about the local culture of Cirebon through a visit to the Kasepuhan Palace and a culinary tour of empal gentong. This activity aimed to strengthen the rapport between IQLAB Indonesia administrators and programme coordinators, as well as to strengthen cooperation between educational institutions. The event concluded with a visit to the Sang Ciptarasa Mosque, a symbol of spirituality and Islamic history in Cirebon. This workshop also served as the annual meeting of IQLAB Indonesia members as mandated in the IQLAB Indonesia Articles of Association, which invited participants to evaluate their respective study programme curricula in accordance with BAN-PT standards.

Author: Amanda Jesisca

West Java, October 29, 2025 – The Curriculum Team of the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), took part in the Curriculum Standards Assessment Workshop organized by UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. The event gathered 19 Arabic Language and Literature study programs from various universities under both the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 

Participating universities included Universitas Gadjah Mada, UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Universitas Hasanuddin, UIN Alauddin Makassar, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Sekolah Tinggi Dirasat Islamiyah Imam Syafi’i Jember, STAI Riyadlul ‘Ulum Tasikmalaya, UIN Raden Fatah Palembang, UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, UIN Satu Tulungagung, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sunan Giri, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Universitas Al-Azhar Indonesia, UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, and UIN Salatiga. This broad participation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening inter-institutional collaboration in shaping a modern and adaptive approach to Arabic language education in response to contemporary challenges.

The opening ceremony, held at the 8th floor auditorium of the SBSN Siber Building, was attended by faculty leaders and members of the Ittihad Aqsam al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah wa Adabiha (IQLAB) central board. In his address, Dr. Uki Sukiman (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Chairperson of IQLAB Indonesia, emphasized the growing importance of synergy among Arabic Language and Literature study programs in advancing both academic excellence and institutional development. The workshop was officially inaugurated by Dr. Wakhid Nashruddin, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati, who highlighted the urgency of curriculum evaluation as a strategic step to enhance graduate competitiveness.

The sessions continued with curriculum development and assessment discussions led by Haeruddin, M.A. (Universitas Hasanuddin), Head of the Curriculum and Quality Assurance Division at IQLAB, who presented the concept of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and stressed the importance of continuous assessment in curriculum improvement.

On the second day, participants conducted self-assessments of their respective study programs and endorsed two key documents: the Curriculum Development Guidelines and the Curriculum Draft Assessment Manual. Both documents were signed by all participants and officially ratified by Dr. Uki Sukiman, M.Ag, Chairperson of IQLAB Indonesia, accompanied by Siti Aminah, S.S., M.A. from Universitas Gadjah Mada, who serves as IQLAB’s Secretary General.

Beyond the academic agenda, the workshop also served as a platform to foster camaraderie and collaboration among institutions. To close the event, participants explored Cirebon’s rich cultural heritage through visits to Kasepuhan Palace and Masjid Sang Cipta Rasa, followed by a culinary experience featuring the city’s signature dish, empal gentong, at Krucuk.

Through this workshop, IQLAB Indonesia and participating institutions reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the quality of Arabic Language and Literature education in Indonesia, fostering inter-institutional partnerships, and aligning curricula with the evolving demands of the modern world and global educational standards.

Author: Siti Aminah, S.S.,M.A.

Yogyakarta, November 29, 2025 — The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (FIB UGM), held an event titled “Dari Kertas Naik ke Pentas: Workshop Alih Wahana Epos Jawa-Islam dari Teks Sastra ke Lakon Pertunjukan” [From Paper to Stage: Workshop on Adapting Javanese-Islamic Epics from Literary Texts to Performance Play] in the Gamelan Room, Margono Building, 4th floor of FIB UGM. This public event attracted participants from various backgrounds, including students, academics, arts and culture enthusiasts, and the general public.

This workshop served as a cross-disciplinary discussion forum that combined perspectives from literature, history, and performing arts, particularly in the context of Menak puppet theater, a cultural heritage that represents a fusion of Islamic values, Javanese traditions, and puppet theater arts. Three speakers were present at this event, namely Dr. Drs. Sudibyo, M.Hum. (Head of the Department of Language and Literature, FIB UGM), Kusnanta Riwus Ginanjar, S.Sn. (actor, scriptwriter, director, and Menak puppet show puppeteer), and Rinal Khaidar Ali, ST., M.Eng. (Menak puppet show activist). The event was moderated by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., lecturer at the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program.

The first presentation was delivered by Kusnanta Riwus Ginanjar, S.Sn. He discussed the existence of Menak puppet theater from an artistic perspective and its function as a learning medium. In addition, Kusnanta emphasized the importance of adapting classical literary works so that they do not remain merely as written texts. This is done so that these works can continue to be preserved and known to the wider community.

The second speaker, Rinal Khaidar Ali, ST., M.Eng., highlighted the current condition of Menak puppet theater in Indonesia, particularly in the Java region. He said that its existence is currently in decline. “There are no longer any Menak puppet craftsmen in Yogyakarta, located in the Sentolo area. Even in Kebumen, their numbers are dwindling,” he explained.

The third session was presented by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., who discussed the historical dimensions of the Menak story. He explained that the Menak epic originated in Persia based on the heroic story of Amir Hamzah bin Abdul Muthalib, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad. The story then spread to the Arab and Malay worlds before finally being adapted into Javanese culture. Later, during the Mataram Kartasura Sultanate, this story was rewritten in Javanese by carik Narawita and then updated by the poet Yasadipura. According to him, this adaptation process was not merely a translation, but also a creative form of cultural contextualization with the addition of interludes.

To conclude, this event featured a Menak golek puppet show entitled “Menak Iskandar” by Dr. Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A. The story is sourced from Serat Iskandar Jawi or Caritanira Iskandar, which was composed at the Kartasura Palace in 1729 AD by order of Kangjeng Ratu Mas Balitar, the queen consort of Pakubuwana I.

The story tells of the journey of Prabu Iskandar Zulkarnain, King of Ngerum, in his efforts to conquer the eastern and western worlds in order to spread the teachings of the Prophet Ibrahim. However, his struggle was hindered by King Ubur of Jabarsah and the army of giant worshippers Ya’juj and Ma’juj. Based on the advice of Prophet Kilir, Iskandar built a great wall that enclosed Ja-Makjuja until the end of time. Nevertheless, Iskandar was still worried that Ja-Makjuja would escape one day. He asked Prophet Kilir for the elixir of life. Prophet Kilir then departed for the land of Lulmat in the country of Jaminambar, where a lake called Ma’ul Hayat was located. Next, Prophet Kilir drank the water, performed ablution, and prayed at the edge of the lake. After finishing his prayers, by God’s will, Prophet Kilir gained immortality without having the chance to give the water to Iskandar. Iskandar, who was waiting for Prophet Kilir at the cave entrance, then realized that no power is eternal except that of Allah. He returned to the kingdom of Ngerum with his entire army.

This workshop is a tangible manifestation of academic and cultural efforts to revive Menak puppet theater as a literary and performing arts heritage in Indonesia. Through this activity, it is hoped that cross-disciplinary awareness can be built regarding the importance of preserving traditions while developing new forms that are relevant to the present day. Furthermore, the synergy between academics, artists, and the community is expected to continue to be encouraged so that Menak puppet theater art and literature remain a source of inspiration, cultural identity, and a living educational tool within the community.

Author : Haryo Untoro
Editor : Haryo Untoro