SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Yogyakarta, May 9, 2024 – The management of the Association of Arabic Literature Students at Universitas Gadjah Mada organized the IKMASA Leader Camp on Thursday and Friday, May 9-10, 2024, at Joglo Green House Sleman Yogyakarta. This annual event was attended by all the management members of the Association of Arabic Literature Students at UGM.

The event was attended by Garin Arivian Muhammad, S.S., an alumnus of Arabic Literature class of 2020 and the keynote speaker, Muhammad Nabil Sahabuddin, the Chair of IKMASA, and the management members of the Association of Arabic Literature Students 2024/2025.

The IKMASA Leader Camp began with a presentation by Garin Arivian Muhammad, S.S., who delivered a lecture on “Building Leadership Spirit: Cultivating a Culture of Empathy and Loyalty Towards the Organization.” In his presentation, Garin emphasized the importance of empathy and loyalty as the foundation for achieving organizational goals, summarized in his quote, “It’s impossible to achieve the maximum organizational goals if you don’t feel empathy and loyalty towards the organization.”

Garin also explained essential principles for an organization, including the importance of fostering empathy by engaging in existing issues and contributing the best. He stressed the need to work specifically, understand job responsibilities, and perform them with full dedication. Additionally, Garin highlighted the importance of thorough planning as a guide in carrying out organizational activities.

It is hoped that the IKMASA Leader Camp will enable the management of the Association of Arabic Literature Students 2024/2025 to continuously improve their work quality and execute the IKMASA work programs to the fullest.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 5: Gender Equality

Yogyakarta, May 8, 2024 – The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Michigan-Flint, USA, held a public lecture titled “Gender and Society in Indonesia.” The event took place on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Soegondo Building 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and was attended by students from various study programs.

The public lecture featured three main speakers who are experts in gender issues. They were Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D. from the Faculty of Law UGM, Dr. Novi Kurnia, M.Si., M.A. from the Department of Communication UGM, and Dr. Suzie Handajani, M.A. from the Department of Anthropology UGM. These three speakers presented material that enriched the understanding of gender from various perspectives: legal, social, political, and cultural.

Sri Wiyanti Eddyono reviewed significant changes in laws and policies in Indonesia related to reproductive health and sexual rights over the past five years, including child marriage, sexual violence (including cyber sexual violence), abortion, sexual violence in higher education, and sexual violence in the workplace. She emphasized the need for evaluation at three levels: substantive law, legal structure, and legal culture. Dr. Novi Kurnia discussed gender politics in Indonesia, which creates ‘restricted spaces’ for women and queer individuals in public spaces, including in film, and underscored the importance of shared responsibility among educators, the government, the film community, audiences, and society to discuss these sensitive issues. Without the courage to challenge patriarchal-homophobic culture, inclusive diversity in Indonesia will only remain a dream. Meanwhile, Dr. Suzie Handajani provided an anthropological perspective on the dynamics of gender and sexuality in Indonesia, focusing on the concepts of motherhood and the hijab during the New Order era, explaining how history and culture influence views and practices related to gender in Indonesia.

Gender issues are highly relevant and important in Indonesia, especially in the context of current social and political developments. By presenting a multidisciplinary perspective, this public lecture aimed to provide comprehensive insights to students on the complexities of gender issues in Indonesia. Additionally, this event also aimed to encourage critical and constructive discussion, as well as increase awareness of the importance of gender justice in various aspects of life.

The public lecture “Gender and Society in Indonesia” not only enriched the knowledge of students but also formed part of UGM’s efforts to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly points 5 and 4. Point 5, which emphasizes gender equality and women’s empowerment, was reflected through discussions about policies and practices affecting the rights of women and gender minorities. Point 4, which guarantees inclusive and quality education, was realized through the provision of an educational platform involving academic and international perspectives. Through this activity, UGM is committed to shaping a generation sensitive to gender justice and actively contributing to creating a more equal world.

Author: Afif Naufal Widiadi

SDGs 1: Basic service | SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth | SDGs 8: Development oriented policy | SDG 10: Reduced inequality | SDGs 10: Development assistance | SDGs 10: Education | SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities | SDGs 12: Efficient use of resources

Dr. Realisa Darathea Masardi was invited as a speaker by the Community Studies Unit (USIK) of Parahyangan Catholic University to discuss transnational migration. The discussion, which addressed the handling of refugees in Indonesia, was conducted via Zoom meeting on March 27, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Participants included not only students from Unpar but also anthropology students from UGM, as well as researchers and migration activists in Indonesia. This migration study was discussed because it has become a growing global issue, with numbers increasing each year.

Dr. Realisa explained refugees by referring to The 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines a refugee as someone unable or unwilling to return to their home country due to factors such as persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. She also noted that the causes of refugee situations have expanded to include extreme climate change, conflict, and economic crises.

Dr. Realisa, affectionately known as Mbak Lisa, discussed the findings of her dissertation research on refugee issues and her encounters with refugees in Jabodetabek, Medan, and Bogor. While discussing refugees, she also shared insights from her brief research on the Rohingya. According to her, since the 1990s, Indonesia has served as a transit point for asylum seekers before they set sail for Australia. However, in 2013, Australia implemented Operation Sovereign Borders, resulting in refugees facing waiting periods of 4-11 years.

Dr. Realisa also discussed Indonesian regulations on refugees and asylum seekers, specifically Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 concerning the handling of refugees from abroad. This regulation only covers discovery, shelter, security, immigration supervision, and funding. It does not mention the rights and access afforded to refugees. The regulation outlines three durable solutions: voluntary repatriation, deportation, and resettlement. Local integration is not an option, which makes it difficult for refugees to sustain themselves, relying on assistance from relatives.

The discussion proceeded very well, touching on topics such as community empowerment of refugees through opening online stores managed by their community, educational scholarships provided by various universities to refugees, and experiences of the refugees, among others.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 4: Cultural diversity | SDGs 8: Creativity and innovation | SDGs 10: Culture | SDGs 11: Cultural heritage

It has been a year since the 12th Gugur Gunung successfully hit the stage with the lively and spectacular ketoprak wayang gedhog titled Panji Kudanarawangsa. This year, proudly, the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program presented the 13th Gugur Gunung to all, especially the Mahadaya!

Gugur Gunung is an annual event held to commemorate the anniversary of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. In the event, the students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program collaborate to present various cultures of the archipelago, especially Javanese culture.

This time, the theme is “Holopis Kuntul Baris”, a Javanese philosophy that is close to Gugur Gunung activities. “Holopis Kuntul Baris” depicts a line of egrets flying in a pointed pattern. This philosophy is a symbol of joint efforts to solve problems, or what we know as gotong royong. Gotong royong is a manifestation of the Javanese sociocultural society that upholds patembayatan, which means living side by side in harmony,

There are two major events that will enliven the 13th Gugur Gunung:

1. Jawaisme Fest

Jawaisme Fest is a Javanese cultural exhibition featuring all things traditional such as traditional games, traditional clothing, performing arts, customs, tata cara, weton, and so on. There are also traditional food tenants that are appetizing. Jawaisme Fest was held on May 13-14, 2024, 09.00 AM-06.00 PM WIB, at Margono Hall, 1st floor, Faculty of Cultural Science, UGM.

1. Popular Arts Performance

The Popular Arts Performance will feature a Jathilan Dance Drama entitled “Turangga Sastra Nuswantara” presented by a collaboration of students of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. This art performance will take place in Greenland, Faculty of Cultural Science, UGM, on May 14, 2024, starting at 03.00 PM until completion. The Popular Arts Performance will be enlivened by a performance from Lala Atila. 

Author: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 4 Quality Education | SDGs 4: Education | SDGs 4: Cultural diversity | SDGs 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | SDGs 1: Non-discrimination

American Literature is one of the courses in the Master’s Program in American Studies that uses American literary works from the classical era to Post-Modernism as the objects and materials for discussion. This American Literature class provides students with a new experience in exploring the relationship between American literary works and the country itself. Based on the understanding that the narrative of a literary work represents the author’s thoughts on the events they have experienced and the occurrences around them, this class presents various understandings of American literature and how it projects the state of society in each era, such as the Romanticism, Realism, and Harlem Renaissance eras.

In this lecture, the discussion began with an explanation of the Post-Modernism era, which emerged around the 1960s. With the development of new art forms like performance art as a result of World War II, other forms of art, including literary works, were also influenced, especially in terms of characteristics. Some of the characteristics explained in this session include how writers began to focus on the experiences of others with different backgrounds, or write about how power and ideology from those in power can influence society’s perception of their surroundings, while also raising awareness among the public about everything they believe in and hold dear.

Using Amanda Gorman’s work, ‘The Hill We Climb,’ which was recited during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, the class discussion connected the author, a young Black woman, with America, particularly in its real-world context. Through presentations and discussions between students and the professor, this class produced various interpretations of how this poem depicts American democracy from a minority perspective. After lengthy discussions, the result of these student-professor dialogues and interpretations was that, despite America’s many ‘sins’ in the past, especially towards Black people, this poem serves as a call for all Americans, regardless of race, to pass on a better democracy and country to future generations.

Besides conducting an in-depth discussion on the meaning of a literary work, the conversation also delved into the writing style of Black authors, who use certain linguistic structures, and the presence of intertextuality, or the use of writings from other Black authors to reinforce the message being conveyed. Moreover, the discussion covered the characteristics of post-modernist literature and how ‘The Hill We Climb’ embodies one of these post-modernist traits.