From January 1st, 2023 to January 1st, 2024, Brigita Sekar, a student from the English Department, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, had the valuable opportunity to be an intern at a multinational company, SAP. This internship was organized through the SAP Student Training and Rotation (STAR) program, which is specifically designed to provide practical work experience for undergraduate students.

As a company running in software and technology, SAP offered Brigita the chance to engage in various divisions within the company during the internship. It did not only provide practical insights into various operational aspects of the company but also helped Brigita develop her soft skills. By participating in various projects and teams, she could enhance her interpersonal skills, such as leadership and communication skills, which are valuable in a professional working environment.

Moreover, she had the opportunity to visit Singapore for free as part of an office visit or to explore SAP’s office in Singapore for two weeks. This opportunity aimed to provide valuable experience in skill and capability development. Besides gaining insights from the working environment at the SAP office, this event also provided opportunities to learn more about the industry and work culture in the country. During these two weeks, Brigita had the chance to directly engage in office activities, interact with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, and gain in-depth insights into business practices in Singapore. This experience also allowed her to build a broader professional network by interacting with professionals from various parts of the SAP office, potentially paving the way for future collaborations.

Through Brigita’s experience, we can learn that internships for students are not just additional activities but an integral part that cannot be separated from the higher education process. These experiences do not only provide direct understanding of working environment and related industries but also serve as a foundation that strengthens and prepares students to face the increasingly complex challenges in the professional working environment.

Photo 1: Interview Visit for Press Release SAP and Arya Noble dengan CIO (Chief of Information Officer) Arya Noble, Yonathan Moniaga, Rizka Laksmi (Communications Lead for SAP Indonesia), and Lili Hartono (Industry Account Executive, SAP Indonesia)

On Wednesday, November 22, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM held a book review event named “Bedah Buku: Arung Samudera Nusantara dan Kosmopolis Rempah” in Room 709 of the Soegondo Building. This event is one of a series of the Seminar Series Kosmopolis Rempah, as the result of collaboration between the faculty along with Kundha Budaya DIY and the Tim Kosmopolis Rempah UGM.

This event was attended by Dr. Sri Margana, M. Hum. as a speaker and book author. Apart from that, there were three responders with different scientific backgrounds, namely Dr. Widya Fitria Ningsih, History lecturer at FIB UGM; Prof. Dr. M. Baiquni, M.A., Professor of Development Geography UGM; and Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Gardjito, Spice Expert, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, UGM. There was also Prof. Dr. Mustofa, M.Kes., Professor of Pharmacology and Therapy FKKMK UGM and Head of the Tim Kosmopolis Rempah UGM, as the moderator.

Sri Margana started the event by explaining the background to the writing and substance of her book. He said that his book is a response to an application of “Jalur Rempah” as a world heritage by the Indonesian government and the establishment of the Spice Cosmopolis Research Unit at UGM. According to him, the term Jalur Rempah is problematic because it refers to a colonial trade route marked only by physical colonial remains, such as forts and ports. Starting from this issue, he proposed to highlight the influence of spices themselves, namely the creation of a culture of using spices. Therefore, he uses the term “cosmopolis” because the culture of spices has spread throughout the world. He also proposed the word “cosmopolis” to name the UGM Spice Cosmopolis Research Unit.

Widya as the first responder then highlighted this book from a historiographic perspective. According to her, the dominant use of foreign sources can be an opportunity for further studies to use local sources. By using local sources, local perspectives that are not recorded by foreign sources can be told. Apart from that, she also hopes that there will be further studies on spices in Indonesia from a gender perspective. According to her, the historiography on this matter is still dominated by narratives about men’s roles. In fact, spice culture cannot be separated from the role of women, such as in trading, planting and processing spices.

After that, the presentation was continued by Prof. Baiquni, emphasizing the strong connection between history and geography. From the spice trade, humans have established relationships with their environment. The role of spices in human life cannot be completely replaced by current technology. Therefore, spices can be a reminder for people to preserve their environment.

Relations between people from different islands to continents were also established through the spice trade. This relationship then produces a cultural product, one of which is food. Prof. Sri Gardjito explained that spices and the sea as trade intermediaries greatly influenced our food today. From spices and the sea, there is intercultural interaction which results in a combination of processing techniques, ingredients, and even the taste of food. This is considered to be the impact of the cosmopolitan spice trade. One example of the results of the spice trade is black pepper chili sauce, which still exists today and the spices have not changed.

Yogyakarta, July 7th, 2023 – The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) and National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan, collaborated to organize a Summer Program that was held from July 7th, 2023 to August 7th, 2023. Chung-Ching Shiung, Ph.D., a lecturer and archaeologist from National Cheng Kung University, mentored his students in conducting the Summer Program together with Dr. Mahirta, M.A., the Head of the Department of Archaeology at FIB UGM. The focus of the program was on analyzing pottery and other excavation findings from the result of a research project conducted in Tidore back in 2019.

The Summer Program also included visits to several Hindu-Buddhist temples in the Yogyakarta area and to a pottery and batik center in Bayat, Klaten.

The collaboration between NCKU and the FIB UGM Department of Archaeology, not only benefited the students in terms of analyzing the excavation research findings, but it also enriched their experiences through cultural and knowledge exchange. The involvement of international researchers brought a different perspective, expanding archaeology knowledge. This collaboration is in line with SDGs Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals, which aims to strengthen international global partnerships, and Goal 4, Quality Education, which aims to promote opportunities for quality and sustainable education.

Photo 1: Analysis of excavation findings collaborating with UGM Students

Photo 2: Cultural learning on batik making in Bayat Village, Klaten

Research collaboration is encouraged by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada recently. One such research collaboration is a research project between the Department of Anthropology UGM and the Department of Cultural Anthropology Udayana, which took the topic of “Balinese Local Genius: Key to Stunting Reduction in Pedawa, Bali.”. This research was funded by the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM and is part of an implementation of SDG Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The research was conducted by four researchers: Atik Triratnawati and Novitasari Ardianti from UGM, and Aliffiati and Azzahra Alivya Prasetio from Udayana University. The research was conducted in Pedawa Village, Buleleng, a Bali Aga village that maintains traditional lifestyles and parenting practices. The research was conducted in June, August, and September 2023.

The research findings showed that Balinese local genius, which is still strongly held by the Pedawa community, positively impacts the health of mothers and babies. This is evident in the community’s adherence to adat or the culture, such as following a series of birth ceremonies, using local ingredients as the main food source for toddlers, and the emergence of gender equality in the family. The success of stunting reduction in this village is also supported by modern medical services, including midwifery agencies, the success of the Family Planning program (Keluarga Berencana Program), and the strong empowerment of cadres. 

To deepen the study of Southeast Asia and deepen academic cooperation with Indonesia, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held a special visit to the NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature on December 15, 2023 (Friday). The delegation on this visiting team was Prof. Setiadi, M. Si., dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, SS, M. Hum, dean of academic and student affairs, and Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A., a representative from the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies.

First of all, the Dean of NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature, Zheng Jiayu, gave the opening speech. He thanked the group of guests from Indonesia who had come to visit. Next, the conversation was continued by Vice President Zhao Jingqi who gave a brief explanation about the NCCU College of Foreign Language and Literature. After that, we continued with Assistant Professor Cheng Ji Shiwei and Assistant Professor Bao Qiyun from the Bachelor of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures who each introduced plans regarding Indonesian language courses and academic activities.

In the next material presentation session, Prof. Setiadi, M. Si., gave a presentation on the internationalization of Indonesian. Then Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, SS, M.Hum explained the academic environment of Gadjah Mada University by explaining the INCULS program owned by FIB UGM. The presentation from the FIB UGM team was closed by Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A. explained that ASEAN Identity consists of politics and security, economics, society, and culture. The community supports Southeast Asia’s plan to build a community of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” in the future.

Finally, Dean Zheng Jiayu and Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M. Si signed a cooperation agreement between the two institutions and exchanged copies. The agreement aims to increase academic cooperation between the two parties, including student exchanges, double degrees, consistent five-year bachelor/master plans, exchange of teachers and researchers, cooperation in organizing lectures, seminars, workshops, etc. .,. With the signing of this MOU, it is hoped that it can further enhance cooperation and exchanges between schools, enrich teaching and research material resources in Southeast Asia, provide more international exchange channels for teachers and students, and foster international professional relations.

At the same time, Zhao Jingqi, deputy dean and program director, signed an academic cooperation plan agreement between the program and the Southeast Asian Social Research Center with Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, MA, to promote cooperation in teaching and research between the two parties, such as summer course programs, internships, cooperative research, and publishing, etc.

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