On 22 September 2025, the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Programme, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, held a public lecture on the theme of the Ahmadiyyah Idrisiyyah Sufi Order. The event was attended by Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina, a leading expert from the University of Malaya in the study of Islamic creed and thought, particularly in the field of Sufism, who provided in-depth insights into the history and teachings of this Sufi order. This public lecture aimed to provide a more detailed introduction to the Ahmadiyyah Idrisiyyah Order and explore its influence in the world of Islamic spirituality, particularly in the context of other Islamic orders.

In the public lecture, Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina outlined the history of the Ahmadiyyah Idrisiyyah Order, which is a branch of the Tijaniyyah Order. She explained the origins of this order and its teachings, which emphasise the importance of spiritual purification and closeness to God through various spiritual practices, such as zikr and meditation. This order is renowned for its emphasis on purity of heart and personal development through intensive spiritual guidance, which has made it the preferred choice of many Sufi followers in various regions.

Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina also discussed how the Ahmadiyyah Idrisiyyah Order has developed over time, as well as its contribution to shaping spirituality in the lives of Muslims. This order, rooted in the Sufi tradition, is characterized by its teachings that unite spirituality and everyday practices, thereby having a significant impact on the character and morality of its followers. In her presentation, Prof. Zarrina emphasised the importance of this order in maintaining a balance between the spiritual and social dimensions of Muslim life. 

The event concluded with a dynamic question-and-answer session, where participants had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of the Ahmadiyyah Idrisiyyah Order directly with Prof. Dr. Che Zarrina. This discussion provided an opportunity for participants to explore in greater depth how this order influences the lives of its followers and its role in the broader context of Islamic spirituality. Through this public lecture, it is hoped that participants will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of orders in the spiritual development of Muslims worldwide.

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.

Yogyakarta, November 4, 2025 — The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) of Universitas Gadjah Mada received a request from the Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Assembly and Modernization (BRMP Biogen) to hold a discussion regarding the implementation of the Baseline Survey of the Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) in Central Java Province.

This survey is part of the GEF-7 Crop Diversity Conservation for Sustainable Use in Indonesia (CDCSUI) project, which aims to strengthen the conservation and sustainable utilization of Indonesia’s plant genetic resources, both in the wild and on agricultural lands. The project focuses on five key commodities: rice, cassava, taro, nutmeg, and clove.

The survey involves collecting baseline data on conservation conditions, local practices, and traditional knowledge related to these crops. In addition, the activity assesses policy aspects, value chains, and the roles of indigenous peoples and gender in the management of agricultural genetic resources.

The activities in Central Java Province were scheduled for October 27–31, 2025, with a discussion session between project representatives—Component 1 and 4 of CDCSUI, the Project Management Unit (PMU), BRMP Central Java, and FIB UGM—held on Wednesday, October 28, 2025, from 09.00 to 12.00 WIB.

FIB UGM’s involvement focuses on exploring aspects of traditional knowledge, gender, and indigenous communities, which play a vital role in plant genetic resource conservation and the strengthening of sustainable food systems.

This initiative supports sustainable development goals by enhancing the resilience of community food systems against climate change, preserving terrestrial biodiversity, and promoting environmentally friendly cultural practices. Moreover, the survey highlights the importance of empowering women and indigenous groups in natural resource management, recognizing their role in preserving traditional knowledge and maintaining local food security.

Through collaboration between research institutions and academic entities, this activity represents a concrete step toward ensuring that plant conservation efforts go beyond scientific and economic dimensions—integrating social and cultural perspectives that form the foundation of sustainability in Indonesia.

[Public Relations Office, FIB UGM – Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, October 24, 2025 – Two students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) — Sultan Amirul Muttaqin and Jibriel Sayyid Ishaq — have successfully advanced to the semifinal round of the Al-Istiqama International Arabic Public Speaking Competition 2025. They are two of only 17 participants selected from various countries who made it through after an intense and highly competitive preliminary stage.

In the semifinal round, the competition continues to be held online, with participants required to submit a new video speech addressing a different theme from the previous round. This stage serves as a crucial opportunity for Sultan and Jibriel to demonstrate their analytical depth, creative thinking, and contextual argumentation skills on pressing global issues.

The Arabic Study Program continues to provide comprehensive support for Sultan and Jibriel during this phase, including guidance in speechwriting, training in articulation, intonation, and body language, as well as assistance with video recording and editing. This ongoing support reflects the program’s strong commitment to nurturing students’ linguistic, rhetorical, and cultural competencies on the international stage.

Sultan and Jibriel’s participation in this competition also exemplifies the Arabic Study Program’s contribution to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Their success not only brings pride to the university but also serves as an inspiration for fellow Arabic Literature students to continue developing their potential, engaging in international arenas, and representing Indonesia through language, intellect, and culture.

Author: Muhammad Ardiansyah