Yogyakarta, 05/09/2024-Sharing session with alumni of Arabic Literature Study Program has taken place at Soegondo Building room 405, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The resource person who attended this morning was a 2004 graduate of UGM Arabic Literature who works at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), Astri Romadona. This activity discussed the support given by the Ministry of Manpower to universities to produce human resources who are ready to show off in the world of work.

The Ministry of Manpower’s support is not without reason. At present, the problem faced by universities is the number of Open Unemployment Rates (TPT). Referring to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in February 2024, the TPT at the Diploma and University education levels reached 5.49 percent, higher than the general unemployment rate of 4.82 percent. Support and collaboration between the Ministry of Manpower and universities are needed to strengthen students’ readiness to face the world of work and reduce the gap between education and market needs.

Yogyakarta, August 23, 2024 – Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Arts UGM, supported by Literature Translation Institute (LTI) Korea, held a Literary Translation Workshop from June 4 to August 23, 2024. This Literary Translation Workshop is the first activity organized for students and alumni of the UGM Korean Language and Culture Study Program. This activity aims to provide a forum for students and alumni to train and increase knowledge in the field of translation, especially the translation of literary works taught directly by experts. Not only that, as many as 20 people who were selected in the selection of participants, each received a free book entitled “1988년도 제12회 이상문학상작품집.” The book is a collection of the best literary works selected for the Yi Sang Literary Award in 1988. One of the literary works in the book is writer Lim Chul-woober’s “The Red Room” which won the grand prize.

In this workshop, “The Red Room” is a literary work that is translated and discussed by participants coordinated by lecturer of Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Faculty of Arts UGM, Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A. and guided by lecturers Febriana Elfida Trihtarani, S.S., M.A. and Theresia Avila Rencidiptya Gitanati Firstantin, S.S., M.A. The Literary Translation Workshop “The Red Room” was held for 19 meetings divided into 2 meetings a week. The participants were asked to read and translate the literary work from Korean to Indonesian which was divided into several parts and discussed together at each meeting. The workshop also explored the content of the literary work “The Red Room” which contains historical elements set in the struggle for democracy and reform in South Korea in 1988.

The workshop concluded with a meeting with the author. The meeting was held in a mixed session in Conference Room 1, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. At the peak of the event, the participants had the opportunity to discuss and conduct questions and answers directly with the author Lim Chul-woo regarding the contents of the work “The Red Room.”

In addition to the discussion with the author, the closing ceremony was also filled with a prize giving session to 3 active participants who participated in the workshop enthusiastically and had the best translation results. The first best participant was Fitri Puspita Ningrum who received an Asus Vivobook laptop. The second best participant was Vira Ardiana who was awarded with an Advan tablet and keyboard. The last award as the third best participant was given to Adinda Cindy Kartika Putri with a prize in the form of a Samsung Galaxy A9 tablet. The prizes for the best participants were handed over directly by Mr. Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D. as a representative of the Head of Korean Language and Culture Study Program at FIB UGM.

Author: Peony
Editor: Fathiannisa

Thursday, August 29, 2024, became a special moment for the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada with the holding of the Mangayubagya Graduation of Undergraduates period IV of the 2023/2024 academic year. A total of 244 graduates celebrated their graduation, holding a bachelor’s degree after completing their studies at FIB. The solemn graduation ceremony was made even more lively with a dance performance from Ratnaraya, a student dance unit of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program.

Four students, Audrey Gisela, Ganes Larasati, Novalia Hidayatus S., and Wening Hidayati, presented Geol Denok Dance as part of the graduation ceremony. Geol Denok dance is a typical Semarang dance that depicts the joy of Semarang girls who dance with lively, energetic movements and accompanied by dynamic music. Etymologically, the word “geol” refers to the dance movements of the knees and hips, while “denok” is a term for girls in Semarang.

In an interview with Wening Hidayati, one of the performers, she said that Geol Denok Dance was a new dance for Ratnaraya members. “We try to give our best in this performance, and are very happy to be able to welcome the graduates of FIB UGM with Geol Denok Dance,” said Wening (09/05/2024).

Ratnaraya’s performance is not only for entertainment, but also reflects the Faculty’s commitment to preserving Nusantara culture, especially Javanese culture. This cultural preservation requires support and collaboration from various parties, and FIB UGM plays an active role by providing the widest possible space for art and cultural exploration, so that the nation’s identity remains relevant and provides benefits to people’s lives.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta, September 11, 2024 – Room S709 Soegondo Building 7th Floor Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was filled with academics, students, and the general public who enthusiastically attended the national seminar entitled “Palestine: From Nakba to Tufan Al-Aqsa” on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The seminar was held to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Hindun, M.Hum., an expert in language, communication, and culture who has devoted herself for many years at UGM.

Dr. Hindun, M.Hum. is a lecturer at Faculty of Humanities UGM with specialization in Arabic literature, communication, and culture. She completed her master’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities UGM with a thesis on Emha Ainun Nadjib’s Asmaul Husna poems and Al-Ghazali’s “Al-Maqshadul-Asna”. In 2016, he earned his doctorate at the Department of Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with a thesis entitled “Palestinian Arab Resistance in the Poetry of Maḥmūd Darwīsh: A Study of Adab al-Muqāwamah al-Ayyūbī.”

The seminar, hosted by Dr. Hindun, presented an in-depth discussion on Palestinian history and literature, focusing on two major events that shaped the narrative of the Palestinian struggle. “Nakba” refers to the tragedy of the expulsion and suffering of the Palestinian people in 1948, and ‘Tufan Al-Aqsa,’ a term used to describe the current situation in the region.

With the end of the seminar, the Faculty of Humanities UGM affirmed its commitment to continue supporting research and studies relevant to global issues, including the Palestinian conflict and literature. The seminar was also a moment of reflection and appreciation for the dedication of Dr. Hindun who has made great contributions in the academic and research fields over the years.

On September 5, 2024, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) took place in the Conference Room 1 of the Dean’s Building of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). This event was held as part of an effort to develop an online adaptive Arabic language test instrument based on ACTFL theory using CBT (Computer-Based Testing) at Darussalam Gontor University.

The researchers from Universitas Darussalam Gontor who attended this event were Dr. Ihwan Mahmudi, Dr. Ahmad Saifulloh, Dr. Moh. Ismail, and Dr. Izzul Fatawi. They explained the linguistic test development plan that they designed to improve the quality of Arabic language teaching through an adaptive testing approach.

The event was also attended by lecturers from the Faculty of Humanities UGM who gave a warm welcome to the researchers. The discussion focused on sharing information and experiences regarding the different types of language tests that have been implemented at the Faculty of Humanities UGM. The UGM lecturers provided valuable guidance and insights on how to develop and implement effective language tests, as well as the challenges that may be faced in the process.

This collaboration between Universitas Darussalam Gontor and the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences is expected to produce better test instruments, which not only measure Arabic language proficiency effectively but also adapt to the needs and latest technological developments in language education. 

This activity is an important step forward in efforts to improve the quality of Arabic language learning and is expected to be a model for other institutions in the development of technology-based language tests.