Two female students from the Arabic Literature Program at UGM are participating in an internship program at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for three months from April to June 2024. The two students are placed in two different directorates, namely the Directorate of Protocol and the Directorate of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI).

The first student, Eurrydice Setianingroem, is placed in the Directorate of Protocol. During the internship, Eurry is involved in various tasks related to diplomatic relations, diplomatic receptions, and diplomatic administration. This experience is expected to provide practical insights into how protocol is applied in various events and diplomatic activities. According to her, “Interning at the Directorate of Protocol gave me the opportunity to see firsthand how diplomacy is conducted and to meet important people, of course. This experience is very valuable and will serve as a foundation for my future career.”

Meanwhile, the second student, Aisyah Dina, is placed in the Directorate of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI). Aisyah is involved in various activities related to the protection and support for Indonesian citizens abroad, including handling cases, case documentation, and providing legal assistance. Aisyah gains understanding and insights into the challenges faced by Indonesian citizens abroad, especially in the Middle East, and how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plays a role in protecting their rights. This aligns with the efforts to achieve SDG 16, which is peace, justice, and strong institutions.

By directly participating in activities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these two students are expected to apply the knowledge they have gained in college to real-world practice, as well as to develop skills that will be useful in their future careers. They not only gain valuable practical experience but also contribute directly to the process of diplomacy and citizen protection, which are essential elements in achieving sustainable development goals.

In June 2024, Leni, an English Literature student from the 2020 batch at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), embarked on a journey that enriched her experiences through the Global Experience (GEx) program organized by the National University of Singapore (NUS).

This program held from June 2nd to 28th, 2024, with the aim of introducing NUS students to the rich cultural heritage of Indonesia through visits to creative artists in Bandung and Yogyakarta. In Bandung, the activities took place at various locations such as Navetta, Dago Pojok, Cibunut Creative Village, and Omah Budaya Cigondewah. In Yogyakarta, they visited places like IVAA, Cemeti Art Institute, Street Art Tour, and Heri Dono Studio. The program consisted of one professor from NUS, one student assistant from NUS, 15 NUS students, and two student assistants from UGM. Leni was lucky to receive this valuable opportunity.

Leni joined the program after meeting Prof. Kiven during the 2023 Cultural Exchange, an annual collaboration between the UGM English Literature Program and NUS. Before the Cultural Exchange began, Leni was asked to assist three professors from NUS, including Prof. Kiven, in their preliminary survey in Yogyakarta. During the survey, they visited the Tactic Plastic community, a group of artists who create art from plastic waste. A few months later, UGM students who participated in the Cultural Exchange had the chance to visit Singapore and study at NUS, with one of the lectures delivered by Prof. Kiven. During this time, Prof. Kiven invited Leni to join as a fixer or liaison to help communicate with the artists in Yogyakarta for the GEx Bandung-Jogja program.

While working with the NUS team, Leni experienced a high level of professionalism. They highly valued punctuality, adhered to the schedule, and had detailed and clear work contracts. Prof. Kiven and the NUS students left a very positive impression on Leni due to their appreciative, caring, and understanding attitudes, and they never judged her shortcomings. From this experience, Leni gained many valuable lessons and the opportunity to build and strengthen her international network.

Through this program, Leni learned that seemingly ordinary things around her, such as artists, actually play a significant role in society. Art as a medium of expression often becomes an effective tool to deliver social issues. Moreover, in Singapore, artists are not as free as in Indonesia due to many regulations that restrict them, making the art in Indonesia feel more honest. This realization made Leni appreciate the freedom that can still be enjoyed in Indonesia, a great blessing often taken for granted.

Leni strongly encourages her fellow students to join and engage with international communities. She believes that such involvement can enrich one’s perspective on social phenomenas around us. Although geographically close, Singapore and Indonesia have culturally different habits and traditions. In conclusion, Leni believes that being involved in international communities can provide valuable insights that serve as a crucial life resource.

Photo 1: Leni with NUS Students at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM

Vienna, Austria—On June 29, 2024, the University of Vienna, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Austria-Indonesia Fellowship Association held an international workshop titled “Insular Southeast Asia,” initiated by Dr. Gabriele Weichart with the support of ASEA UNINET. The workshop aimed to bring together scholars and students in the social sciences and related fields, focusing on the islands of Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Timor-Leste). Participants were invited to share their latest research, research experiences, and explore new areas and opportunities for future projects in research, teaching, and other collaborative models.

Three lecturers from the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, contributed to the workshop. Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., and Gabriele Weichart (University of Vienna) presented a project titled “From cash crop to lifestyle: the long history of coffee in Indonesia,” Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant., M.A. presented a brief project titled “Participatory Digital Ethnography Learning Center: teaching e-fieldwork, digital ethnography and collaborative research at UGM,” and Wahyu Kuncoro, S.Ant., M.A. presented a brief project titled “Nurturing the future: pesantren, piety, and ‘good citizen’.” In this workshop, Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant., M.A. served as an organizer from Universitas Gadjah Mada along with Gabriele Weichart, Sanderien Verstappen, and Daniela Paredes Grijalva from the University of Vienna.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha

Our Speakers:

Prof. Sumarsam – Wesleyan University

Prof. Matthew Isaac Cohen – Department of Dramatic Arts of the University of Connecticut

Dr. G.R. Lono Lastoro Simatupang, M.A.- Universitas Gadjah Mada

Date: Thursday, July 11th, 2024

Time: 08:30 AM – 12:00 PM

️ Venue: Auditorium Room, 5th Floor, Unit 1 Building

Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Jl. Teknika Utara, Pogung Kidul, Sinduadi, Mlati, Sleman, Yogyakarta

Register Now: http://ugm.id/GLWayang

Contact Person: Salindri – +62 857-2613-0906

See you

#guestlecturepspsr #GLWayang #infopspsr #pspsrugm #pascaugm #wayang #seminarpspsr #ugmyogyakarta

For inquiries:

Website: https://pspsr.pasca.ugm.ac.id

Email: pspsr.pasca@ugm.ac.id

Instagram: @pspsr_ugm