On Saturday, March 23, 2024, the Association of Indonesian Literature Scholars Commissariat Jember (HISKI Jember) in collaboration with the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Muhammadiyah Jember University (FKIP Unmuh Jember), the Department of Indonesian Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Jember (FIB UNEJ), Semiotics Journal, Cultural Context Literature Research Group (PERSADA), Oral Tradition and Local Wisdom Research Group (TERKELOK), Teen and Children’s Literature Research Group (TCLRG), and Center for English Literature and Culture (CELC), held a National Webinar entitled, NGONTRAS #32 (32nd Metasastra National Chat), This webinar invited the Head of the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum, as a guest speaker who discussed the theme of travel literature with a presentation entitled, “Travel Writing: According to Carl Thompson”. This activity took place from 10.00 – 12.00 WIB with a series of opening, presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum. and Dr. Rahayu Puji Haryanti, M.Hum., question and answer discussion, and closing with a symbolic certificate award.

The presentation by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., began with an explanation of the theme of travel literature according to Carl Thompson, who stated that travel literature is the result of an encounter and negotiations over the differences or similarities that accompany it. All travel writing has two intertwined aspects, a report on the wider world and a record of an unknown person or place, revealing the writer’s self along with values, inclinations, assumptions, and culture in addition to the culture addressed by the travel story. The function of travel stories is to inform the outside world, reveal the self, and represent the other.

In addition, a number of literary works are presented as examples of discussion, each of which is explained in terms of the three functions previously mentioned. The literary works are novels that are dissected for exposure to identify and review parts of the novel. From the series of national webinar activities that have been held, this activity is also part of the Community Service carried out by Dr. Sudibyo, M.Hum., in the form of education and creating a national level literature and literature discussion space.

Erlangga Satrio Bintoro was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the announcement that he had graduated from IISMA 2024. It was a moment he had been looking forward to with great expectation and hard work. His first step was to tell his family, mentors, and closest friends. For him, sharing his happiness was the best way to start his new journey after passing such a crucial exam.

Since the beginning of the IISMA enrollment process, Erlangga Satrio Bintoro, a Cultural Anthropology, has prepared himself diligently. From conducting in-depth research about the university and country, to preparing essays and practicing interviews. For him, thorough preparation was the key to success in the exam.

In choosing a destination country and university, Erlangga strongly considers his interests and how it can help him achieve his future goals. For him, choosing according to his passion is the right step because it will be reflected in the essay and interview, which are important parts of the IISMA selection.

Erlangga would like to share his tips with his seniors in order to pass the IISMA selection successfully. According to him, prepare yourself as well as possible but don’t overdo it. Choose a country and university that matches your passion, because it will be reflected in the essay and interview.

Erlangga’s journey to success in the IISMA was also helped by the IISMA Preparation Course organized by the UGM Faculty of Arts Language Center. Through the course, Erlangga got a rough idea of how essays should be written, how interviews should go, and what is expected of participants by IISMA. The course contributed greatly to Erlangga’s success in his journey to become an IISMA 2024 awardee.

On Wednesday, April 25, 2024, the UGM Master of American Studies Program held a Public Lecture on the theme of Globalization, which was presented by Prof. Carla Jones, Ph.D, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, United States. This public lecture was held online through the Zoom application which was attended by 20 students who were a combination of students of the Master of American Studies Program and the Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. In this session, the topic raised in the discussion was “Globalization, Nationalism, and Cosmopolitanism”, which discussed how the impact of globalization on nationalism. The occurrence of mutual influence and the fading of borders between countries causes questions about nationalism.

Prof. Carla explained that in the era of Globalization, it creates a zone of continuous cultural interaction and exchange throughout the world, which can also be referred to as “ecumenism of globalization”. Globalization also creates a situation where previously isolated cultures are constantly colliding. The impact of this global cultural flow is: Homogeneity and cultural chaos. Homogeneity in this context refers to the commonalities that arise when cultures share ideas, goods and media. This then creates confusion and challenges due to the mixing and similarity of cultures.

In addition to this, Prof. Carla also explained about the concept of globalization from Arjun Appadurai, an Indian-American anthropologist. He explained, according to Appadurai, there are five dimensions of cultural flow in globalization: Ethnoscapes (movement or movement of people such as tourists, refugees etc.), Technoscapes: (the movement of technology such as factories, machines, etc.), Financescapes (the movement of money), Mediascapes (the movement of information and images such as TV, newspapers, etc.), Ideoscapes (the spread of ideas and ideology). The 120-minute public lecture then ended with a question and answer session and an open discussion where participants could respond to what had been presented by the speaker.

Pada hari Rabu 20 Maret 2024, Program Studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jepang (BKJ) mengadakan sosialisasi beasiswa Monbukagakusho/MEXT bersama Kedutaan Besar Jepang Jakarta dengan Fenny Gunadi yang merupakan Study Abroad Advisor dan First Secretary Kawakubo Yuriko Bagian Pendidikan Kedutaan Besar Jepang sebagai pembicara. Kegiatan ini diikuti oleh mahasiswa Prodi BKJ UGM dari berbagai angkatan.

Beasiswa Monbukagakusho atau MEXT adalah beasiswa Kementerian Pendidikan, Budaya, Olahraga, Sains, dan Teknologi Pemerintah Jepang yang ditujukan kepada akademisi dari luar Jepang dengan maksud ingin menempuh pendidikan di Jepang. Beasiswa tersebut terbagi kedalam berbagai tingkat pendidikan mulai dari tingkat Diploma sampai S3. Di jenjang Diploma terdapat dua pilihan beasiswa yaitu beasiswa Specialized Training College (Senshu) dan College of Technology (Kosen). Untuk S1 terdapat beasiswa Undergraduate (Gakubu). Sedangkan untuk S2 dan S3 terdapat beasiswa Research Student. Selain itu, terdapat program beasiswa non degree seperti beasiswa Japanese Studies untuk pertukaran mahasiswa dari jurusan Studi Jepang dan Teacher Training untuk guru Bahasa Jepang aktif di sekolah formal.

Bagi mahasiswa program studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jepang, terdapat dua beasiswa yang bisa dimanfaatkan dan patut untuk dipahami alurnya. Beasiswa tersebut adalah Japanese Studies dan Research Student. Beasiswa Japanese Studies memiliki dua jalur penerimaan yaitu G to G (Government to Government) dan U to U (University To University). Pada alur G to G, mahasiswa akan melalui seleksi dengan dua tahap Screening. Tahap pertama (primary screening) adalah proses seleksi pendaftar dalam negara yang sama, lalu tahap kedua (secondary screening) adalah seleksi para pendaftar antar negara. Di lain sisi, alur beasiswa U to U dilaksanakan dengan universitas dari Jepang langsung menyeleksi pendaftar antar negara. Lalu untuk mahasiswa tingkat S2 atau S3, terdapat beasiswa Research Student dengan beberapa seleksi tambahan. Tidak hanya para akademisi, beasiswa juga terbuka kepada para pengajar bahasa Jepang yakni program Teacher Training selama delapan belas bulan. Program tersebut terbagi dengan enam bulan belajar Bahasa Jepang dan dua belas bulan pelatihan.

Dengan kesempatan yang dibuka oleh pemerintah Jepang, baik mahasiswa, akademisi, maupun pengajar dapat melanjutkan studinya ke Jepang secara cuma-cuma. Tidak hanya ilmu, pengalaman studi di Jepang tersebut akan menjadi daya jual tak ternilai bagi mereka yang berhasil mendapatkan kesempatan tersebut. Jadi, pengadaan sosialisasi ini diharapkan dapat mempersiapkan  mahasiswa yang berminat mendaftar beasiswa dengan lebih matang. Mari berjuang bersama.

Yogyakarta, Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – The Arabic Literature Study Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) together with Dompet Dhuafa Yogyakarta held a talk show themed The Struggle of Palestinian Women and Children Amid the Israeli Onslaught. The event was held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Room 709 Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event was attended by more than 100 participants consisting of students, lecturers, and a team from Dompet Dhuafa. The activity began with the opening, singing the national anthem Indonesia Raya and Gadjah Mada hymn, remarks from Dr. Zulfa Purnamawati, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of the Arabic Literature Department of UGM, remarks from Imam Hidayat, S.Pd.i, M.Pd. as a representative of Dompet Dhuafa, presentation of material guided by the moderator, question and answer session, closing, and ended with donations for the Palestinian people.

The main speaker of the event was Miss Fatma Alghusain, Executive Director of Amna Carefund. Miss Fatma is a female activist in Palestine who works to help the Palestinian people, especially women and children who are victims. In this event, Miss Fatma shared the spirit of struggle and resistance of the Palestinian people amidst the Israeli onslaught.

The current situation in Palestine is getting worse, especially after the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza and Rafah. Palestinians face difficulties in accessing health services as well as damaged infrastructure and lack of shelter due to the blockade and genocide carried out by Israel. In addition, they also lack proper food, water and clothing supplies. This is very much felt by Palestinians, especially pregnant women and children.

Thus, this event is expected to make a valuable contribution in strengthening solidarity and awareness of the urgency of the struggle for human rights, especially in conflict-affected areas such as Palestine.