YOGYAKARTA — On 6 July 2026, the Indonesian Language and Literature Programme at UGM, Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia (KPG), Bentara Budaya and ELTI Jogja organised a literary discussion entitled “From Reporting to Literary Works”. The event, which featured the writer and journalist Linda Christanty, also included a presentation by Prof. Dr Aprinus Salam, a professor who analysed her works. The discussion was attended by around 50 participants in the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

The discussion was attended by around 50 participants in the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

One of the most interesting points raised in this discussion was Linda’s concern regarding publishers’ interest in her latest works. In today’s publishing industry, literary works based on serious and weighty humanitarian reporting are often considered to lack commercial appeal or to struggle to break into the mainstream market.

Although this presents both an obstacle and a challenge, Linda remains steadfast in her idealism. “Even if no one is interested yet, it will still be published so that the next generation can read and discover other short stories,” she said.

Linda’s strong commitment suggests that she will continue to produce works of literature. Through her field reporting, she aims to demonstrate that historical facts and dark humanitarian issues can be transformed into powerful literary narratives. A concrete example of this can be found in her short story entitled “A Dead Dog in Bala Murghab”.

Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman

The American Studies Master’s Program proudly congratulates three students, Evelyn Sekar Rossary, Glory Emanuelle, and Mbulan Liyu Andadari for successfully presenting their research poster at the 17th Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS2026) held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 09-13, 2026.

Organized by IAFOR (the International Academic Forum), ACSS2026 is one of their international conferences that brings together students, researchers, and educators from various institutions in the world to exchange ideas about intercultural diversity. This year’s conference received more than 800 presentation submissions from 77 countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States, India, Taiwan, Japan, and Singapore.

Among the accepted presentations was the research poster by Evelyn, Glory, and Liyu entitled “Negotiating Gender and Embodiment: Mpreg as a Queer Narrative Seen Through a Feminist Lens.” This research shows the representations of male pregnancy (mpreg) in Indonesian X communities and examines how these narratives are interpreted through feminist perspectives. The research identifies diverse responses to mpreg narratives, from feminist resistance to traditional gender expectations to their consumption as forms of entertainment and creative expression within online communities. 

Their presentation attracted a lot of interest among conference participants. Many attendees were curious about the topic and appreciated the opportunity to learn about an issue that is still rarely discussed openly in Indonesia. They received thoughtful questions, constructive feedback, and positive responses from fellow researchers.

For Evelyn, Glory, and Liyu, attending ACSS2026 was more than just an opportunity to present their research. The conference provided valuable opportunities to engage with scholars from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, exchange ideas, and establish international academic networks. They enjoyed learning and discussing topics related to gender, identity, and representation with different perspectives and different cultural views as the participants came from different countries.

Author: American Studies Program

Novel Si Anak Pemberani Tere Liye’s work once again feels relevant to various phenomena occurring in Indonesia today. Through the character of Eliana, readers are invited to see how a young girl’s courage can become a voice for the underprivileged, often marginalized by power and vested interests.

In the story, the villagers must face threats to their living space. This situation is reminiscent of numerous ongoing issues in Indonesia, from land conflicts and environmental degradation to the struggles of indigenous peoples and villagers to defend their homes. In these conditions, the common people are often in a vulnerable position, while major decisions are often made without truly listening to their voices.

Eliana’s character stands as a symbol of courage in fighting injustice. She doesn’t remain silent when she sees things that harm those around her. This figure also demonstrates the crucial role women play in social struggles. Today, more and more women in Indonesia are standing at the forefront of speaking out on environmental issues, education, and community rights, despite often facing pressure and challenges.

Through a warm story that is close to everyday life,The Brave Boyis not only a novel about childhood, but also a reflection on the courage to speak out. This book reminds us that change often begins with the courage of ordinary people who choose not to remain silent when facing injustice around them.

Author: Faiza S.

Ciamis, 25 April 2026 — The Department of Intercultural Studies, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Community Service Program (PkM) and Expert Lecture at Universitas Islam Darussalam on 25–26 April 2026. The event brought lecturers, students, and the pesantren community together in a setting that combined academic discussion with everyday interaction.

The visit also continued an existing connection between the two institutions, especially through Prof. Dr. K.H. Fadlil Munawwar Manshur. In his remarks, he described the program as more than a formal academic agenda. For him, it was a form of silaturahim, where knowledge is shared in a more personal and open way.

The delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Aris Munandar, who spoke about the role of American Studies in reading global influence. He pointed out that influence does not always come in direct or visible forms. In many cases, it appears through everyday habits such as academic writing, publication systems, and standards that scholars gradually follow. 

Therefore, according to him, the American Studies program plays an important role in helping scholars critically recognize and navigate these subtle influences, which often emerge through habits in academic writing, publication systems, and scholarly standards.

Several speakers then presented their topics in parallel sessions. Dr. Mahmudah discussed feminism in Arabic literature and its place in Islamic education. Dr. Amin Basuki focused on how American academic patterns can be seen in SINTA-indexed journals, especially in the way articles are structured and evaluated. Dr. Muhammad Zakki Masykur talked about Arabic and the works of Javanese ulama which showed that local traditions remain active in knowledge production. Meanwhile, Dr. Stedi Wardoyo explained how morality in Japanese society often grows from family life and social habits, not only from religion.

Outside the formal sessions, the program also included shared activities such as joining the Shalawat Burdah gathering with the pesantren community. Moments like this made the visit feel less formal and more connected. It showed that community service is not only about delivering material, but also about building relationships.

As an institution that provides education from early levels to university, Universitas Islam Darussalam also offers space for future collaboration, especially in character education. This program, in a simple way, shows that academic cooperation can grow through meeting, talking, and spending time together.

Yogyakarta, February 24, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) held a Soft Skills Training titled “Briefing for Graduating Students and Undergraduates” from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. WIB at the 3rd Floor Auditorium of the Poerbatjaraka Building. The event featured an alumna of the Indonesian Literature Program at FIB UGM and Chair of IWAPI, as well as founder of Bundaco, Erwina Kusmarini, S.S., who shared her experience in identifying business opportunities and building independence after graduation.

In her remarks, Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni of FIB UGM, Dr. Mimi Savitri, M.A., Ph.D., emphasized the importance of providing students with preparation prior to graduation. “This activity certainly offers valuable preparation and insights for all of you after graduating from FIB UGM,” she said.

The Coordinator for Academic and Student Affairs, Yusuf Sulistiyo, A.Md., S.Psi., M.M., delivered academic announcements before the main session began. The moderator, Dr. phil. Ramayda Akmal, S.S., M.A., then introduced the speaker and presented her brief profile.

In her presentation, Erwina Kusmarini highlighted the theme “The Story of Bundaco and the Spirit of Seizing Opportunities.” She recounted how she started her business in 2004 from her home in Klaten with a single household sewing machine. She began her entrepreneurial journey without a family background in business and without formal education in engineering or economics. Limited capital, networks, and technical skills were among the challenges she faced in the early stages. She learned directly from local tailors, fabric vendors, and the surrounding community to develop her enterprise.

Bundaco, short for Bunda Collection, has grown into a garment manufacturing business producing school uniforms, community apparel, Muslim fashion, and custom orders for institutions and organizations. She emphasized the importance of maintaining quality and service as the foundation for business growth.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, production shifted to personal protective equipment and cloth masks to respond to community needs. This innovation sustained the business while expanding its market reach. In the following years, she was entrusted to lead IWAPI Klaten and initiated garment production and digital marketing training programs for hundreds of women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises.

During the question-and-answer session, Erwina encouraged students to be courageous in taking the first step and to continue learning. She stressed that a background in cultural studies is not a barrier to entrepreneurship. Social awareness and the ability to recognize opportunities, she noted, are essential assets in building a business.

The training concluded with the presentation of a token of appreciation from the faculty to the speaker, followed by a group photo session. Through this initiative, FIB UGM seeks to prepare graduates who are adaptive, competitive, and capable of making meaningful contributions to society. Such programs are expected to foster a generation that is not only ready to enter the workforce, but also able to create opportunities and empower their communities in a sustainable manner.

[Humas FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]