Yogyakarta, April 9, 2026 – A photography exhibition titled “Life Behind the Ride: Resilience and Risk in Indonesia’s On-Demand Economy” opened in the West Lobby of the Anthropology Building, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto, and will be on display for six weeks. Organized by EthnoLab at the University of Toronto, Canada, the exhibition is the outcome of the long-term research project “Ubering the City,” led by Dr. Sheri Gibbings, Dr. Elan Lazuardi (Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM), Dr. Robbie Peters, and Dr. Joshua Barker, involving collaboration among researchers, students, and photographers.

This exhibition highlights the impact of the digital economic transformation on the urban transportation landscape in Indonesia through a visual ethnographic approach. The presence of the gig economy has not only displaced traditional motorcycle taxis but also reshaped social networks, mobility patterns, and urban planning. One of the key contributors to this exhibition is Syahrul Zidane, a Master’s student in Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Despite the distance and time zone differences, coordination between the UGM and University of Toronto teams was conducted intensively through online meetings.

Before his involvement in Toronto, Zidane had previously contributed to exhibitions at Gadjah Mada University and Wilfrid Laurier University. He was responsible for exhibition layout, photo curation, as well as the design of books and digital materials such as the digital catalog and contributor book. Now, he is once again involved in an exhibition at the University of Toronto alongside Dr. Emily Hertzman, the exhibition’s curator, and Austin from the School of Cities.

In this project, Zidane is also working on the exhibition space layout, visual curation, and the design of various elements such as description text and the digital catalog. He admits that this experience has given him a unique sense of fulfillment: “It feels very rewarding to me because I can contribute my skills in exhibition management, and it’s like going back to my college days (undergraduate studies) in the arts, particularly in curatorial work and exhibition layout,” Zidane explained. Zidane’s involvement reflects the role of Indonesia’s younger generation in the international academic arena while highlighting the importance of global collaboration.

[Anthropology,  Dewi Widyastuti]

On April 2, 2026, several undergraduate and master’s graduates of Archaeology from Universitas Gadjah Mada were officially inaugurated by the Minister of Culture as government officials in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. This event shows the real contribution of archaeology graduates in the professional world, especially in managing, preserving, and developing cultural heritage. The following are the names of the alumni and their positions:

1. Pahadi, S.S. as Head of Section for Follow-up of Supervision Reports
2. Anggoro Cahyadi, S.S., M.Kesos. as Head of Administration Subdivision, Directorate of Cultural Heritage
3. Sukronedi, S.Si., M.A. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of North Sumatra
4. Yanto H. M. Manurung, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Jambi
5. Sri Sugiharta, S.S., M.P.A. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of South Sumatra
6. Ni Ketut Wardani P. Dewi, M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Bangka Belitung
7. Kuswanto, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Lampung
8. Swedhi Hananta, S.S., M.A. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Banten
9. Desse Yussubrasta, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Jakarta
10. Riris Purbasari, S.S., M.A. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Yogyakarta
11. Endah Budi Heryani, S.S., M.M. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of East Java
12. Iwan Setiawan Bimas, S.S., M.M. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Central Kalimantan
13. Manggar Sari Ayuati, S.S., M.A. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of South Kalimantan
14. Ahmad Hariri, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of West Nusa Tenggara
15. Sinatrio Danuhadiningrat, S.S. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of South Sulawesi
    Gatut Eko Nurcahyo, S.S. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Southeast Sulawesi
16. Dody Wiranto, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Maluku
17. Winarto, S.S. as Head of Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Southwest Papua
18. Azwar Sutihat, S.S., M.Hum. as Head of General Affairs Subdivision, Cultural Heritage
19. Preservation Office of Riau Islands
20. Agus Sudaryadi, S.S. as Head of General Affairs Subdivision, Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Jambi
21. Marlia Yuliyanti Rosyidah, S.Si., M.A. as Head of General Affairs Subdivision, Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Central Java
22. Romi Hidayat, S.S. as Head of General Affairs Subdivision, Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of Jakarta
23. Iswadi A. M., S.S., M.Hum. as Head of General Affairs Subdivision, Cultural Heritage Preservation Office of South Sulawesi

Through this inauguration, the alumni are expected to apply the knowledge and skills they gained during their studies in making policies within the Ministry. This is important to support better and more sustainable cultural management.

Author: Jovinka Aldinova Kiranamurti

Jakarta, February 27, 2026 – Four students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), participated in the K-Newscasting Competition 2026. This Korean-language news reading competition was organized by the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia (KCCI) as a platform to improve language skills and train the participants’ public speaking skills. In this competition, our two students achieved outstanding accomplishments, Matilda Kinasih Dewi winning 2nd place and Mulya Ghefira Azzahra securing the 3rd place.

The K-Newscasting Competition is an annual event that challenges participants to deliver news in Korean with precise pronunciation, accurate intonation, and professional expression similar to the real news anchor. Through this competition, participants not only refine their linguistic competence but also develop communication skills, confidence, and professionalism relevant to the demands of the modern workforce.

The event started with the drawing of participants’ numbers, followed by a rehearsal session where contestants practiced reading the news using a prompter. In this rehearsal session, the participants were trained to adjust the tempo and intonation to deliver the news. After the rehearsal session was finished, the participants were given time to rest and did re-registration. The main competition began and was divided into two sessions: participants numbered 1–10 and 11–21. Upon the completion of all performances, the panel of judges calculated the scores before proceeding to the awarding session.

During the awarding ceremony, the winners of the K-Newscasting Competition 2026 were officially announced. Matilda Kinasih Dewi secured 2nd place, followed by Mulya Ghefira Azzahra in 3rd place. This achievement is a source of pride for the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM and reflects the quality of education that equips students with excellent competencies and professional career readiness.

Matilda Kinasih Dewi, the 2nd place winner, expressed her gratitude for the achievement. “I am very happy and grateful to gain new experiences through this competition. I would also like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me from beginning to end.”

Mulya Ghefira Azzahra, the 3rd place winner, shared that the competition provided a valuable experience. “I participated in this competition for the second time to confirm my career interests. Although I performed first and encountered challenges with the prompter speed, I remained calm and was grateful to receive positive evaluations from the judges. I was delighted to attend with my friends and meet many familiar faces. My heartfelt thanks go to my family and our Study Program for their unwavering support.”

This participation and achievement are expected to inspire other students to continue developing their academic and non-academic potential while strengthening cultural ties between Indonesia and South Korea.

[Korean Language & Literature, Aura Adiba W.L]

Yogyakarta, April 8, 2026 – The public lecture titled “Hospitality Management in Star-Rated Hotels: Challenges and Opportunities”, organized by the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, not only provided new insights for participants but also offered valuable experiences for students directly involved in the event’s organization. One of them was Keysha Almira, who was entrusted to serve as the moderator.

For Keysha, the opportunity to moderate an academic forum at the faculty level was both challenging and enriching. She was responsible for guiding the discussion, which featured a practitioner speaker, Faradilla from The Alana Yogyakarta Hotel & Convention Centre.

In her role, Keysha ensured that the discussion flowed interactively and remained conducive. She acknowledged the need for thorough preparation, from understanding the topic of hospitality to learning about the speaker’s background, in order to build effective communication throughout the session.

This experience became an important moment for Keysha in honing her public speaking skills, confidence, and managerial abilities in handling an academic forum. She also gained valuable insights from the material presented, particularly regarding the dynamics of the hotel industry and the importance of human resource quality in the hospitality sector.

The involvement of students as moderators in academic activities like this reflects the commitment of the Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM to provide learning opportunities that are not only theoretical but also practical. Students are encouraged to actively participate and develop soft skills relevant to the professional world.

This activity aligns with efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the holistic development of student competencies, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by equipping students with communication skills and professionalism needed in the industry.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, April 8, 2026 – The Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a public lecture titled “Hospitality Management in Star-Rated Hotels: Challenges and Opportunities” at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium. The event featured Faradilla, Human Resource Manager of The Alana Yogyakarta Hotel & Convention Centre, as the main speaker.

The public lecture was attended by students of the Tourism Study Program, particularly the 2025 cohort who are currently enrolled in the “Hospitality Studies” course. The event was also open to students from other cohorts interested in exploring the hotel industry.

In her presentation, Faradilla highlighted the dynamic nature of the hospitality industry, especially in star-rated hotels, which continues to evolve alongside changing travel trends and guest expectations. She emphasized that human resource management plays a crucial role in maintaining service quality, as the hotel industry heavily relies on direct interaction with customers.

This activity not only provided practical insights for students but also served as a bridge between academia and industry. Students are expected to gain a deeper understanding of real working conditions in the hospitality sector and better prepare themselves to face future challenges.

Through this public lecture, the Tourism Study Program of FIB UGM also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by offering practitioner-based learning, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by encouraging students’ readiness to enter the workforce in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

[Public Relations FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]