The Tourism Study Program Class of 2023 conducted a field observation program titled Parkouris Goes to Bali from May 10–14, 2026, at several leading tourist destinations in Bali. This activity became part of practice-based learning aimed at broadening students’ understanding of destination management, cultural preservation, and sustainable tourism development.

The observation program, chaired by Jonathan Kefas, began with a visit to the Eka Karya Bali Botanical Garden. During this visit, students learned about the management of conservation areas and environmentally based educational tourism. The observation aligned with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 on Life on Land through efforts to preserve terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as SDG 4 on Quality Education through direct field-based learning.

The students also conducted observations at Penglipuran Tourism Village to study the development of culture-based tourism villages rooted in local wisdom. In addition to observing destination management, participants gained insights into the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness, preserving cultural heritage, and encouraging community involvement in the tourism sector. This activity supported SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth through the development of community-based sustainable tourism economies.

The observation activities continued with a visit to the Bajra Sandhi Monument accompanied by the site management team. During the visit, students learned about the management of historical and cultural tourism as a medium for public education and as an effort to preserve regional historical values.

Furthermore, participants conducted observations at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park to understand the management of an international-scale cultural tourism destination. Students gained experience related to tourism attraction management, visitor services, and destination promotion strategies that contribute to the growth of the creative economy and tourism sector.

The observation program concluded with a visit to Jimbaran Beach. At this location, students observed the potential of coastal tourism as well as the economic activities of local communities that have developed through the marine tourism sector.

Through the Parkouris Goes to Bali program, students of the Tourism Study Program Class of 2023 are expected to gain a deeper understanding of adaptive, sustainable, and culture-based tourism management practices as preparation for contributing to the development of the tourism sector in the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, May 21, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) is hosting the Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival 2026 from May 21 to 23, 2026. The festival features a traditional leather puppet painting (sungging) competition and a cardboard puppet coloring contest, representing a concrete step by the educational institution to preserve Indonesian heritage.

This event is part of the EQUITY program funded by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP RI) and serves as a celebration of the 80th anniversary of FIB UGM. This year, the Gadjah Mada Wayang Festival adopts the grand theme “Kita. Butuh. Wayang.” (We. Need. Wayang.). The theme conveys a vital message about fostering a balanced synergy between the university’s academic discourse and the livelihoods of wayang craftsmen in Butuh Hamlet, Sidowarno Village, Klaten Regency.

The competitions began simultaneously on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 09:30 AM WIB. The leather puppet painting competition targets high school students, university students, and the general public from various regions, with a maximum age limit of 25. The organizing committee provided a Surakarta-style Gathutkaca puppet character as the primary medium. Participants are given five and a half hours to complete their work individually. They are free to choose their painting style based on personal preference, such as the Surakarta or Yogyakarta style.

Alongside this event, the committee is holding an in-person cardboard puppet (Wayang Karton) coloring competition at Pusaka Jawa UGM. This competition is specifically designed for elementary and junior high school students. Participants are given three hours to complete their work. All entries from both competitions will be returned and remain the full property of the participants after the winners are announced.

The evaluation for both competitions takes place in a single judging phase. The primary criteria used by the panel of judges include coloring technique, color composition, neatness and cleanliness, as well as the level of creativity shown by the participants.

These efforts to preserve wayang artistry serve as an important bridge to keep local cultural heritage deeply rooted in the identity of the younger generation. The close collaboration between the higher education institution and village artisans demonstrates that protecting tradition goes hand in hand with community empowerment and strengthening the local economy for the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Good news comes from three undergraduate students in Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Humanities, UGM, who achieved a proud accomplishment at the 2026 National Excellence Competition (NEC). The NEC was organized by Eduhub Incubator in collaboration with Mataram University. The competition took place on May 9–10, 2026, at the Faculty of Agriculture, Mataram University, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The team, consisting of Dinaesy Fadillah Hidayat, Aly Aydeed, and Nadila Aryani Az-Zalfa, won a Gold Medal in the Tourism and Creative Economy Research Essay category under the guidance of Agus Indiyanto, S.Sos., M.Si.

The competition’s theme was “Integrating Critical Thinking, Social Innovation, and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Capabilities within the Framework of Inclusive Development and Achieving the SDGs in Indonesia.” In their paper, the team addressed the issue of event management and tourism waste in Yogyakarta, which is still considered a challenge in supporting sustainable tourism.

As a solution, the team proposed an innovation in the form of a circular economy-based event management agency. This concept is designed to integrate event management with waste reduction and reuse systems, thereby creating a more environmentally friendly event ecosystem while supporting the creative economy sector in a sustainable manner.

It is hoped that this achievement will motivate other students to remain critical of phenomena occurring in society, to present innovative ideas, and to contribute to addressing various social issues through research and academic work that has a positive impact on the community.

Author: Dewi W – adapted from a report by Dinaesy Fadillah Hidayat

Photo: Dinaesy Fadillah Hidayat et al.

In an effort to expand its international academic network and enhance human resource capacity, the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) received a visit from the Project Assistant of ERC DEAGENCY. This visit, which also involved a scholarly exchange with affiliates of the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), serves as a concrete step by the faculty in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting was not merely an academic gathering but was also filled with discussion and sharing experience sessions involving the part-time staff of the Department of Anthropology.

The presence of these student staff members is crucial, considering they are the operational backbone who manage the department’s daily needs, ranging from social media, websites, graphic design, and information dissemination, to event organization, data management, and the library. Through this discussion space, they gained global exposure and practical learning outside the classroom. New insights regarding international standards in department management directly improved their professional competencies in digital communication, design, and managerial fields. This empowerment is a tangible manifestation of creating an inclusive and productive working environment on campus, while also serving as valuable preparation before they enter the professional workforce.

Furthermore, the exchange of information regarding data management and information dissemination encourages the creation of a more transparent, accountable, and effective department governance system. This cross-border dialogue between the UGM FIB Department of Anthropology, ERC DEAGENCY, and the University of Ljubljana is a manifestation of a global partnership that is essential for the sustainable transfer of academic knowledge. Through this synergy, the department hopes to continue optimizing the role of student staff not only as technical support but also as a driving force for service innovation to realize an educational institution that possesses integrity, is globally competitive, and delivers a positive impact on the academic community.

Author: Puspita Nindya Sari

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]