Michelle Anastasia Budiman, a Class of 2022 student from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), is currently participating in a student exchange program in Japan. As part of her cultural immersion experience, she learned how to make okonomiyaki, one of Japan’s most iconic savory pancakes. This activity became part of her learning experience beyond the classroom, offering a firsthand introduction to everyday Japanese life through its culinary traditions.

During the cooking process, Michelle not only learned the techniques of preparing okonomiyaki but also experienced selecting and purchasing ingredients at a local Japanese supermarket before cooking the dish independently. This hands-on experience provided her with a deeper understanding of local ingredients, Japanese shopping habits, and the culinary practices that form an integral part of everyday life in Japan.

This experience demonstrates that a student exchange program offers opportunities to learn far beyond the academic setting. By actively engaging in the daily lives of local communities, students can develop a deeper understanding of the Japanese language and culture while strengthening their intercultural awareness and adaptability in an international environment.

Author: Japanese Literature Study Program

YOGYAKARTA – To prepare competitive graduates ready to enter the professional world, the Undergraduate Program in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully organized the Career Path & Career Readiness Series 2026. Spanning two comprehensive sessions in late July, this series of events was specifically designed to broaden perspectives on career opportunities while equipping students with practical skills to navigate the job recruitment process.

The preparatory program commenced with an online session titled Archaeo Connect: Alumni Career Talks on Saturday (25/7). This inspiring session featured three distinguished alumni of the UGM Archaeology Undergraduate Program: Cindi Shandoval, S.Ark., Candrika Ilham, S.Ark., and Dimas Luthfi, S.Ark. Guided by UGM Archaeology student Insqa Visia Spiritualita Holistica as the moderator, the three guest speakers shared captivating insights into their diverse career journeys.

Various professional pathways for archaeology graduates were thoroughly explored during this session, ranging from cultural heritage-based entrepreneurship and heritage consultancy to corporate museum management. Through their success stories, the alumni advised students to continuously enrich their experiences, expand their professional networks, and hone their competencies as early as possible during their university years.

The series then continued on Monday (27/7) with an offline Career Readiness Session. Hosted by Sheba Nur Majjid as the Master of Ceremonies and moderated by Khariza Erfani, this tactical session featured Tita Anwar, M.Psi. as the guest speaker.

In this second session, students did not merely listen to theoretical presentations; they acquired technical knowledge on drafting competitive curriculum vitae (CVs), strategies for building personal branding, and effective tips for conquering various stages of job interviews. To provide a comprehensive and realistic overview, students were also actively engaged in recruitment simulations and various case studies.

Through the Career Path & Career Readiness Series 2026 initiative, the UGM Undergraduate Program in Archaeology hopes that students will have a more directed career roadmap upon graduation. The synergy between cross-professional alumni and career development practitioners is expected to serve as a learning space that not only broadens horizons but also boosts the confidence of UGM Archaeology students in taking decisive steps toward their future careers.

Author: Muhammad Irsyad

Yogyakarta – The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University hosted the Quebec (Canada)–Indonesia Creative Industries and Cultural Diplomacy Conference, organized in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. This event brought together policymakers, academics, industry representatives, creative practitioners, and students from Canada and Southeast Asia to discuss and exchange ideas on strengthening cooperation in the fields of the creative industries and cultural diplomacy.

The conference was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, Vice Rector for Education and Teaching at UGM. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of universities as spaces for international collaboration capable of fostering cultural exchange, driving innovation, and strengthening global networks.

Meanwhile, the closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Alexandre Veilleux, who stressed the importance of sustaining the partnership between Canada and Indonesia through academic collaboration, creative industry partnerships, and long-term network-building in the Indo-Pacific region.

The conference featured two panel discussion sessions that explored various perspectives on the development of the creative industries and cultural diplomacy.

In Panel 1, titled “The Strategic Value of Creative Industries and Cultural Diplomacy: A Government Lens”, the panelists were:

1. Guillermo Moyano, Director of Economic Affairs, Quebec Government Office in Singapore;
2. Dr. Leonard Hutabarat, Foreign Policy Strategy Agency of the Republic of Indonesia and former Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Toronto;
3. Yurnelis Piliang, S.IP., M.P.A., Head of the Tourism Attractions Division, Yogyakarta Special Region Tourism Office.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Agung Wicaksono from Gadjah Mada University.

Meanwhile, Panel 2 addressed the theme “Creative Industry Innovation: Canada–Indonesia Business Insights”, featuring:

1. Danny Tan, Managing Producer, Moment Factory Singapore Office;
2. Ivan Chen, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN);
3. Lev Kroll, CEO of Nuanu Creative City.

This session was moderated by Yaxin Zhou from Université de Montréal.

In addition to serving as a forum for strategic dialogue, the conference also marked the opening of the CERIUM Indo-Pacific Chair Summer School, a program that brings together graduate students from Canada and Southeast Asia to learn directly from academics, practitioners, and stakeholders in the fields of international relations and the creative industries. This program is organized through a collaboration between Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and Gadjah Mada University.

Through this conference, it is hoped that closer cooperation will be forged between Canada and Indonesia in the development of the creative industries, innovation, and cultural diplomacy. All organizers expressed their appreciation to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, CERIUM—particularly Dr. Alexandre Veilleux—the speakers, participants, and all partners who contributed to the success of this event.

Moving forward, it is hoped that the networks and collaborations established through this conference will continue to evolve into various joint initiatives that benefit both countries, while strengthening Canada–Indonesia relations in the Indo-Pacific region through creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Author: Dewi Widyastuti

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

YOGYAKARTA – To commemorate its 80th anniversary, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at UGM held a volleyball tournament specifically for educational staff on Friday (July 3, 2026). The event, which took place on the field in front of the Margono Building at FIB, was intended as an expression of gratitude and an opportunity to strengthen solidarity among educational staff.

The event, attended by approximately 50 participants, was officially opened at 7:00 a.m. WIB by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at UGM, Mr. Setiadi, S.S., M.Hum., who served the first ball.

The matches were fiercely contested starting from the semifinals. In the men’s category, the competition was divided into four teams based on color: white, blue, red, and yellow. After a long and dramatic rally, the red team emerged as the champion after defeating the blue team in the final, followed by the yellow team in third place. Meanwhile, in the women’s category, the yellow team dominated and successfully claimed first place after securing a decisive victory over the green team.

The high level of enthusiasm came not only from the players but also from the supporters, who were cheering loudly from the sidelines. Yazid, a part-time staff member in the FIB Public Relations Office, also shared in this excitement.

“Today’s competition was so exciting. I hope events like this will continue in the future as a form of solidarity among the faculty and staff of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences,” he said on the sidelines of the event.