Davina Santosa, a student from the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, had the opportunity to undertake the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) on Nusi Island, Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. Together with the KKN team “Biak Elok,” they began their journey on June 29, 2024, under the guidance of Dr. Eng. Ir. R. Rachmat A. Sriwijaya, S.T., M.T., IPM., ASEAN, and will complete their activities on August 20, 2024.

Davina chose to join this team because she wanted to explore the lives of people outside Java. She was interested in understanding the social, cultural, and economic aspects of the local community. Davina felt it was important to know the characteristics of the community, the social approaches they take, and the challenges they face daily.

On Nusi Island, Davina and her team identified several key issues that need attention. First, there is economic disparity where job options are very limited as fishing is their only option. Second, accessibility to meet daily needs is very difficult. Third, lack of basic knowledge about cleanliness and health. Fourth, the allocation of village funds is uneven.

Their KKN theme is “Development of Tourism Potential and Human Resource Improvement Based on Community-Based Tourism Framework to Achieve Independence, Inclusivity, and Sustainability on Nusi Island, Padaido District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua.” In implementing this program, Davina found that there was no active tourism awareness group in the Padaido Islands. The last one was in Samberpasi, formed by the Biak Elok KKN Team in 2019, but it is no longer active. This shows that public awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism management is still very limited.

Additionally, Davina also found that community knowledge about waste management is very lacking. In Nusi and several other islands such as Samberpasi, Pasi, and Auki, garbage bins are rarely found in residents’ homes. Organic waste is usually given to their pets such as dogs and pigs, while other waste is collected and burned. Therefore, one of their KKN programs focuses on educating about better and sustainable waste management.

Despite the social issues they face, Nusi Island has extraordinary natural wealth. The sea water, which is still relatively unpolluted, is a clear blue. Additionally, there are many World War II relics both on land and in the sea, such as the foundations of war vehicle runways in every house on Wundi Island.

The culture of sirih pinang here becomes a social interaction medium. Additionally, traditional dances like Yospan and various musical instruments such as tifa are part of the rich culture. The community also has interesting Christian worship traditions; if there is grief or a send-off of children for education, it is celebrated with worship from night until dawn. Furthermore, they believe that Sunday is God’s day, so they are not allowed to work. Children attend Sunday school every Sunday at 8 a.m., followed by church service at 9 a.m.

Socially, the people of Nusi Island are very friendly. There is a market day, which is a day when the market is held. Market days are held three times a week, namely on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they usually go fishing, and their catch will be sold the next day on market day. Because not all residents have boats, they often hitch rides to the market in the city, which adds to the closeness among the residents.

After several weeks living in Nusi, Davina experienced the simple and full-of-struggle life of the community to meet their daily needs. Limited infrastructure and electricity make it difficult for the community to explore new things that could support their livelihoods or improve their quality of life. One of the challenges they face is that electricity is only available for 12 hours a day, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. As a result, ice blocks are very difficult to find. In fact, ice blocks could be used to preserve their catch, which could create new business opportunities such as making shredded fish, fish sticks, etc.

In addition to having the opportunity to explore the easternmost region of Indonesia, Davina also learned that economic and educational disparities still exist. People on the other side of Papua still really need help, both in terms of funding, accessibility, infrastructure, and knowledge expansion. However, despite living in simplicity, they can still be happy.

The KKN experience on Nusi Island provided many valuable lessons about the lives of Papuans, especially those on Nusi Island, Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. With enthusiasm and hard work, Davina and her team hope that this KKN program can contribute positively to the development of tourism potential and human resource improvement in the Padaido Islands, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua.

On July 4-7, 2024, the Department of Anthropology held a Mega-Infrastructure Workshop with the main speakers, David Fernando Bachrach from University Boulder Colorado and Professor Pujo Semedi. This activity aims to open interest in anthropological research on mega-infrastructure. Mega-infrastructure refers to infrastructure projects that have a large scale and high complexity such as the construction of toll roads, bridges, ports, airports, power plants, mass transportation systems, and other projects that play an important role in supporting the economic growth of a country or region. While providing great benefits in the long run, mega-infrastructure projects often face challenges and controversies. Some of them can have significant environmental impacts, such as deforestation, land degradation, or pollution. In addition, these projects can also affect local communities, either positively or negatively, such as population displacement or changes in traditional living patterns.

The workshop provided a deep insight into the social, economic and cultural complexities involved in mega-infrastructure development. David Fernando Bachrach discussed the impact of globalization and technology on modern infrastructure, while Professor Pujo Semedi highlighted the role of infrastructure in social transformation and local identity. The discussions and presentations from both presenters provided a strong basis for participants to develop research interests in anthropology related to how mega-infrastructure directly and indirectly affects people’s lives. This workshop is expected to be the start of further collaboration between researchers and practitioners to delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities associated with infrastructure development in a changing global context.

The Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held an Expert Lecture on Literature with the theme “Literature in Digital Age” on Thursday, July 18, 2024. This event took place from 12.30 to 15.30 in Sogeondo Room 709 FIB UGM and virtually through Zoom Meeting. The lecture is an open forum for the general public, although offline attendance is limited. The speakers include Prof. Angus James Nicholls, Ph.D. from Queen Mary University of London, Dr. Pujiharto, M.Hum. from Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and Miguel Escobar Varela, Ph.D. from National University of Singapore. The moderation of the event was conducted by Alvanita, S.S., M.Ed. from Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

Digital literary works include various formats such as e-books, literary blogs, literary websites, interactive stories and digital poetry. Some digital literary works also utilize multimedia elements such as images, audio and video to enhance the reading experience. This shows the development and adaptation of literature in the digital era, where technology becomes a means to express ideas and emotions in a more dynamic and interactive way. A new phenomenon in the literary world emerges with the existence of works created by robots or machines such as ChatGPT. Martin S.’s book “Poet as Machine” highlights this phenomenon. In the concept of the poet as machine, the use of language is managed entirely by the machine, and the resulting literary work is able to create its own narrative world through the use of carefully programmed language. This illustrates a new evolution in the way we understand creativity and the relationship between technology and art, as well as how algorithms can be a tool for creating impressive and original works.

The phenomenon of digital literature not only includes works created by writers but also involves the active participation of readers in the writing process, which then leads to the development of the study of fan literature. The history of this study can be traced back to Damono’s contribution in 1978 which introduced the importance of the study of popular literature, especially from the perspective of literary sociology. This study highlights how literature, especially in digital form, has changed the way readers interact and contribute to the creation of literary works. Discussions on this subject continue among modern literary scholars, exploring the role of technology in shaping and influencing contemporary literary discourse. This event is expected to be a means to explore and understand the development of literature in the growing digital era.

Yogyakarta, 12 July 2024 – The Office of Public Relations, News, and Protocol of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held a sharing session themed “Strategic Content Development of Universitas Gadjah Mada” today. The event which lasted from 12.00 to 16.00 WIB was attended by UGM public relations, news, and protocol staff in Multimedia Room 1, 3rd Floor of the North Wing, UGM Central Building.

The speakers who attended this session included Dr. Tirta Mandira Hudhi, M.B.A., Winda Pratiwi, Farchan Noor Rachman, and Mohamad Ryan Saputra. They provided various insights and strategies in strategic content development for UGM such as recognizing audiences through data interpretation, as well as content planning and development. 

Previously, the organizers had invited all relevant staff to participate in this activity, which aims to strengthen the public relations function on campus. The University Secretariat would like to thank all participants for their attention and participation.

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is proud to host the prestigious international conference “Association for Asian Studies in Asia 2024” (AAS-in-Asia). The conference takes place over three days, from Tuesday, July 9th to Thursday, July 11th, 2024, and is attended by approximately 1,400 participants from 43 countries.

On this occasion, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM serves as one of the main venues for various panel discussions and academic presentations. As a center for cultural and humanities studies, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM provides adequate facilities to support the smooth running of this international conference.

The “Association for Asian Studies in Asia 2024” conference brings together academics, researchers, and practitioners from various disciplines interested in Asian studies. With participation from 43 countries, this conference offers an extraordinary opportunity to share knowledge, research findings, and perspectives on various important issues related to Asia.

Over the three days, conference participants attend various panel sessions discussing topics such as politics, economics, culture, history, and social issues in Asia. These discussions are led by leading experts in their fields, providing in-depth insights and valuable new perspectives.

In addition to panel discussions, the conference also includes other sessions such as interactive workshops. Participants have the opportunity to interact directly with speakers and fellow attendees, expanding their academic and professional networks.

This conference not only serves as a platform for sharing knowledge but also introduces the beauty and cultural diversity of Yogyakarta to international participants. As a city of culture and education, Yogyakarta offers a rich experience in history and tradition, adding value to the conference.