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]

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]