Yogyakarta, June, 8 2025 – Students of the Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Class of 2023, successfully conducted their Thesis Proposal Seminar from 8 to 10 June 2026. The three-day academic event marked an important milestone as students presented their research proposals before proceeding to the next stage of their undergraduate thesis projects.

This year’s seminar showcased a wide range of research topics, reflecting the growing diversity of contemporary Arabic language and literature studies. Beyond traditional scholarly approaches, students explored issues related to artificial intelligence, digital media, social dynamics, and global geopolitical developments, demonstrating the relevance of Arabic studies in addressing contemporary challenges.

A significant number of research projects focused on translation studies, examining translation strategies and translation quality in novels, poetry, films, classical Islamic texts, and social media content. Notably, several students investigated the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in translation, including studies on the translation quality produced by ChatGPT. These topics illustrate how technological advancements are increasingly becoming an integral part of academic inquiry within the Arabic Literature Program at UGM.

In the field of literary studies, students analyzed various humanitarian and social issues represented in modern Arabic literary works. Topics such as war trauma, power relations, feminism, diaspora identity, family conflicts, and the struggles of the Palestinian people emerged as prominent themes. These studies highlight literature not only as an artistic expression but also as a reflection of complex social realities and human experiences.

Meanwhile, linguistic research offered equally compelling perspectives. Students examined topics including code-switching, code-mixing, pragmatics, discourse analysis, media framing, and the use of Arabic in digital spaces. These studies demonstrate how language continues to evolve and interact with various aspects of contemporary society.

Throughout the seminar, students presented their research backgrounds, research questions, and proposed methodologies. Supervisors and examiners provided constructive academic feedback to help refine and strengthen the proposed studies. The active discussions created a valuable learning environment that encouraged critical thinking, analytical skills, and academic argumentation.

The Thesis Proposal Seminar serves as an important academic milestone for the Class of 2023 as they prepare for the next phase of their research journey. Through the diverse range of topics presented, Arabic Literature UGM students continue to contribute to the development of Arabic language, literature, translation, and media studies while engaging with issues of global significance.

Author: Indana Zulfa Maulida

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.

Yogyakarta, May 6, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed 139 students from SMA Negeri 4 Malang as part of the Steviclass program. The visit was organized to introduce students to higher education and provide insights into the advancement of knowledge, research, and innovation within the academic environment.

During the visit, participants were introduced to various academic programs offered at UGM, student activities, and the research and innovations developed by members of the university’s academic community. Through this program, students gained a broader understanding of university life and the opportunities available for academic and personal development.

The visit is expected to motivate students to continue pursuing their educational goals and to further develop their potential. By exposing participants to higher education and research culture, the program encourages lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity among young people.

The Steviclass program supports the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education by strengthening higher education literacy among secondary school students. In addition, introducing students to research and innovation aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which highlights the importance of scientific and technological advancement in promoting sustainable societal development.

[Public Relation of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Yogyakarta, April 15, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has once again marked an academic milestone with the inauguration of Prof. Dr. Pujiharto, S.S., M.Hum. as a Professor in the field of literature. In his inaugural speech, he raised the theme of Postmodern Indonesian Literature.

In his presentation, Prof. Pujiharto explained that postmodernism can be understood as an intersection with modernism. Referring to the thoughts of Brian McHale, both are viewed as a form of poetics, namely a system in literature equivalent to the concept of an “-ism.” Poetics itself originates from the ideas of Aristotle, who viewed literature as a system with its own rules and characteristics.

Furthermore, he elaborated that the understanding of modern Indonesian literature cannot be separated from the concept of Indonesian identity, which is closely related to the nation-building project toward a modern Indonesia. In this context, the term “modern” has historical roots in Europe, marked by a shift from a theocentric to an anthropocentric worldview, as proposed by Jürgen Habermas. This indicates that the construction of modern Indonesian literature has inevitably been influenced by Western perspectives of modernity.

Entering the discussion of postmodern Indonesian literature, Prof. Pujiharto highlighted a fundamental shift from epistemological poetics, characteristic of modernism, to ontological poetics, which defines postmodernism. This shift is explained through the concept of “the dominant” by Roman Jakobson, emphasizing a change in the primary focus within the structure of literary works.

In the final part of his speech, Prof. Pujiharto connected the ontological plurality in postmodern literature with contemporary societal conditions. According to him, the postmodern era is marked by the dominance of information technology, giving rise to an information society characterized by multiple realities and perspectives. This phenomenon shows that literary works are not only reflections of their time but also serve as a medium to understand the complexities of modern and postmodern life.

Closing his speech, Prof. Pujiharto expressed his gratitude to all parties who contributed to the process of his professorship nomination until he was officially inaugurated through a ministerial decree.

This inauguration is not only a personal achievement but also contributes to strengthening Indonesian literary studies on a global scale. In line with this, the ideas presented support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly United Nations Goal 4 (Quality Education) through the advancement of knowledge, as well as Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) in the context of the development of an information- and technology-based society.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Alma Syahwalani]

Amid the overwhelming flow of information, writing is often reduced to a mere technical skill—the ability to arrange words so they read smoothly. Yet in an academic context, writing is fundamentally an intellectual act: a way of thinking, responding, and ultimately taking a position in relation to reality.

In a workshop organized by the Master’s Program in Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum. emphasized that students should not remain confined to the classroom. Ideas, he argued, must be brought into the public domain—into mass media and shared spaces where discourse is exchanged and debated. “Students need to be present in the public sphere through their writing. It is also important to include institutional affiliation as a form of academic responsibility,” Aprinus noted.

There is often a noticeable gap between academia and the wider public. Overly technical language, ideas circulating within limited circles, and a tendency to write merely for assignments can strip knowledge of its broader relevance. This is where the essay finds its significance.

Unlike formal academic writing, essays do not demand rigid structures. They allow space for subjectivity, reflection, and even doubt. Paradoxically, this is precisely where their strength lies—in the courage to take a stance, not merely present data.

However, this freedom is not without direction. Essay writing still requires strategy. There is a long, often invisible process behind it: reading, experimenting, failing, and trying again. Prof. Aprinus illustrated that the journey of writing can be winding—from critiques that fail to “break through” to discovering more nuanced, even ironic ways of expressing ideas.

Writing, then, is not only about the end result, but about the process of finding one’s voice.

One approach offered is to use literary works as a lens for interpreting reality. Fiction is no longer seen as a separate world, but as another way of understanding the real one. From there, writers can build bridges between imagination and concrete social conditions.

Depth, too, becomes essential. In an age that favors speed and superficiality, there is a call to slow down and immerse oneself in a single idea, figure, or perspective until it is fully internalized—not to imitate, but ultimately to move beyond it.

In this session, there was no conventional Q&A. Instead, participants were invited to reflect directly through reviews of the essays they had previously submitted. The feedback may have seemed simple, yet it touched on fundamental aspects: appropriate length, fresh and relevant titles, and the courage to take a clear stance.

What may appear technical, in fact, conceals deeper questions: for whom do we write, and why?

When students begin to write for mass media, they are not merely practicing a skill—they are assuming a role. They step into the public sphere as thinking individuals who do not simply consume information, but actively produce it.

At this point, writing becomes more than just an academic exercise. It becomes a path home—a way for intellectuals to reconnect with the very reality that gave rise to them.

[Master of Arts in Literature, Khotibul Umam]