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, 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]

Yogyakarta, April 1, 2026 – Another remarkable achievement has been accomplished by a student of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Alma Syahwalani, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, has been selected for the Google Student Ambassador (GSA) 2026 program organized by Google Indonesia.

Out of approximately 81,000 applicants from across Indonesia, only 2,000 students were chosen as Google Student Ambassadors for 2026. Alma is among the representatives from Universitas Gadjah Mada and the only student from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences to be selected for this prestigious program. In total, 34 UGM students were selected as Google Student Ambassadors this year.

The Google Student Ambassador program is an exclusive initiative by Google that appoints selected students to represent the company within their campuses. Ambassadors serve as technology leaders and change agents who actively promote the use of digital productivity tools and artificial intelligence innovations, particularly Gemini technology, to support students’ learning and research activities.

Throughout the program, Google Student Ambassadors take on various strategic roles, including organizing workshops, creating AI-based educational content, leading campus technology communities, and assisting fellow students in optimizing the use of Google tools. The program will run for four months, from April to July 2026.

Alma’s achievement is not only a personal milestone but also brings pride to FIB UGM on a national level, particularly in the fields of digital literacy and technological innovation. Her participation is expected to have a positive impact on the campus environment by enhancing students’ understanding and use of digital technology. This aligns with efforts to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through the advancement of digital literacy; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure through the application of AI and technological innovation in academic settings; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between higher education institutions and the global technology industry.

[Public Relations FIB UGM]

Yogyakarta, March 3, 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) awarded two outstanding alumni during the peak of its 80th anniversary celebration in the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium. The awards were presented to Setya Amrih Prasaja, S.S., M.Pd., and Dra. Rini Suryati as a token of appreciation for their dedication to the advancement of science and education, as well as their tangible contributions to the broader community.

The first outstanding alumni award was given to Prasaja, a graduate of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Prasaja is widely recognized as the driving force behind the digitization of the Javanese script. His efforts to integrate this traditional script into the international standard (Unicode) have now produced results, allowing the Javanese script to be widely used across various digital devices, such as mobile phones and computers.

In addition to his role as the founder of the Segajabung community, Prasaja currently serves as the Head of the Language and Literature Section at the Department of Culture of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. His contributions are considered crucial in maintaining the relevance of local culture during an era of massive digital transformation.

The second award went to Suryati, who is also an alumna of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Suryati is a senior journalist for the Jakarta bureau of the Kedaulatan Rakyat daily newspaper, having built her career since 1992. Her reporting focuses on strategic issues in politics, social affairs, and education.

Throughout her career, Suryati has recorded various journalistic achievements, including an assignment at the 2023 Hajj Media Center and conducting an exclusive interview with President Joko Widodo. Beyond journalism, she is also an active author whose books received national recognition from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in 2025.

The initiative by the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences to appreciate its alumni demonstrates the educational institution’s commitment to continuously supporting the development of high-quality human resources. Efforts to preserve language through technology and strengthen literacy through journalistic work represent a long-term investment. This serves as a vital foundation for preserving cultural heritage and continually educating the nation for a more inclusive future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]