The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has produced many alumni who have contributed to the preservation and development of the Javanese language, literature, and culture. One of them is Aji Setyowijaya, a member of the 2008 cohort who is now dedicated to the world of batik as a craftsman of traditional Yogyakarta batik.

The Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture had the opportunity to visit and interview Aji Setyowijaya, hereafter referred to as Mas Aji, in person on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. The 2008 alumnus, who was also a recipient of a scholarship from Yayasan Arsari Djojohadikusumo (YAD), also known as Yayasan Keluarga Hasyim Djojohadikusumo (YKHD), explained that his interest in batik began with his admiration for inherited batik cloths. He often came across old batik fabrics of exceptional quality and beauty, but they had become so fragile that they were no longer suitable for use. “I used to enjoy looking at inherited batik cloths. The fabrics were beautiful and I wanted to wear them, but they had become too fragile. Eventually, I was motivated to try reproducing old batik cloths. At the same time, during my university years, I also enjoyed wearing rasukan, or traditional Javanese attire,” he said.

This interest encouraged him to begin learning batik-making in 2009. He studied various batik techniques by observing and learning directly at several batik centers in Yogyakarta. During this early period, Mas Aji focused on understanding the principles and techniques of traditional Yogyakarta batik as the primary foundation before developing his own works.

Building on this understanding, between approximately 2013 and 2015, Mas Aji began producing antique batik, also known as batik kama or batik lawasan. According to him, during that period both the public and collectors highly appreciated batik lawasan because it was assumed to have originated several decades earlier. “At that time, in the batik trade, people appreciated antique batik, or kama, or lawasan, with the assumption that the batik was 50–70 years old,” he explained.

However, this experience also gave rise to a sense of concern. According to Mas Aji, batik should not merely be regarded as a classical work that ends with reproducing the past. Batik should continue to develop without abandoning its traditional roots. Based on this perspective, he began incorporating his personal identity into every work he created while also expanding his exploration beyond the characteristic style of Yogyakarta batik.

In line with this spirit, since 2018 Mas Aji has devoted himself to studying natural dye techniques for traditional Yogyakarta batik. For him, learning about natural dyes is not merely about producing a wider range of colors, but also about rediscovering the technical knowledge inherited from earlier generations of batik artisans.

In his creative process, Mas Aji does not work alone. He collaborates with his colleague, Yahya Adi Sutikno, who focuses on the design process, while Mas Aji is primarily responsible for production. This collaboration enables them to produce a wide range of batik works through complementary approaches.

Their works include sample pieces featuring various batik motifs on a single piece of cloth consisting of 27, 260, and even 480 motif samples, as well as replicated batik, batik lawasan, and batik resulting from transformation, media transfer, and various forms of creative batik. Their exploration extends beyond batik cloth itself to other textile media, such as sarung and other types of fabric.

In addition to producing batik cloth, Mas Aji is also active in Perkumpulan Wastra Indonesia, a community that brings together enthusiasts and advocates of Indonesian traditional textiles. His dedication to batik is also reflected in his contribution to the book Pesona Padu Padan Wastra Indonesia as a fashion contributor featuring the use of traditional Yogyakarta batik.

Behind all of these creative processes, Mas Aji believes that one aspect that must continue to be preserved in the world of batik is technical knowledge. According to him, discussions of batik have largely focused on philosophical meanings, symbolism, and cultural values, while knowledge of batik-making techniques is at risk of disappearing if it is not documented and passed on. “In my opinion, that domain (philosophy) is not easily lost because there is already abundant literature about it. But technical knowledge can disappear. For example, where should a parang motif begin, and in which direction should it be made? There are specific ways and methods.” For Mas Aji, preserving technical knowledge is just as important as preserving the philosophical values of batik because both are integral parts of the batik-making tradition.

Toward the end of the interview, Mas Aji also shared a message for students of the Department of Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, encouraging them not to be afraid of exploring opportunities beyond the classroom. “Make big problems smaller, and ignore the small ones. Do not hesitate or be afraid to try and explore. Also, do not limit your horizons to classroom learning alone.”

Mas Aji Setyowijaya’s journey demonstrates that the study of the Javanese language, literature, and culture does not end within the academic sphere, but can also be realized through cultural preservation practices that benefit society. Through his dedication to studying batik-making techniques, reproducing traditional batik, developing innovations grounded in established principles, and continuously exploring new possibilities in the world of wastra, Mas Aji has shown that cultural heritage can continue to live and develop with the times without losing its identity.

For mahadaya who would like to learn more about Mas Aji’s works and activities, they may visit his Instagram account, @setyowijaya, and his Facebook page, Batik Setyowijaya. Through these social media platforms, Mas Aji shares his creative processes, his works, and his activities in preserving and developing the art of batik. 

Author : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta – An online academic discussion jointly organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia once again provided a platform for students to deepen their understanding of Arabic language and literary studies. Led by Dr. Nur Kholid, M.P., a lecturer in the Arabic Literature Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, the session offered an interactive discussion on metaphor and linguistic analysis. During the online meeting, participants explored the concepts of musyabbah and musyabbah bih, focusing on how meaning is constructed through comparisons expressed either explicitly or implicitly. Dr. Kholid presented the material in a systematic manner by analyzing a variety of examples, enabling students not only to understand linguistic structures but also to appreciate the deeper meanings and interpretations embedded in Arabic texts.

Throughout the discussion, students examined several examples of metaphor, including the comparison of soldiers to lions in battle, tears to pearls, and spring as a symbol of human happiness. These illustrations helped participants understand how Arabic employs figurative language to convey meaning in a more vivid, meaningful, and contextual way.In addition to metaphor, the discussion expanded to the interpretation of word meanings in Arabic. The diverse perspectives shared during the session demonstrated that linguistic analysis is not limited to a single interpretation but is open to various analytical approaches and viewpoints. This approach encouraged students to broaden their perspectives while strengthening their understanding of Arabic linguistics and literary studies.

Overall, the discussion was conducted smoothly in an engaging and interactive atmosphere. Students actively participated throughout the discussion and question-and-answer session, reflecting their enthusiasm for the topic. Through this academic activity, participants are expected to enhance their understanding of Arabic studies while further developing their linguistic and analytical skills.

Author: Indana Zulfa

The Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, has sent seven students to participate in the 2026 Integrated Archaeological Research of Indonesia (Penelitian Arkeologi Terpadu Indonesia/PATI), organized by the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) in collaboration with six archaeology study programs across Indonesia. The program, which will be held from 27 July to 8 August 2026 in Manyarejo Village, the Sangiran Early Man Cultural Heritage Site, Sragen, Central Java, serves as a field-learning and collaborative research program for archaeology students from universities across Indonesia.

Representing the UGM Department of Archaeology are Agatha Kiara Christy and Muhammad Miftah Syafiq in the Archaeology stream, Zeldera Tahani Sifa, Helena Ken Grace Natalie, and Galih Nugroho in the Museum stream, as well as Nur Sulistyaningsih and Sarah Jasmine Kahiking in the Conservation stream. Throughout the program, the students will be accompanied by Dr. Mahirta, M.A., Dr. Fahmi Prihantoro, S.S., M.A., and Dr. Sektiadi, S.S., M.Hum. as academic supervisors from Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Carrying the theme “Unearthing the Cultural Horizon of Sangiran’s Past,” PATI 2026 will focus on rescue excavations, conservation, and the development of an open-air museum model and community-based site management. Through this program, the students are expected to gain hands-on field experience, expand their academic network with archaeology students from other universities, and further strengthen their knowledge and skills in archaeological research and cultural heritage preservation.

Author : Muhammad Irsyad
Photo Credits : Evelyn Warasti

On Thursday, 18 June 2026, the Cultural Anthropology Student Family (KEMANT) of Universitas Gadjah Mada held its annual Hearing Department event in Room 201 of the Poerbatjaraka Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM, Yogyakarta. Running from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM WIB, the interactive dialogue was hosted by MC [Name] and moderated by Dionysius Nugroho Danumurti. The session was attended by student representatives across various cohorts alongside faculty members, including Agung Wicaksono, Sita Hidayah, Agus Indiyanto, Mubarika Dyah Fitri Nugraheni, Suzie Handajani, Atik Triratnawati, and Elan Lazuardi. The forum served as a communicative platform to gather, review, and address critical student feedback ranging from academic affairs and curriculum management to student organization governance and campus facility availability.

Through a presentation of pre-collected feedback slides, students highlighted several key issues affecting their daily learning environment. Core discussions focused on the disproportionate workload for introductory courses, course quota limitations during course registration (“War KRS”) that disadvantage internal anthropology students, clarity regarding the role and responsiveness of teaching assistants, and the need for greater transparency in grading. In response, the department welcomed the input constructively and committed to using these written recommendations as an official framework to push for policy improvements at both the faculty and university levels. Beyond classroom learning, the department outlined the strategic reasoning behind rescheduling the Integrated Fieldwork (TPL) to mid-year, primarily to mitigate the risks of natural disasters and extreme weather conditions typically affecting research sites toward the end of the year.

In addition to academic topics, the forum addressed physical infrastructure and internal organizational management. Students emphasized the importance of enhancing building accessibility for individuals with disabilities, reconfiguring classrooms to better facilitate group discussions, creating safe and comfortable public spaces, and optimizing place-of-worship facilities within the faculty grounds. Meanwhile, KEMANT officers took the opportunity to present a transparent financial report of the organization’s funds and introduced an updated leadership election mechanism designed to be more democratic, open, and accountable to all members.

The implementation of this participatory forum aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within higher education. First, it directly advances SDG 4 (Quality Education) through a sustained commitment to improving teaching quality, ensuring fair curriculum adjustments, and fostering a conducive learning environment. Second, the emphasis on providing disability-friendly and fully accessible campus facilities reflects a concrete effort to support SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Lastly, the hearing embodies SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by establishing a transparent, accountable, and responsive institutional governance framework for the entire academic community.

Author: Zayyan Faadia Ayutty

The Master’s Program in Linguistics at Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Forensic Linguistics course taught by Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum., in collaboration with the Criminal Investigation Unit (Sat Reskrim) of the Malinau Regional Police under the North Kalimantan Regional Police, organized a special technical lecture entitled Writing Expert Witness Examination Reports. The event was held on Thursday, 30 April 2026, in Courtroom 1 of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta.

In addition to being attended by the course instructor, who also serves as a language expert, the event was joined by students with an interest in Forensic Linguistics. Student participation aimed to introduce linguistic perspectives into the processes and practices of preparing expert witness statements, including understanding the chronology of legal cases, identifying legal subjects, analyzing language-related criminal complaints, and examining the precision of diction, narrative structure, and ambiguity avoidance in official examination reports (Berita Acara Pemeriksaan or BAP).

The event featured police investigators AIPDA Budi Hermansyah, S.H., and Bripda Abimanyu Akbar, S.H., from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Malinau Regional Police, along with several graduate students in Linguistics. In their presentation, the investigators explained the distinction between preliminary inquiry (penyelidikan) and formal investigation (penyidikan). They emphasized that expert witness testimony constitutes one form of legal evidence (novum) necessary for bringing a case before the court. They also discussed recent developments in the implementation of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP), particularly regarding the expansion of admissible legal evidence. Furthermore, they elaborated on cases commonly handled by investigators, ranging from violations of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) to various forms of fraud, including phishing, scamming, and related cybercrimes.

Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum., explained that “the involvement of students specializing in Forensic Linguistics in this activity represents part of the implementation of teaching alongside research, as well as an effort to strengthen the role of linguistics within the legal domain.” He further noted that this practitioner-based class has been conducted since 2019 for master’s and doctoral students enrolled in forensic linguistics courses.

During the question-and-answer session, students raised various inquiries concerning legal case management procedures, the eligibility of expert witnesses, and the types of cases most frequently encountered. One student participant, Moh. Nawalul Fawaid El Haqi, remarked that “this experience was extremely valuable. We learned that the meaning of a single word in an expert witness examination report can influence the direction of a judge’s decision. At the same time, investigators also learned to view expert testimony as a text that must be constructed on the basis of theoretical linguistic knowledge that we have studied thus far.”

The collaboration between the Master’s Program in Linguistics, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Malinau Regional Police represents a pioneering initiative in bridging police science and forensic linguistic analysis. This activity is expected to serve as a collaborative model for handling legal cases across regions—particularly between Kalimantan and Java—while enhancing the quality of investigations through an interdisciplinary approach at the national level.