Yogyakarta, 22 December 2025 – The Tourism Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the Sarasehan Dwi Windu to commemorate the program’s 16th anniversary. The event, which took place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time at Soegondo Room 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, served as a forum for academic reflection, network strengthening, and maintaining close ties among academics, alumni, and tourism stakeholders.

The discussion opened with a presentation on the current condition and achievements of the Tourism Study Program by the Head of the Program, Dr. Wiwik Sushartami, M.A. In her presentation, she explained the implementation of the university’s tridharma, with particular emphasis on teaching through internships and strategic partnerships. Internships have been established as a compulsory course within the core curriculum, designed to bridge academic learning with the demands of the professional world.

“We designed the internship as part of the core curriculum so that students are not merely pursuing academic credits, but also gaining direct field experience and stronger job readiness,” said Dr. Wiwik during her presentation.

Partnerships of the Tourism Study Program involve a wide range of stakeholders, including tourism industry players such as hotels, tourist destinations, travel agencies, and the creative industry. In addition, collaboration has been developed with local government institutions, area management bodies, regulatory agencies, non-governmental organizations, village tourism development communities, as well as research centers and academic institutions through collaborative research, guest lectures, and the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka program.

In terms of community service, the Tourism Study Program focuses on tourism village development, cultural and heritage preservation, sport tourism, and community-based planning. The overarching theme emphasizes community empowerment and the strengthening of local economies.

The next session featured a curriculum presentation by Popi Irawan, S.S., M.Sc., Ph.D. He outlined the planned implementation of Stream 9 through a Double Degree or Joint Degree program. This program is designed under a Primary Major scheme and will be aligned with international partnership plans targeted for development over the next five years.

According to Popi, the Double Degree or Joint Degree program is planned to take place in the fifth and sixth semesters. During this period, students of the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, will undertake their studies at partner universities, while also welcoming students from partner institutions to study directly within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This scheme continues and expands the international collaborations that have been established previously.

The Sarasehan Dwi Windu not only marks the 16-year journey of the Tourism Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, but also reaffirms its commitment to developing tourism education that is adaptive, collaborative, and community-oriented. Through strengthening the curriculum, partnerships, and community engagement, the Tourism Study Program is expected to continue contributing to sustainable tourism development and to deliver tangible benefits for the surrounding social and cultural environment.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 23 December 2025 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), hosted a public lecture titled The Synergy of STEAM and Ethnopedagogy in Expanding Students’ Academic and Cultural Perspectives. The lecture took place from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Western Indonesian Time at Room R. Soegondo 709. The event was part of an academic visit by Universitas Doktor Nugroho Magetan and was attended by members of the academic community from both institutions.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni of FIB UGM, Mimi Savitri, M.A., Ph.D., along with a representative lecturer from Universitas Doktor Nugroho, Yugga Tri Surahman, S.Pd., M.Pd. The public lecture featured Dr. Elan Ardri Lazuardi, S.Ant., M.A., a lecturer in Cultural Anthropology at FIB UGM, who presented the concept of ethnopedagogy within the academic and social context of students.

In his presentation, Dr. Elan emphasized that culture is dynamic and continues to evolve in response to changes in the environment. “Culture is not something static, but something that can change and develop over time,” he explained. He also shared his research on online motorcycle taxi communities with young children, where parents often entrust their children to fellow drivers while they are working, showing how the social environment plays a role in children’s development. Through this discussion, the public lecture was expected to encourage students to recognize the interconnectedness of knowledge, culture, and social practices as a foundation for building an adaptive and sustainable society in the future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Shah Alam, 18 December 2025 – Three students from the Arabic Literature program at Universitas Gadjah Mada recorded notable achievements at the Modern Languages Olympiad 3.0, held at Universiti Teknologi MARA UiTM in Shah Alam, Malaysia. The international competition brought together participants from various countries in a series of multilingual contests, with the main events culminating on 18 December 2025.

In the Arabic Poetry Recital category, Pandhita Hapsari, an Arabic Literature student from the 2023 cohort, won first place and also received the award for Best Script. Another student, Muhammad Hayyi’ Rosyada from the 2024 cohort, secured third place in the same category. Meanwhile, Haris Arfakhsyadz Azka Maula, also from the 2024 cohort, achieved second place in the Arabic Champion Orator category and earned a special award for Best Impromptu Speech. Throughout their participation in Malaysia, the students were officially accompanied by Dr. Zurfa Purnamawati, M.Hum., a lecturer in Arabic Literature at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, who supported during the competition.

MLO 3.0 was organized by the Academy of Language Studies at UiTM as a language competition featuring four main categories: Malay, English, Arabic, and Mandarin. The event series began with participant registration on 30 October 2025, followed by video submissions for the preliminary round until 6 November 2025. The judging process took place from 10 to 15 November 2025, with the announcement of preliminary results on 18 November 2025. The face-to-face final round was held on 16 December 2025 and concluded with a closing ceremony the following day.

In its official description, the organizing committee stated that the Poetry Recital category is a multilingual poetry writing and recitation competition that encourages expression in multiple languages while celebrating cultural diversity and unity. The Orator Champion category is described as a multilingual speech competition that facilitates the exchange of ideas across traditions, enriching the cultural value of public speaking.

These achievements reflect the students’ strong academic capacity and competitive language skills at the international level. Active participation in global forums of this kind reinforces the role of language as a bridge for intercultural dialogue and highlights the importance of education development that promotes cross-national collaboration for a more sustainable future.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, December 16, 2025 – The second session of the Neuroscience-Based Language Teaching Talk Show, themed Teaching with Emotion: How Affective Neuroscience Enhances Language, was held at R. Soegondo Building, Room 709, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event discussed the role of emotions in language learning and how a neuroscience-based approach can improve teaching effectiveness.

Moderated by Reski Ramadhani, the talk show featured four speakers: Natasya Ayu, Asmaul Husna, Luailik Mushffa, and Tisa Aini. The discussion focused on teachers’ practical experiences in managing both student and teacher emotions while ensuring that academic objectives are achieved effectively.

One of the speakers, Asmaul Husna, shared her experience conducting a teaching experiment in a basic speaking class at Kampung Inggris. She compared two approaches implemented in different periods, namely a content-focused approach and an emotionally driven approach. “When we build emotional closeness with students, they feel truly valued,” Asmaul said. She added that students who received emotional support showed greater appreciation and more positive feedback at the end of the course.

Luailik Mushffa highlighted the challenges of applying a neuroscience-based approach in the classroom, particularly in relation to teachers’ emotional readiness. She explained that teachers need to regulate their emotions before teaching in order to create a positive learning atmosphere. “In this neuroscience approach, we focus on students’ emotions. However, teachers’ emotions also need to be managed before entering the classroom,” she explained. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between emotional management and the achievement of learning objectives.

Practical advice was delivered by Tisa Aini, who encouraged teachers to engage in self-reflection before teaching. “Please take five to ten minutes before entering the classroom for a self-check,” she said. According to her, teachers’ emotions are easily transmitted to students, making emotional stability a key foundation for creating a sense of safety in the learning process.

Meanwhile, Natasya Ayu stressed the importance of developing a positive mindset among students toward language learning. She reminded teachers not to frame language learning as something difficult and encouraged the use of contextual and realistic learning materials. In her view, making mistakes while speaking is a natural part of the journey toward language fluency.

Overall, the talk show illustrated that language teaching cannot be separated from emotional aspects, both for students and teachers. A more humane and emotionally aware approach is seen as essential in creating a supportive, sustainable learning environment that remains relevant to learners’ future needs.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]

Yogyakarta, 14 December 2025. The academic community of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, took part in enlivening the Nitilaku Cultural Parade held in celebration of UGM’s 76th anniversary. The FIB UGM delegation, consisting of students, educational staff, and lecturers, joined the cultural procession along a route from the UGM Boulevard Gate to the courtyard of the UGM Rectorate Building. The 2025 Nitilaku Cultural Parade carried the theme Ruwat Rawat Kebangsaan.

During the event, FIB UGM presented a series of artistic performances, including the Bekasak Dance, Buchaechum, Talchum, and a gamelan ensemble, with artistic direction by Jhony and Adhya. Despite the rain that fell throughout the parade, the participants remained enthusiastic and performed their choreography in full. One member of the FIB UGM delegation stated, “The rain did not become an obstacle for us to continue presenting art and conveying cultural messages to the public.”

The Bekasak Dance, a work by Raden Bagus Kusuma, was performed in sustainability-themed costumes made from environmentally friendly materials such as pineapple fiber, bamboo baskets, and vetiver roots. The participation of FIB UGM in the Nitilaku Cultural Parade reflects the role of the academic community in preserving tradition, strengthening national values, and fostering awareness of the importance of harmony among culture, humanity, and the environment in a sustainable manner.

[Public Relations of FIB UGM, Candra Solihin]