SDGs 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDGs 17: Partnership for the Goals 

Assalam Fil Alamin (ASFA) Foundation has officially collaborated with the UGM Masters in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was carried out by the Head of the ASFA Foundation, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin with the Head of the Intercultural Studies Department, Universitas Gadjah Mada and advisor to the ASFA Foundation, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M. Hum. on Thursday, January 11th, 2024. This event took place in Jenggala, Jakarta and was attended by leaders of Islamic boarding schools and leading Islamic boarding school-based universities on the island of Java, including the Secretary General of the Gontor Alumni Islamic Boarding School Forum, KH. Anang Rikza Mashhadi, Ph.D, Rector of La Tansa University Banten, Dr. KH. Soleh Rosyad, Rector of Darunnajah University, Dr. Hasan Darojat, and the Rector of Darul Quran University, Dr. Anwar Sani.

In his remarks, Commissioner General of Police (Ret.) Syafruddin said, “Asian countries are located near the equator which is a marker for fertile areas so that they become strategic centers of human movement and dynamics, including us in Indonesia. Our challenge going forward is to prepare superior human resources so that we are ready to face increasingly fierce global competition.” The Deputy Chief of Police for the 2016-2018 period also said that it was hoped that this collaboration would be a means of strengthening human resources, both in the educational and economic fields.

SDGs 4: Quality Education

On Sunday February 11th, 2024, Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), was a guest speaker in the Culture Webinar. The webinar is one of a series of events commemorating the 31st anniversary of the Association of Regional Language and Literature Students throughout Indonesia (Imbasadi). The event was held at 13:00 (GMT+7) with the theme “Synergy of Nusantara Performing Arts in the Era of Globalization.” The theme raised a reality about the role, function, and position of the archipelago’s performing arts in the era of free and open globalization.

Together with Prof. Dr. Drs. I Wayan Sugita, M.Si., a professor from the State Hindu University, I Gusti Bagus Sugriwa Denpasar, both presented informative and educational material about the Nusantara performing arts to the webinar participants.

Rudy Wiratama, S.I.P., M.A., explained his material entitled “Art, Tradition, and Globalization.” In his presentation, he highlighted how globalization can affect a tradition. One of the interesting aspects of his presentation was the changes in Kecak dance over time. “Kecak dance initially did not contain a particular story. Later, Walter Spies, a Western artist, worked with Balinese artists and inserted the Ramayana epic into the Kecak Dance performance. At this point, Kecak Dance, which was originally part of the communal culture of the community, was transformed into an attraction for tourist consumption,” he explained.

 The Cultural Webinar organized by Imbasadi is aimed at inviting the younger generation of Indonesia to understand the potential of the archipelago’s arts and culture in the midst of globalization. By preserving and enlivening the archipelago’s culture, the community can contribute to developing knowledge and abilities and participate in protecting the nation’s cultural heritage. This effort is in line with the sustainable development goals, especially point 4, which highlights the provision of quality education.

Image 1: The delivered material. 

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Sleman Regency Culture Office (Kundha Kabudayan) holds a Memetri Magazine Writing Training Workshop every year. This year, the workshop took place on Thursday, (02/15/2024) at Floating Resto Sleman. This workshop was attended by various groups, including Pasbuja (Javanese Cultural Arts Society), FGSM (Sleman Teachers Forum), and five students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023. They are Rafif Wicaksono, M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, Audrey Gizella Islamey, Rela Sazkia, and Zidna Nabila.

This year’s “Memetri” Magazine Writing Training Workshop was devoted to writing Javanese-language feature works. The goal was to train the participants to write features, increase creativity, and preserve the Javanese language. There were various materials presented by the speakers, such as formulas for writing features, methods of writing features, and how to choose references for features to be written. Dra. Wiwien Widyawati Rahayu, lecturer of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, was also a resource person in this workshop. She conveyed the method for finding feature sources.

Audrey Gizella expressed her opinion on the workshop. “Alhamdulillah, this workshop was very fun, not boring, and I gained new knowledge to write features.” Rafif Wicaksono added, “This activity is very useful for us, especially since our study program is also related to literature. Therefore, we can know the intricacies of good and correct feature writing,” he said.

The organization of the “Memetri” Magazine Writing Training Workshop is a concrete effort to train the younger generation to be able to write features as well as participate in the preservation of Javanese culture. Educational efforts and cooperation from various parties in preserving culture are in accordance with the goals of sustainable development, namely improving the quality of education (point 4) and partnerships to achieve goals (point 17). 

Author: Zidna Nabila | Editor: Haryo Untoro

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

On Tuesday, January 20, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences held the first meeting with students who are currently enrolled in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences through the Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka (PMM) Program. The meeting was attended by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, M.Hum, along with 17 students from various universities in Indonesia and 5 international students from Italy, Japan, and Korea.

Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, M.Hum congratulated the students who were accepted into the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. Additionally, she provided a brief overview of life at FIB UGM and in Yogyakarta. She suggested the students to explore various aspects of life at UGM and in Yogyakarta, both academically and non-academically, in hope that it would give them new experiences.

The activity continued with guidance on filling out the Kartu Rencana Studi (KRS) / study plan by the Unit of Academic and Student Affairs. They conveyed information about campus regulations that the students should be aware of and provided an overview of various courses that they could take. During this agenda, their enthusiasm for studying at this faculty was evident, with some expressing interest in taking courses such as Indonesian Cultural Practices, particularly Traditional Dance.

In essence, the PMM program aims to provide students with a different learning experience, offering them the opportunity to experience teaching and learning activities at other universities. Additionally, they gain the experience of building relationships with students and professors at FIB UGM, with the hope of opening up possibilities for future collaboration and cooperation.

SDGs 4: Quality Education

Wednesday, February 21, 2024, marked an unforgettable day for 140 graduates of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), where they proudly received their new titles as Bachelor’s degree. The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si, the Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources, Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., and representatives from each department and study program within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences.

In this graduation period, Mutiara Cantikan, a student of the Cultural Anthropology Study Program, achieved the highest GPA of 3.99, followed by Garin Arivian Muhammad with a GPA of 3.96 from the Arabic Literature Study Program.

The event began with a welcoming speech from Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos, M.Si. He also gave some advice on the importance of considering the past as a source of learning and emphasized the need to look forward. The first step, he mentioned, is to finish the things in front of us. This graduation ceremony signifies the success from the efforts in the previous years. The program continued with an entertaining performance of the Būchaechum dance by students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, who are part of the Dōngari Student Activity Unit. The ceremony was closed with a prayer led by Hamdan, S.S., M.A.

Congratulations to all the graduates! A bright future awaits you!