Yogyakarta, Monday night 19th of August 2024, the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a shadow puppet show in the framework of the anniversary of the Faculty of Philosophy. The performance featured a special play, Gajah Mada Suci, which was performed collaboratively by UGM students who are members of the UGM Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS). One of the important roles in this performance was carried out by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023, chosen to perform a play that was collaboratively worked on by the academics community of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The script for the performance of Gajah Mada Suci was written by Dr. Rudy Wiratama S.I.P., M.A., lecturer of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. Gajah Mada Suci tells the story of the scapegoating of Gajah Mada under the pretext of the failure of the Majapahit Kingdom expansion. The expansion also coincided with the kingdom’s internal political turmoil. To make matters worse, Gajah Mada was accused by the elites of trying to remove him from the kingdom. As a result, Gajah Mada felt desperate and afterward he visited the residence of his friend, Mpu Tantular. After a long dialog, Gajah Mada was finally enlightened, that the efforts he had made so far were not in vain. The spirit of Amukti Palapa to unite the archipelago will continue in the next era.

“The performance of the Gajah Mada Suci is a form of depiction of the Indonesian nation that has experienced an identity crisis by winning over an interest and power through any means. Gajah Mada, who was a knight, finally moksa due to the deviant behavior of the Majapahit elite. After that, the Majapahit Kingdom lost its authority and then receded until it reached its collapse,” explained Rafi in an interview (05/09/2024).

As a special play, Rafi and his fellow UKJGS students practiced hard for a maximum performance. “The performance of Gajah Mada Suci has its own challenges for us. We practiced preparing for the performance in only half a month. Plus, this is my first time to play the Gajah Mada puppet, so it must be carefully prepared.”

“With these challenges, Alhamdulillah, the show can run smoothly. It was a great experience for me,” he continued.  Rafi hopes that the Gajah Mada puppet show will be held continuously because it is the work and identity of UGM as well as containing values that need to be socialized.

The existence of the Gajah Mada puppet is a real effort to promote the history and culture of the archipelago while still applying its relevance to the times. Through culture, we are not only ‘displaying’ aesthetics, but also reaffirming the nation’s identity through noble values for a better Indonesia.

Purworejo, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in order to maintain the sustainability of the forest ecosystem, Lecturer of Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program of UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., initiated a Community Service (PKM) program in collaboration with Perhutani Forest Management Unit (KPH) South Kedu and PT Kreasi Wisata Global as the management of Menoreh Dreamland tourism, planting together on the commitment of Green Ecotourism. The commitment to Green Ecotourism is shown through steps such as the mass planting of 150 pine tree seedlings and the provision of green open spaces and “Peleluk Pohon” rides as a means to interact directly with nature as well as a symbol of gratitude to nature and awareness of the importance of maintaining forest ecosystems. The joint planting program applies ecological, social, economic, and cultural principles to educate, maintain, and improve environmental sustainability, community welfare, and business sustainability. Not only joint planting, this activity also held an interesting, aesthetic, and fun “Plant and Hug Trees” socialization and education accompanied by live poetry media by Ibu Novi and music/songs, to the general public and environmental activists.

Natural degradation due to human exploitation such as degradation, deforestation, illegal logging, and land conversion into housing or agricultural land are some of the main factors that have caused the decline in forest area around the world. To overcome this, a real approach is needed to increase and foster awareness of the sustainability of forest ecosystems that humans must always protect. One approach with potential solutions is through the concept of Green Ecotourism or ecotourism. This sustainable solution offers an effective platform for education and counseling to the community about the importance of protecting forest ecosystems.

The output of the Community Service activities that have been carried out by Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum., are open to the public and can be accessed through the following link:

Policy Brief

• Policy Brief Raising Awareness of Oxygen Needs through Green Ecotourism Commitment (Case Study in Menoreh Dreamland, Kalilo, Kaligesing, Purworejo)

PKM Video

• Video of Green Ecotourism PKM Activities

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, provided training to students, especially the 2023 linguistics master study program on academic writing. The activity was held at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and was opened by remarks from the Head of the Linguistics Master Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, Dr. Suhandano. He also introduced the speakers and activities that would be delivered by the speakers to students. He expressed his gratitude to the speakers who had been willing to share their knowledge. In addition, he also gave advice to students about the importance of this activity to support academic careers, especially the requirements for thesis exams so that students must take a lot of knowledge from these activities.

The first speaker at the Academic writing workshop was Dr. Badli Esham Ahmad. He conveyed the importance of publishing journals for master students and shared tips on choosing journals to be published, namely as follows: Journals that match the theme of the article, be careful with predatory journals, and the need to pay attention to the open access offered by the journal, whether it is paid or not, what the index of the journal is, and how the review process is. In publishing a journal, what needs to be done first is to complete the journal article first, then search and find a suitable journal as a place for publication of the journal article. After finding a suitable journal, make sure the topic, theme, and scope are appropriate, follow the journal’s provisions, and can also send an email to the editor to ensure the topic or theme of the journal article matches the scope requested by the journal.

The second speaker was Prof. Madya Dr. Kamisah Binti Ariffin (S.A.P.). She motivated the students to stay in the process of writing and publishing journals. Her tips were that first, in choosing the title (topic) of the article, we need to see something that is still less researched on the topic, so that the topic will be interesting and unique, different from the research that has been done. Second, we can search for previous research related to the topic through Google to find out the gaps that are still under-researched from the topic. Third, we must look at the scope of a journal, find the appropriate one, and follow the writing guidelines. The event was closed by handing over souvenirs from the Head of the UGM Master of Linguistics Study Program and a group photo.

The 4th semester students of French Language and Literature study program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a photo exhibition entitled “Problème du Jour: Bonjour” from May 3-17, 2024 at Luweng Soegondo, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. This exhibition is part of the project of the Introduction to French Literary Theories class with lecturers Prof. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum, DEA, Dr. Arifah Arum Candra Hayuningsih, M.A, and guest lecturer Prof. Elizabeth Drexler from Michigan State University.

The exhibition was designed in the form of project-based and case-based to apply the theories learned in class in a real context. Through the photographs on display, the students raised various social issues and inequalities that exist in Indonesian society. The exhibition is divided into several small themes covering poverty and inequality, the paradox of life in Indonesia, as well as social and educational issues. The themes raised in this exhibition are in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4 on quality education and SDGs point 10 on reducing inequality. Through their work, students are trying to express the importance of awareness and action in addressing these issues.

SDG 4: Quality education | SDGs 4: Enrolment | SDGs 4: Equal access | SDGs 4: Education for sustainability | SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth 

Career Talk: Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs was a discussion program about future careers, especially for English literature graduates, which was organized by IMAJI (English Literature Department Student Association) and attended by various active students of the English Literature study program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, from all generations. The study program deliberately presented a speaker who had a lot of great experience that can be a motivation for students. The speaker was MOHAMAD WAHID SUPRIYADI, Indonesian Ambassador for UAE (2008-2011), Indonesian Ambassador for Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus (2016-2020), Visiting Professor of International Relations from Tomsk State University. The event took place on May 13rd, 2024 at 10 until 12 am in Soegondo room 310, hosted by a Master of Ceremony, Aimar Prabhaswara Dzakri, who is an English literature student at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

In this activity, students did not only listen to knowledge from one direction or from the speaker, but they felt reciprocity because they discussed and voiced their opinions which were later commented on and answered by the speaker. They discussed about Indonesians who study or work abroad but do not want to return. Mr. Mohammad Wahid Supriyadi responded that this could not be said to be a traitor or something like that considering the facilities provided by this country to them are not as good as when abroad and even many great people are not appreciated. There were also those who asked about what made him from the UGM English Literature study program finally appointed as an ambassador from Indonesia in Russia with full powers. He also shared that he initially only corrected English documents when no one else could, then was appointed to write speeches of high-ranking officials, then became the minutes of international meetings. Finally, he gave a conclusion at the end of the meeting that the problem of many people is that they are too quiet, as a diplomat you have to talk more.