The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, hosted a study visit from a group of students from Sidoarjo State Secondary School No. 4 on Wednesday, 8 June 2026. The event, which took place in the Poerbatjaraka Building Auditorium, was attended by around 100 students and accompanying teachers who wished to gain a closer insight into the academic environment and the atmosphere of university life at FIB UGM. This visit served as an important opportunity for the students to gather first-hand information on humanities degree programmes, supporting facilities, and the future career prospects for graduates.

The high level of enthusiasm was evident right from the start of the event, with students listening intently to every presentation given by the faculty members. As the question-and-answer session began, the atmosphere became even more interactive, with students posing a range of critical questions regarding the new student admissions process. One particularly interesting moment occurred when a student enthusiastically enquired about special admission routes, asking, “Does UGM offer a ‘golden ticket’ for secondary school pupils?” This question reflected the students’ strong motivation and ambition to succeed in the highly competitive admissions process at UGM.

In response to this question, the faculty explained that UGM does not recognise the term ‘instant golden ticket’, but is committed to a fair and transparent selection process through the national admission routes (SNBP and SNBT) and the UGM Independent Entrance Examination (UM UGM). Nevertheless, UGM places great value on students with outstanding achievements through the Outstanding Talent Search (PBUB) scheme. Through the PBUB pathway, students’ talents and abilities in the fields of sport, the arts, science and technology, and religion at national level will be given special weighting in the assessment process, thereby increasing their chances of admission.

The study visit concluded with a group photograph in front of the Poerbatjaraka Building and an exchange of souvenirs between the school and the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) at UGM. It is hoped that, through this activity, the students from State Senior High School 4 Sidoarjo will return home with strong motivation and reliable information to prepare themselves to become part of the Gadjah Mada Muda community.

[Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman]

Yogyakarta – The Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University hosted the Quebec (Canada)–Indonesia Creative Industries and Cultural Diplomacy Conference, organized in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. This event brought together policymakers, academics, industry representatives, creative practitioners, and students from Canada and Southeast Asia to discuss and exchange ideas on strengthening cooperation in the fields of the creative industries and cultural diplomacy.

The conference was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, Vice Rector for Education and Teaching at UGM. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of universities as spaces for international collaboration capable of fostering cultural exchange, driving innovation, and strengthening global networks.

Meanwhile, the closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Alexandre Veilleux, who stressed the importance of sustaining the partnership between Canada and Indonesia through academic collaboration, creative industry partnerships, and long-term network-building in the Indo-Pacific region.

The conference featured two panel discussion sessions that explored various perspectives on the development of the creative industries and cultural diplomacy.

In Panel 1, titled “The Strategic Value of Creative Industries and Cultural Diplomacy: A Government Lens”, the panelists were:

1. Guillermo Moyano, Director of Economic Affairs, Quebec Government Office in Singapore;
2. Dr. Leonard Hutabarat, Foreign Policy Strategy Agency of the Republic of Indonesia and former Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Toronto;
3. Yurnelis Piliang, S.IP., M.P.A., Head of the Tourism Attractions Division, Yogyakarta Special Region Tourism Office.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Agung Wicaksono from Gadjah Mada University.

Meanwhile, Panel 2 addressed the theme “Creative Industry Innovation: Canada–Indonesia Business Insights”, featuring:

1. Danny Tan, Managing Producer, Moment Factory Singapore Office;
2. Ivan Chen, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN);
3. Lev Kroll, CEO of Nuanu Creative City.

This session was moderated by Yaxin Zhou from Université de Montréal.

In addition to serving as a forum for strategic dialogue, the conference also marked the opening of the CERIUM Indo-Pacific Chair Summer School, a program that brings together graduate students from Canada and Southeast Asia to learn directly from academics, practitioners, and stakeholders in the fields of international relations and the creative industries. This program is organized through a collaboration between Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and Gadjah Mada University.

Through this conference, it is hoped that closer cooperation will be forged between Canada and Indonesia in the development of the creative industries, innovation, and cultural diplomacy. All organizers expressed their appreciation to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, CERIUM—particularly Dr. Alexandre Veilleux—the speakers, participants, and all partners who contributed to the success of this event.

Moving forward, it is hoped that the networks and collaborations established through this conference will continue to evolve into various joint initiatives that benefit both countries, while strengthening Canada–Indonesia relations in the Indo-Pacific region through creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Author: Dewi Widyastuti

UGM’s Department of History held a cultural seminar entitled ‘Reclaiming Narratives of Colonial Objects: Recovering Histories and Dismantling Colonial Knowledge’ at the Soegondo Auditorium on Thursday, 9 July 2026.

This seminar brought together academics from Lombok to Amsterdam to examine the dark history of the Lombok War of 1894, during which violence and the mass looting of cultural artefacts belonging to the Mataram Kingdom took place. The discussion amongst the speakers was lively, as it brought together representatives from both sides—those from the colonised and the colonising powers.

“Don’t diversify, decolonise” was the main slogan featured at this event. The slogan emphasises that efforts to reclaim history are not merely about increasing the diversity of collections, but rather a shift in mindset from a narrative originally rooted in the colonisers’ perspective to a historical account belonging to the people themselves, as the colonised.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the University of Amsterdam, the Weltmuseum, the Ministry of Culture and the NWO for supporting this event and ensuring it ran smoothly,” said one of the history students who attended the event.

This seminar, which was open to the public, was well attended by academics, UGM and non-UGM students, and policy-makers. The high level of enthusiasm among participants demonstrated that this forum was not merely a standard academic discussion, but a concrete step towards supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education, through the reconstruction of a more critical history curriculum. Furthermore, this event is also aligned with SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions through efforts at reconciliation and the upholding of historical justice regarding cultural heritage objects.

Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman

YOGYAKARTA — On 6 July 2026, the Indonesian Language and Literature Programme at UGM, Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia (KPG), Bentara Budaya and ELTI Jogja organised a literary discussion entitled “From Reporting to Literary Works”. The event, which featured the writer and journalist Linda Christanty, also included a presentation by Prof. Dr Aprinus Salam, a professor who analysed her works. The discussion was attended by around 50 participants in the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

The discussion was attended by around 50 participants in the Multimedia Room, Margono Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

One of the most interesting points raised in this discussion was Linda’s concern regarding publishers’ interest in her latest works. In today’s publishing industry, literary works based on serious and weighty humanitarian reporting are often considered to lack commercial appeal or to struggle to break into the mainstream market.

Although this presents both an obstacle and a challenge, Linda remains steadfast in her idealism. “Even if no one is interested yet, it will still be published so that the next generation can read and discover other short stories,” she said.

Linda’s strong commitment suggests that she will continue to produce works of literature. Through her field reporting, she aims to demonstrate that historical facts and dark humanitarian issues can be transformed into powerful literary narratives. A concrete example of this can be found in her short story entitled “A Dead Dog in Bala Murghab”.

Author: Humas FIB, Zaidan Abdurrahman

The Japanese Student Association (HIMAJE) of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held Kizuna Camp 2026 on 20–21 June 2026 at Villa Joglo Tanjung, Kalasan, Yogyakarta. The internal event, attended by HIMAJE members from different academic years, aimed to strengthen relationships among students, foster solidarity, and cultivate a stronger sense of family and togetherness within the organization.

Throughout the two-day program, participants took part in a variety of activities designed to enhance teamwork, communication, and coordination in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The program included games, group discussions, morning exercise, outbound activities, and a shared dinner. The event was also attended by lecturers from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, who had the opportunity to interact with students in an informal setting, further strengthening the relationship between lecturers and students beyond the classroom.

Through Kizuna Camp 2026, HIMAJE UGM hopes to foster a more harmonious, active, and united student organization. In addition to providing an opportunity for members to get to know one another better and share organizational experiences, the program is expected to strengthen students’ sense of belonging to HIMAJE and support the sustainability of its future programs.

Author: Prodi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jepang