Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is further solidifying its reputation as a World-Class University. This commitment is evident through its ongoing cross-cultural exchange program, operating under the U-to-U scheme, between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the National University of Singapore (NUS). This exchange is divided into three main parts: online sessions via Zoom Meeting Room, offline activities in Yogyakarta, and offline engagements in Singapore. This exchange program began in early June and concluded in mid-October 2023.

This year, 24 participants participated in this exchange, including 10 English Department students from UGM and 14 students from NUS enrolled in various study programs. The participants from UGM are Anisa Sofiana, Anis Daika, Aulia Muchtarom, Gabriella Herma, Jesse Puspita, Leni Cahya, Maulita Shinta, Mellyana Nugky, Misma Daud, and Nur Aini Putri. This exchange program is an integral part of Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Independent Learning Program (MBKM), coordinated by the English Department within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. On the NUS side, it is managed by the Impact Experience (IEx) program. The supervisors assigned to this program are Alvanita, M.Ed., and Rahmawan Jatmiko, M.A., at UGM, while Miguel Escobar, Ph.D., oversees the NUS side of the exchange.

This exchange program aims to enrich students’ knowledge, particularly those enrolled in the “Introduction to Multiculturalism through Folklore and Mythology” course. Throughout the program, students not only learn how to foster intercultural dialogue but also gain insights into art and environmental issues. A primary objective is the creation of a digital archive for the art and environmental communities. Participants in this exchange also collaborate with two local communities, Balai Budaya Minomartani and Tactic Plastic, working closely together from September 24th to 29th, 2023, following extensive discussions during the online sessions.

Furthermore, during their time in Singapore (8-11 October 2023), participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fast-paced and multicultural environment of Singapore. They attended classes led by several distinguished lecturers, including Dr. Priza Mahendraputra, Erica Soh, Miguel Escobar, Ph.D., and Dr. Kiven Strohm. In addition, Dr. Daniel Ps Goh, Vice Dean of NUS College, warmly welcomed the participants during their visit, expressing his hope that this exchange would continue to bring mutual benefits to both universities.

It’s worth mentioning that this exchange program has been running for around a decade, beginning as part of the Multiculturalism and Interculturalism classes at UGM and NUS, respectively. However, the COVID-19 epidemic has prompted a three-year shift to virtual exchanges. This year marks a return to in-person exchange. Moreover, this year’s program takes on a new form as an integral part of the MBKM and IEX initiatives.

Written by: Alvanita

Credit photo:

@thwhoai (Nguyen Thu Hoai)

@nuscollege

Misma Ro Daud, Anis Daika, Rahmawan Jatmiko

The Student Conference on English Literature and Linguistics, StuCELL 2023, was successfully held at Universitas Gadjah Mada on October 3-4, 2023. StuCELL is an annual conference that supports those who are interested in doing research within the field of English Literature and Linguistics. This conference gives room for networking and discussion, which is especially valuable for new students seeking experience in this field. In addition, all participants were given the opportunity to hone their skills by submitting their best papers on the topic of “Diversity and Representation: Addressing Issues of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality in Linguistics and Literature.” As such, all participants are encouraged to express their viewpoints and contribute to the critical discussion that will take place, while also gaining insights from each other’s experiences in order to broaden their understanding of diversity and representation.

First day of StuCELL 2023 on October 3 was started off with the opening speech from Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si (Dean of the Faculty Cultural Sciences), Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A. (Head of the English Department), and Mahdi Ismail Syariati (Coordinator of the Committee). The first session started with the first keynote speaker, Dr. Leah Gerber, a senior scholar in literature, translation, and interpreting studies officiated in Monash Intercultural Lab (MIL), Monash University, Australia. She presented a paper centered around the topic of  “Addressing Race, Gender, and Identity in Translated Literature.” Dr. Leah Gerber thoroughly explored theoretical advancements in the field of translation studies, with a particular focus on cultural, gender, and post-colonial perspectives. She also highlighted the practical applicability of these theories through real-world instances, such as the translation of prominent political figures like Trump, controversies like the Amanda Gorman translation, and translation challenges in culturally diverse communities during the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia.

Prof. Manneke Budiman, M.A., Ph.D., the second keynote speaker and a professor in Literature Department, Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia, commenced the second day of StuCELL 2023 by delivering a lecture revolved around the topic of “Literature in a Polarized World: Can Literature Still Talk About Difference?” During his session, Professor Manneke Budiman, M.A., Ph.D., explored the influence of globalization and digital technology on society and culture while pointing out the homogenization of culture and the lack of diversity due to the widespread consumption of identical media and ideas.

Prof. Manneke Budiman, M.A., Ph.D. proposed that writers, particularly those affiliated with the modernist school, should actively resist conforming to mainstream conventions. Instead, they should position themselves on the margins — maintaining their independence and offering a critical viewpoint. The significance of literature in this context is emphasized, as it is regarded as a fortress against societal madness and a means to safeguard culture and civilization. Moreover, Professor Budiman underlined that literature is not restricted to the margin but rather occupies an intermediate space.

During this conference, there were a total of eight teams scheduled to present their best research papers, which were divided over the course of two days. Each presenter was allotted a 20-minute time slot to articulate their ideas and engage in a question-and-answer session involving both the audience and fellow presenters. In addition, this session was conducted both offline and online, as StuCELL 2023 aimed to provide equitable presentation opportunities for the esteemed participants, regardless of their geographic location outside Yogyakarta. Moreover, the papers selected from this event would be published in reputable academic journals accredited by LEXICON and SINTA.

We are opening a 10-meeting mentoring program exclusively for English Department students interested in enrolling in the IISMA student exchange. This program is limited to 35 committed students. For those who are interested, please enroll via bit.ly/MentoringIISMA2023 before 8 September.

Four or five selected English Department Students will receive 2 million rupiahs subsidy for taking IELTS test.

Requirements

English Department student who

• Has at least 3,5 GPA
• Receives KIP, tuition fee level 1, or tuition fee level 2
• Is interested to enroll in IISMA program
• Is willing to take the test before the middle of October

Join us for an enlightening Public Lecture on Trends in Second Language Acquisition Research and the Pros and Cons of AI in Higher Education with Professor Shigenori Wakabayashi and Professor Jun Iio from Chuo University! Dive into the latest insights and engage in a thought-provoking discussion. Do not miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge!

Join Magang Merdeka at STAR Indonesia to gain new experience as professional linguists/translators! Send your CV, latest academic transcript, and short essay (500-700 words) explaining why you need to participate in this internship program and its impact on your future career by July 28th.

📢 [ ❗ Announcement: Registration Deadline Extended for StuCELL 2023❗️❗️ ]

We are delighted to share some exciting news with you. The registration deadline for StuCELL 2023 has been extended to accommodate more participants. We value your interest in being part of this enriching event, centered around the theme “Diversity and Representation: Addressing Issues of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality in Linguistics and Literature.”

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions and connect with fellow scholars. Mark your calendar and save your seat for StuCELL 2023: ugm.id/SC23REG

For further information and to complete your registration, please feel free to contact us through the following channels:
📞 WhatsApp: +6285642148362 (Tarisa)
📷 Instagram: stucell_ugm
📧 E-mail: stucell.fib@ugm.ac.id

The English Department hosted one public lecture and two seminars in November 2022. All of the events were held in a hybrid format. To attend the events, attendees would either go to the 7th floor of the Soegondo Building or Zoom meeting. The public lecture on November 1st, 2022, was titled What It Means to Be an Irish Writer. This public lecture was given by Irish novelist Audrey Magee.  The first seminar, titled International Students’ Seminar on Gender Equality, was held on November 8th, 2022. Four speakers from three different universities shared their perspectives on various subtopics. The second seminar was held on November 26th, 2022, titled International Students’ Seminar on Children Issues. This seminar was also delivered by four speakers from three different universities. The event committee was divided into four divisions. They all carried different roles in the events.

Those three events that are being held in the month of November had been prepared one month before. As the committee was divided into four divisions, ours was given the task of handling the belongings and the equipment for the event. Our responsibility spans from ensuring the conditions to making sure it’s usable before the day of the event, on the day of the event, and after it. In regard to it, we had to cooperate with multiple people in order to make the event successful and a smooth ride until the end of it. Since the events were being held offline and online simultaneously, we had to make sure both parties could enjoy it without any hindrances or limitations to their viewing experience. Such as a well-equipped camera to be able to record the view and the sound from the conference and share it with the online audiences so they could see the event without having to attend the lecture in person. English Department lecturers and our faculty members have been more than helpful in our preparation for the events. They have offered assistance and guidance throughout the process while also giving advice to make the event more enjoyable for the guests and attendees. Those experiences were proof that without teamwork and communication, we wouldn’t be able to make the event run smoothly.

The events were carried out well, and in terms of the equipment division, these events ran without uncontrollable constraints. During the event, the flexibility and coordination between the committee in the same or different divisions was very good. Perhaps the thing that needs to be underlined is that, for the next event, the committee can consider using proper equipment that can be used by the timekeeper as the reminder tools for the speakers.

We learned a lot about teamwork while hosting the events. Some errors happened during the events, but they all were handled through communication. From this, we all realized that communication is the key. Since there was no leader, we all played the same role in the division. Still, we can learn the dynamics in committees and coordination between students, student-lecturers, and student-faculty administration.

Written by:

• Fendryan Gabriel 19/446347/SA/20105
• Dini Fauzia 19/446343/SA/20101
• Firda Umiyatun Baroroh 19/440218/SA/19734

Our English Department major held a recruitment event for its students to join the committees of events for an internal Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program. We joined the secretarial division, a division that carries out duties in the administration and file management. Beforehand, our secretarial team had to prepare several things that are related to administration. It was quite challenging at first because this was our first time taking responsibility for secretarial work. We created a registration form for those who expressed interest in participating in these occasions. Since all three events were organized in both offline and online meetings, a scheduled Zoom meeting link was arranged to facilitate the online attendees. After that, we prepared letters of invitation for them. We coordinated with the logistics department in order to handle any required facilities for the event. However, we were still learning throughout the process. Hence we occasionally asked for consultation or guidance from our supervised lecturers and fellow committee members in finishing our work.

A week before the day of the event, the secretarial division prepared the attendance list for the participants. To make it easier for the attendees to fill out the registration form, we provided a QR Code so that they were able to quickly scan the barcode before entering the venues and be instantly directed to the attendance form. Meanwhile, attendees for lecturers and board of faculty members were in the form of attendance sheets. While handling the administrative work, we also had the responsibility of making e-certificates for the speakers, participants, and committee members. We designed our e-certificates on a collaborative online design platform and received help from the public relations and documentation teams in finalizing them. 

On the day of the event, we distributed our tasks. One person stood by the front desk to welcome offline participants and lecturers and made sure all of them filled out the attendance list before entering the venue on the day of the event. Meanwhile, the other hosted a Zoom meeting. We were also helped by friends from other divisions in welcoming the participants to organize the crowds. After all, the events finished, we double-checked the participants who filled out registration links and attendance lists to determine whether they could receive the e-certificates.

Through these events, we gained valuable teamwork experience that has discovered each of our potentials and competencies. We learned the correct format for composing invitation letters and equipment permission requests. In order to issue these requests, we had to collaborate with other parties in our faculty. This was the most time-consuming duty since we had to go between buildings to verify that all letters and requests were accurate. Due to the fact that the majority of our mistakes were connected to accuracy, carefulness and precision are the essential factors that determine the success of established works. Lastly, this sequence of events has given us the opportunity to develop interpersonal skills relevant to the administration sector. Thank you so much for the fantastic learning method!

Written by:

• Katarina Elsa Savitri, A Student of English Studies Batch 2019
• Vina Annisa Rahmawati, A Student of English Studies 2019