At the end of 2023, “Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore, and Back” emerged as an inspiring collaborative work between the lecturers and students of the English Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM and National University of Singapore (NUS). Along the program, the participants gained a lot of new knowledge regarding cross-cultural interaction; a valuable experience that highlights the importance of celebrating diversity and eliminating the barriers that may hinder the unity among cultures. 

This book is divided into several chapters, written by two lecturers of the English Department (Alvanita, S.S., M.Ed., dan Rahmawan Jatmiko, S.S., M.A.) and ten students of English Department: Maulita Shinta, Misma Ro Daud, Jesse Puspita, Leni Cahya, Mellyana Nungki, Anisa Sofiana, Aulia Muchtarom, Gabriella Novianti, Anis Daika, dan Nur Aini. Those chapters offer fresh perspectives on multiculturalism in Singapore and Indonesia, broadening readers’ awareness of cross-cultural interaction. 

“Harmony in Diversity: A Journey from Jogja to Singapore, and Back”  is a valuable contribution in the topic of multiculturalism and cross-cultural exchange. The writers bring the readers on a journey to reflect how vital communication and cross-cultural awareness are. This collaboration is expected to inspire other cross-cultural exchange programs and academic partnerships in the future, promoting the celebration of harmony in diversity.

On last Friday, 19th of January 2024, English Department bid goodbye to one of our Shansi Fellows, Samantha Perez. Through her 2,5 years of fellowship, Sam has motivated English Department students to perfect their language skills. Although it is difficult for us to say farewell to Sam, we wish her the best in her future journey. Goodluck, Sam!

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

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.

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!

On Saturday, November 26^th, 2022, the English Studies Programme of UGM held an International Students’ Seminar on Children’s Issues. This event remained the last seminar held on behalf of the English Department students who joined the Kampus Merdeka Program, with three events, including a public lecture and two student seminars. Four speakers provoked various discussions regarding children’s issues around the world.

The seminar started with an opening remark by Dr. Adi Sutrisno, M.A., the Head of the English Department UGM. Later, it was continued by the presentation from the first speaker, Aulia Muchtarom, from the English Studies Programme of UGM 2020. Here, she shared her insights about children’s literature in Indonesia, how it developed amid several obstacles, and how technology has contributed to the development of children’s literature. The second speaker, Dana Castell Martinez from Barcelona, brought up the topic of children’s rights and showed some intriguing data about how children’s rights are often highly violated by adults. The third speaker, Samantha Perez from Oberlin Sanshi, talked about the children’s foster system in the US. Here she provided us with the positive and negative sides of the system and what people can do to raise children’s welfare. The last speaker, Monica Audrey from the English Studies Programme of UGM 2018, shared a thought-provoking issue about gendered language that has been embedded since we were born. Here, she shared some tips to improve children’s language ability and how gender stereotypes have affected their way of speaking.

After the presentation, five questions from the audience revolved around the topic of the advantage of technology for children’s literature, the gendered language of children, and children’s rights related to their privacy and protection. Then, the seminar was closed with a photo session for the speakers, committee, and audience.

Written by: Dasadriya Pitaloka, English Studies Programme, 2019

Proofread by: Adiba Qonita Zahroh, S.S., M.Litt.

On Tuesday, November 8th, 2022, students of the English Studies Programme UGM who enrolled in “Kampus Merdeka” program held its first seminar titled “International Students’ Seminar on Gender Equality” as one of the three-part events. This first seminar aims to deliver different topics about women’s condition in various countries and their history, discussing whether women have or have not been treated equally. The seminar was held offline in Room 709, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, from 01.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. However, this seminar was also streamed through Zoom Meeting so that people who were not able to attend on the spot could follow the event from anywhere.

Before the seminar started, an opening speech was given by Ms Adiba Qonita Zahroh, S.S., M.Litt. as the representative from the English Studies Programme. The seminar then continued with four presented speakers’ presentations, discussing various issues related to gender equality. The first speaker is Nazra Hanif Lutfiana, a student of the English Studies Programme 2019, UGM. Her topic is “Women’s Political Representation in Indonesia”. Here, she shared how women are presented in the political field, which often still discriminates by the dominance of their male counterparts. The second speaker is Colby Fortin, our Oberlin Shansi fellow, with her topic “Using Zines and Other Accessible Artforms in Survivor-Centered Research”. She elaborated on the history of zines as a tool to promote gender equality in the United States and how it can be developed to raise people’s awareness about this issue today. The speech was then continued by Fatihah Firdausi Nuzula, a student of the English Department UGM who brought the topic of “Policing Bodies: on the Protest Against Compulsory Hijab for Iranian Women”. She explained the condition of Iranian women today who receive discrimination from the Iranian government and how they fight for equality against the law. Last but not least, the discussion continued by our international student, Dana Castell Martinez from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona whose topic is “Women Emancipation in Europe through the Clothes”. Here, she shared the history of how women dress throughout the years and their suffering in society related to their way of dressing.

After the presentation ended, the seminar continued with a question and answer sections. There are three questions asked by the attendees, which include questions about women’s dressing culture in Indonesia and how to raise women’s participation in politics for the younger generation. The seminar ended with the speakers and attendees taking photos together.

Written by:

Dasadriya Pitaloka, English Studies Programme, 2019

Asyifa Rizky Amelia, English Studies Programme, 2019

Proofread by: Adiba Qonita Zahroh, S.S., M.Litt.

Are you keenly interested in discussing various topics about children? If so, let’s tune in to our International Students’ Seminar on Children’s Issues with our incredible speakers:

– Aulia Muchtarom (English Literature UGM 2020)
– Monica Audrey (English Literature UGM 2018)
– Samantha Perez (Oberlin Shansi Fellow)
– Dana Castell Martinez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

This seminar will be held on:
🗓️ Saturday, November 26th, 2022, 09.00-11.00 WIB
📍Offline: Room 709, 7th-floor Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM
🖥️ Online: http://ugm.id/SS2Zoom

Don’t forget to register yourself here:
http://ugm.id/SS2REG

This seminar is free and open to the public! You will also get an e-certificate, so secure your place right now!
(Only 55 seats are available for offline attendees)

For further information, kindly contact:
Fatihah: +6282137401363

We are inviting you to join our International Students’ Seminar on Gender Equality to discuss various issues regarding gender all around the world with our excellent speakers:

– Colby Fortin (Oberlin Shanshi Fellow)
– Fatihah F. N. (English Literature UGM 2019)
– Dana Castell Martinez (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
– Nazra Hanif L. (English Literature UGM 2019)

This seminar will be held on:
✨Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 13.00-15.00 WIB (01.00-03.00 pm)
✨Offline: Room 709, 7th floor Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM
✨Online: http://ugm.id/SS1Zoom

Register yourself here:
http://ugm.id/SS1REG

This seminar is open to the public, and you will get a free e-certificate! Also, the offline seats are available for 40 attendees only, so register yourself ASAP!

For further information, kindly contact:
Asyifa: +62895391710938