On Saturday, May 17, 2025, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture study program, class of 2023, Maysa Putri Fatihah, won the 1st runner-up prize in the Javanese Script Literacy competition. This competition was held by Pura Pakualaman in the framework of the 219th (in Javanese year) Hadeging Kadipaten Pakualaman Ngayogyakarta. This year, the Hadeging Kadipaten Pakualaman event carries the theme 'Manggala Gati Wiwaraning Rat'.

This Javanese Script Literacy Competition is divided into two categories, namely General and Students. For the general category, the competition is to translate Latin text into Javanese script and draw rerenggan/illustrations according to the participants' interpretation of the contents of the text. The questions are in the form of macapat songs from the Sestra Ageng Adidarma manuscript text collected by the Widyapustaka Pakualaman Library. This text contains 6 verses of the Durma song, all of which must be depicted in the renggan, but only the first verse is translated. The text was given when the registration was announced, so participants could prepare illustration ideas well in advance.

On the day of the event, participants were given 5 hours to complete the work. During the process, participants were prohibited from opening their cellphones, copying letters, or plagiarizing images. The committee only provided drawing paper with Pakualaman stickers to minimize cheating.

Maysa's work itself has a deep meaning. She mentioned in the description of her rerenggan that the color red symbolizes courage, while blue symbolizes peace and noble character. In the ornament under the renggan, a circle is depicted which has the meaning of rat or universe. In addition, there are ornaments of cannons, arrows, and spears as weapons of war. These weapons of war symbolize a source of strength or support to achieve victory.

Apart from Maysa, there were 2 other students from the 2023 batch who took part in this competition, namely Rafi Nur Fauzy and Rafif Wicaksono. Both are among the top 10 nominees with the best works. By participating in this competition, it is hoped that students can love and appreciate the literary works left by our ancestors more.

"It certainly feels happy to have the opportunity to participate in the Javanese script literacy competition and win. It's great to meet great people there (especially philologists). Alhamdulillah, I was able to bring home the trophy from Pakualaman and make my parents proud. Hopefully, my other friends will be motivated so that in the next opportunity they can participate and compete together," said Maysa.

Asosiasi Pendidikan Bahasa, Sastra, dan Budaya Daerah (ADISABDA) held its 4th National Coordination Meeting (RAKORNAS) and INCOLWIS International Seminar at the Santika Hotel, Surabaya, on August 12–14, 2025. This national forum was attended by the heads of study programs and administrators of regional language, literature, and culture study programs from various universities in Indonesia. The three-day event discussed the papers and presentations of the seminar participants, followed by a national coordination meeting (RAKORNAS). The RAKORNAS activity was carried out to align perceptions and formulate Graduate Learning Outcomes (CPL) so that regional language, literature, and culture education standards can be integrated nationally.

The Head of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program was present to represent the program at the Incolwis seminar and the ADISABDA IV National Working Meeting. On this occasion, the UGM Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Javanese Language and Literature Education Study Program at Surabaya State University (UNESA). This signing is a concrete step to strengthen academic cooperation and curriculum development, while also reinforcing a shared commitment to preserving and developing regional languages, literature, and culture at the national level.

Until the Final Semester Exam period, the excitement of the Codicology course never ends. After taking students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture study program to visit three libraries in Yogyakarta, this time the students are invited to practice making manuscript protectors and creating manuscripts.

As the name implies, a manuscript protector is a box specially designed to protect ancient manuscripts from physical damage and degradation due to environmental exposure. This box is usually made of non-acidic and neutral materials, such as sirio black cardboard, to prevent further damage to ancient manuscripts. This manuscript protector box is usually made for rare books, manuscripts, or libraries that are old and fragile.

Students learn to make this manuscript protector with the aim that students understand the basic dimensions of making a protective box and can apply it one day if needed. Many places or libraries need this skill.

In addition to making manuscript protectors, in the following week, students are invited to create manuscripts. The manuscripts of these students' works will later be published in a book published in the context of the retirement of a senior lecturer, namely Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum. Students are free to create and work on their own manuscripts. Text materials can be taken from existing manuscripts, or self-made. However, in the process, students are required to add illustrations in the form of rerenggan, gapura renggan, wedana renggan, or rubrication.

Students are divided into 16 groups, with each group creating one work. With these practices, students can apply the material obtained during one semester into their own handmade work. Of course, this will be very impressive, especially if it will be published later.

Together with the Center for Cultural Studies and the Center for Disaster Studies UGM, students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture study program had the opportunity to dive directly into the community environment in the context of community service. This activity involved the 2023 and 2024 batches, namely Abimanyu Mahendra, Yanuar Agung, Noviyanti Alfitri, Bayu Seta Ardiansyah, Maylafaizza Nafisha, Fega Achillea, Rafi Nur Fauzy, and Rafif Wicaksono.

This activity was led by a lecturer in philology, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum. who also serves as the current Head of the UGM Center for Cultural Studies. For two days (22-23 June 2025), this team carried out activities in Padukuhan Wotawati, Pucung District, Gunungkidul Regency, DI Yogyakarta.

Wotawati Village, which is located in a unique valley of the former flow of the Ancient Bengawan Solo, has historical and cultural potential but faces significant problems. The main challenges include the absence of a comprehensive and credible narrative regarding the identity of the village that is vulnerable to misinformation, minimal education and preparedness for hydrometeorological disasters, and suboptimal preservation of local culture. This community service aims to empower Wotawati through an approach based on local wisdom and participatory education.

Therefore, this joint team intends to compile a literary work Babad Wotawati which contains history, geography, cultural potential, and disaster education holistically. This Babad is expected to become an official reference source regarding information and the identity of Wotawati village and can become a valuable cultural heritage in the future. This Babad is not only a medium for preserving identity, but also a disaster education tool that is easily accessible to the public. Macapat song training will also complement this effort, reviving oral traditions as a means of conveying messages to the younger generation. Thus, Wotawati can rise as an independent, empowered, and widely known community with a complete and accurate narrative, while being ready to face future challenges.

Thus, in-depth research efforts are needed by visiting and observing directly at the research location. Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture students are given the task of practicing karawitan, introducing tembang dolanan, practicing macapatan, interviewing residents, or documenting activities.

With this activity, it is hoped that students can apply the knowledge and skills they have gained during their studies and can provide benefits to the community directly.