Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has secured first place in Indonesia’s 68 Best Literature Universities according to the Edurank University Ranking 2025. This achievement marks a source of pride for the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB UGM), particularly the Department of Language and Literature, which serves as the driving force behind the advancement of humanities at UGM.
The accomplishment reflects UGM’s continued commitment to maintaining excellence in education, research, and community service in the fields of language and literature, gaining recognition at both national and international levels.
Dean of FIB UGM, Professor Setiadi, stated that strong collaboration among lecturers, students, and academic staff in building a productive and contemporary academic ecosystem has been the key factor behind this success.
Departments under FIB UGM, particularly the Department of Language and Literature, play a vital role in strengthening UGM’s reputation in the humanities.
“In addition, our academic reputation, reflected through scholarly publications, research activities, and alumni contributions across various fields, has also been a major driving force,” said Professor Setiadi in an interview on Thursday (Oct. 16).
To further enhance academic quality and scholarly reputation, Professor Setiadi explained that the faculty has implemented several strategic initiatives.
These include strengthening national and international research collaborations since 2023 and developing leading research in the humanities through intercultural, intertextual, and digital humanities approaches.
The national and international research collaboration focus encompasses current issues such as literature and sustainability, literature and technology, and cultural identity.
Furthermore, the faculty has introduced a Scientific Publication Acceleration Program to provide intensive guidance for lecturers in writing and publishing articles in reputable national and international journals.
In terms of publications, the faculty continues to improve the management and indexing of its academic journals, including Poetika: Jurnal Ilmu Sastra, Humaniora, Sasdaya: Gadjah Mada Journal of Humanities, and Lexicon.
The faculty also actively organizes literary forums and discussions as platforms for exchanging ideas and enriching knowledge in the humanities.
“Moving forward, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences will continue to strengthen the downstream impact of research and academic works to ensure broader societal benefits, not only through scholarly publications but also through cultural works accessible to the public,” said Professor Setiadi.
One such example is the transformation of an ancient manuscript into a performing art titled Adisari by Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, a lecturer in Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture, which was staged on September 19, 2025.
The performance exemplifies the faculty’s downstream research strategy, transforming academic studies into artistic and cultural products relevant to society.
Similar strategic efforts will continue through a transdisciplinary approach that involves collaboration among literature, the arts, culture, and technology.
The faculty is also preparing to develop technology-based products, such as digitalized performances, knowledge platforms, and culture-based creative content.
Professor Aprinus Salam, a literature lecturer at the faculty, also expressed his pride and joy over this achievement. He stated that all lecturers continue to work hard to maximize student performance and capability.
“The space for literary study and appreciation is continuously expanding, yet becoming increasingly specific. Many developments must still be followed and studied systematically. We also adapt our curriculum to align with the needs and spirit of the times. We continuously evaluate our teaching, research, and community service systems to ensure they are running effectively,” said Professor Salam.
He also emphasized the importance of student participation in the evaluation process. Professor Salam noted that students at FIB UGM have equal opportunities to evaluate their lecturers.
“We always strive to practice mutual self-evaluation. We foster a democratic academic atmosphere. Each semester, we must understand students’ progress throughout their studies. Students should always develop and feel that studying at UGM is meaningful,” he added.
As the dean, Professor Setiadi interprets this achievement as a balance of recognition, motivation, and a benchmark.
Recognition, because the faculty’s hard work has been objectively appreciated; motivation, because the result encourages continuous innovation and quality maintenance; and benchmark, because the ranking reflects on how far progress has been made and what aspects need improvement.
“I hope this accomplishment inspires us all to continue creating with a spirit of collaboration. The Faculty of Cultural Sciences will continue to strive as a center of excellence in language, literature, and cultural studies, contributing significantly to the advancement of the humanities at the international level,” he concluded.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya