From Monday to Wednesday, February 9–11, 2026, the Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the SEASREP Foundation, organized a Workshop and Seminar on writing and oral history studies in Southeast Asia. The event was attended by academics and students from various countries in Asia and Southeast Asia, including the National University of Singapore, Kyoto University, University of the Philippines Diliman, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, National Chung Cheng University, and Universitas Gadjah Mada as the host. Also present were Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., and Satrio Dwicahyo, S.S., M.Sc., M.A., serving as Head of the Department and lecturer at the Department of History UGM. In addition, the event was attended by Dr. Maria I. Diokno, Professor Emeritus at the University of the Philippines Diliman and Executive Director of the SEASREP Foundation. read more

Workshop, Universitas Gadjah Mada, 8-10 September 2026

About the Program

Development, or Pembangunan, has been a core aspiration in Indonesia since independence. Extant histories of development in Indonesia have outlined the political and institutional contexts from which development policies arose. This workshop aims to illuminate the historical experiences and tangible impacts of projects mobilised for Indonesia’s economic and social development, which were planned and financed by national and international development agencies. It takes a wide temporal scope aligning with independent Indonesia’s push for development across the Sukarno, New Order and reformasi periods. It also spans a broad geography aligning with development’s nation-building aspirations. read more

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada held a discussion on the growth and development of nationalist political thought in Southeast Asia during the post-colonial period (1945–1965). This event marked the opening of a series of academic discussions to be organized by the Department of History throughout 2026. On this occasion, the department invited Yi Ning Chang, a researcher and historian of Southeast Asian politics who is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Department of Government, Harvard University, United States. Her research interests focus on the history of political thought and international relations among Southeast Asian countries in the post-colonial era. The discussion was also accompanied by Dr. Farabi Fakih, S.S., M.Phil., a historian and lecturer at the Department of History UGM, who also serves as the Head of the Master’s Program in History at UGM. The event was open to all students as well as the general public with an interest in Southeast Asian history and political thought. read more

On Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Master’s Program in History at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized a masterclass and student colloquium focusing on themes and issues in cultural studies. The event was attended by graduate students in History who share a strong interest in exploring cultural dimensions within Indonesian historiography.

The session featured Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., and Joss Wibisono, both lecturers and guest faculty at the Department of History, UGM. They actively engaged with the students, offering feedback, constructive criticism, and scholarly insights on the research topics presented. In addition, Dr. Arnout van der Meer, a historian and researcher from Colby College, United States, joined the event to provide further advice and perspectives to the participating students. read more

On Friday, November 21, 2025, at the Margono Multimedia Room, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), the Department of History in collaboration with Yayasan Obor Indonesia held a book launch and discussion event for Bacaan Bumi: Pemikiran Ekologis untuk Indonesia (Reading the Earth: Ecological Thought for Indonesia). This book is a work of Indonesian environmental historiography, produced through the collaboration of Indonesian and international writers, historians, and scholars with a shared interest in environmental studies, under the editorial responsibility of Prof. Gerry van Klinken, emeritus professor at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. read more

Portrait of Hugo Vilfred Von Pedersen. Source: Matskiv Collection

“Jogja is made of longing, homecoming, and street-food stalls, Jogja terbuat dari rindu, pulang, dan angkringan,” a line crafted by Joko Pinurbo, one of the city’s treasured literary voices, capturing the gentle pull this capital of Javanese culture holds for many. Each element reflects the city’s simple and familiar faces, always present, though often overlooked by those drawn exclusively to the grandeur of Javanese courts or temples. read more

On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a public lecture for History students and the wider community. The lecture explored tourism studies in the Dutch East Indies, with a particular focus on Java during the colonial period. The event featured Dr. Arnout van der Meer, historian, researcher, and faculty member at Colby College, United States, renowned for his expertise in global and Southeast Asian history. Also present were Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., Head of the Department of History at UGM, and Uji Nugroho Winardi, S.S., M.A., who served as moderator. read more

On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Department of History at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the SMA Negeri 1 Bantul, Yogyakarta, held a Sarasehan (dialogue session) and outreach program introducing the Department of History to the students of SMA Negeri 1 Bantul. The event featured Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., and Dr. Mutiah Amini, M.Hum., as speakers.

On this occasion, Dr. Abdul Wahid, Head of the Department of History at UGM, presented an overview of the History Study Program, including its vision and mission, curriculum structure, faculty members, and the academic achievements of both students and lecturers. In addition, undergraduate representatives Dicky Ramadhan and Erlangga Buges Hidayatullah, who also serve on the executive board of the History Student Association, shared their experiences of student life at UGM. They highlighted programs designed to foster character development, creativity, and competence among History students. read more

On Monday, October 27, 2025, the Department of History held the launch and discussion of the book Nusakambangan Luar Dalam, a historiographical work by Dr. Klaas Stutje, historian and researcher at NIOD and the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His research focuses on the social history of communities in the Dutch East Indies, viewed from a grassroots perspective, with particular attention to marginalized groups as central actors in historical narratives. The event also featured Dr. Wildan Sena Utama and Joss Wibisono from the Department of History at UGM, who served as moderator and respondent in the academic discussion. Undergraduate and graduate students, along with members of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, attended the session. read more

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Doctoral Program in Humanities at FIB UGM, organized a seminar and study session on the theme “Language and the Characteristics of Dutch Colonialism in the Indonesian Archipelago.” The seminar featured Joss Wibisono, a journalist and researcher with expertise in colonial practices in the Dutch East Indies, examined through the lens of language and post-independence Indonesian history. He is also widely recognized as a contributor to online media platforms such as Tempo, Historia.id, and Indoprogres. The session was moderated by Uji Nugroho Winardi, S.S., M.A., a lecturer at the Department of History, FIB UGM. The event opened with remarks from Dr. Abdul Wahid, M.Hum., M.Phil., Head of the Department of History at UGM. read more