In the framework of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) 2025 with lead researcher Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. (UGM) and partner researchers from UI, ITB, BRIN, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Sagaing University of Education Myanmar, the team carried out field work in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The research is titled “The Continuation of Nusantara Capital City Development: Strengthening and Limiting Aspects.” Activities included FGDs and surveys, visits to the Nusantara Technology House, ASN Flats, Garuda Palace, Plaza Bhineka (IKN Point 0), and OIKN Office. The team was also invited by the Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, Dr. (H.C.) Ir. H. M. Basuki Hadimuljono, M.Sc., Ph.D. to meet at his office. read more

CESSAS Talk #5 hosted Dr. Tufan Kutay Boran from the University of Ankara, Turkey.

Dr Boran explores the role of Islamic political parties and Islamic organizations in the foreign policy-making process in Indonesia. He shared his investigation on when and under what conditions the Islamic political parties—established following Indonesia’s democratization—and Islamic organizations, which have gained greater access to political platforms, have become actively involved in foreign policy matters. For the purposes of this study, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah were selected as representative Islamic organizations, while PAN (National Mandate Party), PKB (National Awakening Party), and PKS (Prosperous Justice Party) were chosen as representative Islamic political parties. The findings indicate that the involvement of these actors in foreign policy, whether the issue is ideological or not, is closely linked to the dynamics of the pre- and post-democratization periods in Indonesia. read more

Yogyakarta, January 20, 2025 – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a delegation from the Asian School of Business (ASB)-MIT Sloan School of Management, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Melati Nungsari, Faculty Director of the ASEAN Research Center. Accompanying her were Ms. Shre Maha Manohar, Research & Communications Executive, and Ms. Fatimah Zahra Ros’azam, Research Associate. The visit marks a significant step in fostering academic exchange and exploring collaborative opportunities between the two institutions. read more

The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held the 17th International Asian Urbanization Conference (IAUC) from January 14 to 16, 2025. The conference, themed “Rethinking Sustainable Urban Development and Urban Futures in the Digital Age,” took place at Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur, Bali. The IAUC was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Director of CESASS UGM. The event was supported by the Asian Urban Research Association (AURA) and the Faculty of Geography UGM. It attracted significant international academic attention, with a total of 59 abstracts, 31 presenters, and 6 participants from 9 countries: Indonesia, the United States, Germany, Romania, France, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and Taiwan. read more

Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Head of Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (PSSAT) UGM, became a speaker at the Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) Program UGM, ACICIS, and Monash University, on 10 January 2025. He delivered the material “Urbanisation, Smart City, and Cases of Indonesia (IKN and Kali Code)”.

The event was attended by students and lecturers from Monash University.

Yogyakarta, 19 December 2024 – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) warmly welcomed Prof. James Robson, Director of the Harvard-Yenching Institute (HYI), and Dr. Ruohong Li, Associate Director of HYI. The visit marked a strategic step for HYI, which has primarily focused on East Asia, to expand its academic connections and initiatives to Southeast Asia. HYI is a prestigious institution supporting academic development in the Social Sciences and Humanities across Asia. It hosts Visiting Scholars and Fellows through its funded research programs at Harvard University. read more

The Seminar and Final Monitoring-Evaluation (Monev) of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (Riset Kolaborasi Indonesia, RKI) for 2024 took place successfully on 5-6 November 2024 at Hasanuddin University, Makassar. The event commenced with an opening speech from the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, followed by parallel monitoring and evaluation sessions.

Representing Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Head of the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), actively participated in the seminar and Monev sessions. Prof. Rini serves as the lead researcher for the RKI project, collaborating with partner researchers from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Universiti Sains Malaysia, and the University of Yangon, Myanmar. read more

Yogyakarta, 3 December 2024 – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully hosted the GEO-PW Webinar Series on IKN Development #5 and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled “Creative, Innovative, and Smart Sustainable City Concept for the Capital City.” This event, part of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (RKI) initiative, was organized with the support of the Smart City, Village, and Region Study Group and the Urban Development Study Group, both from the Faculty of Geography, UGM. read more

Yogyakarta, November 26, 2024 — The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held a dissemination event for the 2024 Public Satisfaction Survey (SKM) on Infrastructure Services in Yogyakarta City. The program, organized in collaboration with the Dinas Pekerjaan Umum, Perumahan, dan Kawasan Permukiman (DPUPKP) Kota Yogyakarta, aimed to present findings and recommendations to improve service quality for the local community.

The event, hosted on the second floor of the CESASS UGM office, was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Head of CESASS UGM and Chair of the 2024 SKM Team for Yogyakarta City. Distinguished speakers included Umi Akhsanti, S.T., M.T. (Kepala DPUPKP Kota Yogyakarta), Erna Susanti, S.E. (Sekretaris DPUPKP Kota Yogyakarta), and Nini Yuniarti, S.E. (Perencana Ahli Muda DPUPKP Kota Yogyakarta). The session was also attended by survey assistants and data collectors, primarily graduate students from UGM’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program. read more

Yogyakarta, November 20, 2024 — The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM successfully organized a virtual general discussion titled “The Impact of the BRICS Factor on Contemporary Prospects of Indonesia-Russia Relations.” This event explored the influence of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) on global geopolitics and its implications for Indonesia’s relationship with Russia.

Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A., from CESASS UGM, as a speaker was joined by Dr. Luqman-nul Hakim from the Institute of International Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova from the ASEAN Centre at MGIMO University, Russia. The discussion provided valuable insights into BRICS as a platform for international cooperation, emphasizing its potential to address pressing global issues and foster bilateral engagements between member countries. read more