On Thursday, 24 July 2025, the GEO-PW Webinar Series of IKN Regional Development #6 and Focus Group Discussion with the theme “The Continuation of Nusantara Capital City Development: Strengthening and Limiting Aspects” organised by the Regional Development Study Interest, Master of Geography UGM supported by the Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (PSSAT) UGM.

The Head of IKN Authority, Dr. (H.C.) Ir. H. M. Basuki Hadimuljono, M.Sc., Ph.D. delivered a presentation followed by an FGD by the Chief Researcher of Research Collaboration Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., with a team consisting of Prof. Ir. Dana Indra Sensuse, M.LIS., Ph.D. (UI RKI Partner Researcher), Dr.techn. Wikan Danar Sunindyo, S.T, M.Sc. (Partner Researcher of RKI ITB), Prof. Dr. Galuh Syahbana Indraprahasta (Partner Researcher of BRIN), and Assc. Prof. Dr Khoo Suet Leng (Partner Researcher Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia), Prof. Dr Khin Khin Soe (Partner Researcher Sagaing University of Education, Myanmar). read more

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Director of Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), attended a meeting upon the invitation of Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., Vice Rector for Education and Learning at UGM. The meeting was held with delegates from the Department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures (SEALC) at National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan.

The NCCU delegation consisted of Prof. Dr. Chao Chin-Chi (Acting Dean of the College of Foreign Languages and Literature & Chair of the SEALC), Prof. Dr. Jiang Cuifen (Director of the Chinese Language Teaching Centre), Dr. Silvia Rehulina Ginting (Assistant Professor of the SEALC & Head of Indonesian Language and Cultures Study Program), and Mr. Yuan Ting Lim (Operations Manager of the Center for Southeast Asian Socio-Cultural Studies in the Department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures). The meeting was also attended by Dr. Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.S., Ph.D., Head of the Subdirectorate of International Collaboration. read more

A strategic meeting between the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures (SEALC) of National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan, took place on July 21, 2025, at  at the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), Universitas Gadjah Mada.

CESASS was represented by Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. (Director), Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A. (Head of Research, Education, and Cooperation Division), Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto (Head of Program and Publication Division), and Dr. Arif Akhyat, M.A. (Affiliated researcher with an expertise on history of Southeast Asian Studies). SEALC NCCU was represented by Prof. Dr. Chao Chin-Chi (Acting Dean of the College of Foreign Languages and Literature & Chair of SEALC), Prof. Dr. Jiang Cuifen (Director of the Chinese Language Teaching Centre), Dr. Silvia Rehulina Ginting (Assistant Professor and Head of the Indonesian Language and Cultures Study Program), and Mr. YuanTing Lim (Operations Manager of the Center for Southeast Asian Socio-Cultural Studies). read more

From left to right: Agustinus Aryo Lukisworo, S.Sos., M.A., Dr. Dhyah Ayu Retno W., S.Sos, M.Si., Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto, and Satria Adya Firhansyah, S.I.P.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for journal collaboration between the organizing committee of the Conference on Media, Communication, and Sociology (COMICOS) 2026, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Atma Jaya Yogyakarta University, and IKAT: The Indonesian Journal of Southeast Asian Studies took place on July 18, 2025, at the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), Universitas Gadjah Mada. read more

“Smart City, Digital Transformation, and Society in Southeast Asia Summer Course Program 2025,” organized by Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially concluded on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The closing ceremony took place in a hybrid format, held both online via Zoom and on-site at Indonesia Room, 2nd Floor, Pusat Antar Universitas (PAU) Building, UGM.

This closing ceremony marked the end of a 15-day program that welcomed 73 participants from 17 countries, who engaged in lectures, discussions, and fieldwork focusing on the intersection of digital innovation and urban development in Southeast Asia. read more

As part of “Smart City, Digital Transformation, and Society in Southeast Asia Summer Course Program 2025,” Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM organized an on-site session on Saturday, July 5, 2025, featuring Assoc. Prof. TPr Dr. Khoo Suet Leng from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. Held at Indonesia Room, Prof. Khoo delivered a session titled “Creative City,” in which she critically discussed how cities in Southeast Asia have the potential to develop into creative cities, particularly by leveraging technological advancements. She highlighted how creativity and innovation can play a pivotal role in fostering sustainable urban environments. read more

Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) officially opened the 2025 Summer Course Program with the theme “Smart City, Digital Transformation and Society in Southeast Asia.” The opening ceremony was held on June 23, 2025, at 09:00 AM (GMT+7) in a hybrid format — online via Zoom and onsite at the Indonesia Room, 2nd Floor, Pusat Antar Universitas (PAU) Building, UGM.

The program was officially opened by the Director of CESASS UGM and Program Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., who also delivered welcoming remarks that included an overview on the summer course program. In her remarks, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T. expressed her appreciation to all the summer course speakers, who are colleagues from 12 countries: Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, Germany, Finland, Romania, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States, and Brazil. She also acknowledged the contributions of domestic colleagues from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), and Universitas Indonesia (UI). Appreciation was extended to the Directorate of Partnerships and Global Relations UGM for providing a grant that facilitated the successful organization of the summer course for the second consecutive year. The Faculty of Geography UGM was also recognized for its collaboration and support. The opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Muhammad Kamal, S.Si., M.GIS., Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Geography UGM, and Prof. Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Director of Partnerships and Global Relations. Several speakers of the program were also present and had the opportunity to share a few words with the participants. read more

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

A presentation focusing on the intricacy and geopolitical importance of underwater sea cables in Southeast Asia was conducted on May 19, 2025 at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CESASS) UGM. The presentation was conducted by Cameron Regan, an International Relations student at the University of Queensland.

Recent events regarding underwater cable malfunctions in areas such as the South China Sea and Java Sea inspired the presentation’s research focus. Specifically, the political and economic impact of these malfunctions in the Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific spheres of influence. Underwater fibre optic cable systems provide approximately 95% of the worlds’ internet connectivity, ensuring split-second speed of financial transactions and a functional digital economy worth immeasurable value. This means those states which manufacture and regulate these cables in international waters can manipulate encrypted global communication networks.  read more