Yogyakarta, June 3, 2025 — CESASS Talk Series #5 was held online, featuring Dr. Tufan Kutay Boran from the Department of Area Studies, Social Sciences University of Ankara, Türkiye, who delivered a presentation on “How Indonesian Political Parties and Islamic Organizations Influence Foreign Policy Making”. The session was moderated by Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto, guiding the discussion and Q&A with participants from diverse academic backgrounds, including international young scholars.
Yogyakarta, May 19, 2025 — A presentation focusing on the intricacy and geopolitical importance of underwater sea cables in Southeast Asia was conducted at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (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.
Yogyakarta, May 19, 2025 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a presentation by Zoe Pearce, an Asian Studies student at the University of Western Australia. The presentation covered the topic of sustainable energy transition in Indonesia, with the help of Australian Aid programs.
Zoe explored the relationship the two countries have, with Australia and Indonesia being neighbours and close allies, Indonesia’s current plans for a sustainable energy transition, the countries’ challenge in meeting current goals, and finally, initiatives and government programs where Australia and Indonesia are working together to achieve this sustainable energy transition. The presentation outlined the current Australian government program KINETIK, which is being employed in Indonesia to help foster solutions and promote a sustainable energy transition in Indonesia.
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.
Bali, January 14–16, 2025 — The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) successfully held the 17th International Asian Urbanization Conference (IAUC). 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.
Yogyakarta, January 10, 2025 — Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati, S.Si., M.T., Head of Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) UGM, became a speaker at the Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) Program UGM, ACICIS, and Monash University. She 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.
Makassar, November 5–6, 2024 — The Seminar and Final Monitoring-Evaluation (Monev) of the Indonesian Collaborative Research (Riset Kolaborasi Indonesia, RKI) for 2024 took place successfully 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.
Yogyakarta, December 3, 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.
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.
