On June 29, 2026, a hybrid academic class session titled “Colonial Contestation of Maritime in the 19th Century and Its Impact on Maritime Sovereignty in Southeast Asia” was successfully held, featuring Prof. Dr. Farish A. Noor as the keynote speaker. In his lecture, Prof. Noor examined the enduring influence of colonialism on Southeast Asia’s maritime identity, territorial understanding, and sovereignty, encouraging participants to critically reflect on the region’s historical and contemporary maritime perspectives. read more

Yogyakarta, June 22, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially opened its South China Sea Short Course, bringing together 164 participants from 26 countries and diverse disciplinary backgrounds. In collaboration with the Department of Geodetic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UGM, the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, ASEAN Studies Center UGM, and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), the program aims to deepen understanding of one of Southeast Asia’s most significant regional challenges through multidisciplinary perspectives, including maritime governance, regional security, international law, environmental sustainability, and diplomacy. read more

Yogyakarta, May 12, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) hosted Prof. Bernhard Grimm from Humboldt University, Germany, during his visit as a visiting professor at UGM. In a discussion hosted by Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto and Prof. Dr. drh. Wayan Tunas Artama from the Biotechnology Research Center, Prof. Grimm shared his insights on the rapidly evolving energy landscape in Southeast Asia amid growing concerns over climate change, global energy insecurity, and geopolitical tensions. read more

Yogyakarta, May 4, 2026 — Lermie Shayne Garcia, Ph.D. (Dr. Shayne), a visiting scholar supported by the Ricardo Leong Institute for Global and Area Studies (commonly referred to as the Leong Institute Fellowship), advanced academic exchange and research collaboration during a recent series of engagements in Indonesia.

As part of the fellowship-supported program, she delivered a lecture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on May 4, 2026, hosted by the Department of History (Departemen Sejarah) entitled “Mapping Southeast Asian Studies in the Philippines: Local Perspectives and Regional Collaboration”. The visit included academic discussions with Prof. Dr. Abdul Wahid, Chair of the Department, Dr. Wildan Sena Utama, and other faculty members. read more

Yogyakarta, April 7-8, 2025 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) successfully held an Academic Writing Workshop titled “From Scratch to Publication: Meeting the Standards of Scopus-Indexed Journals.” The workshop was attended by participants from various universities, including Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, London School of Economics and Political Science, Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana Yogyakarta, Universitas Hasanuddin, and many more, as well as from diverse academic disciplines, such as Law, Forestry, Arts, and Engineering. read more

Yogyakarta, April 7, 2026 — Dr. Priyambudi Sulistiyanto spent three weeks at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) as a Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), from March 30 to April 21, 2026.

Commonly known as Dr. Budi, he is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at Flinders University and a political anthropologist whose research focuses on Indonesian politics and comparative politics in Southeast Asia. His recent book, Melawat ke Asia (2025), reflects his ongoing engagement with the region’s evolving socio-political landscape. read more

Yogyakarta, March 31, 2026 — Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) convened a public hearing on the draft Rector’s Regulation on Research Centers, bringing together representatives from 21 study centers across the university to gather input on the proposed policy.

Among the participants, the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) stood out with the strong support of its international partner, Jianbang Deng from Tamkang University, Taiwan. His presence highlighted not only a long-standing collaboration—dating back to his role as a visiting professor in 2019—but also the continued and active engagement between CESASS and its global academic network. This sustained partnership underscores CESASS’s growing international reach and reinforces the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping research development at UGM. read more

Yogyakarta, March 31, 2026 – Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) held CESASS Talk #53 titled “Talking Border in a Borderless ASEAN” discussing maritime boundaries, ocean governance, and regional cooperation across ASEAN.

This discussion featured I Made Andi Arsana, S.T., M.E., Ph.D. from the Department of Geodetic Engineering at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) as the speaker, whose expertise focuses on maritime boundary delimitation, marine geodesy, and international law of the sea, particularly within the framework of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. read more

Yogyakarta, March 17, 2026 — Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is reinforcing the strategic role of its research centers in advancing the university’s Tridharma—education, research, and community service—by strengthening their contributions to regional and global studies.

This commitment was highlighted by Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, S.Si., M.Sc., UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Partnerships, during a recent visit to the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) and the Center for Policy Studies and Development (PSPD), two of UGM’s 23 research centers focusing on regional studies. read more

Yogyakarta, March 12, 2026 — Researchers from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) are strengthening collaboration with industry partners to advance the development of green skills and green jobs in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia. Through an initiative led by the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), the UGM team, involving the School of Applied Sciences and the Department of Geodetic Engineering, recently engaged with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) to explore how national policy frameworks for green employment can be effectively implemented at the industry level. read more