Yogyakarta, August 10, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed Prof. Edo Han Siu Andriesse from the Department of Geography, College of Social Sciences, Seoul National University (SNU), for an initial meeting to explore opportunities for academic and research collaboration between the East Asian Centre, Seoul National University, and CESASS UGM.

The meeting provided an opportunity for CESASS to introduce its academic and research activities, as well as its ongoing efforts to foster interdisciplinary research and strengthen academic networks across Asia. Dr. phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto, Head of the Program and Publication Division at CESASS, highlighted the Centre’s commitment to advancing collaborative research and facilitating academic exchange, particularly in areas related to Southeast Asian studies. read more

Yogyakarta, August 6, 2026 — What drives Vietnam’s rapid economic transformation and enduring stability? This core question defined CESASS Talk #54, themed “Vietnam Outlook: Past, Present, and Future Trend,” featuring Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, and moderated by Dr. Muhammad Rum.

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Reform

During the session, Dr. Phuong highlighted that Vietnam’s development is grounded in the decisive leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and its capacity for consistent, long-term policy execution. Under the CPV’s strategic vision, the Đổi Mới policy successfully established a Socialist-oriented market economy, combining political stability with dynamic economic modernization. read more

Yogyakarta, 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 29, 2026 — As part of the Short Course “ASEAN and the South China Sea”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hazmi Mohd Rusli from the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), delivered a lecture exploring the historical evolution of the law of the sea and its continuing relevance to contemporary maritime disputes. The lecture traced the development of maritime governance from the competing concepts of mare liberum and mare clausum to the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the modern constitution for the oceans. It also examined the principle of uti possidetis juris, demonstrating how colonial boundaries, historical treaties, and imperial administration continue to shape maritime sovereignty, jurisdiction, and boundary delimitation in Southeast Asia. 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, 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 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