Timor-Leste was accepted as a full ASEAN member state during a formal ascension ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. The moment marks the realisation of Timor-Leste’s longstanding aspiration to join the regional body. Timor-Leste submitted its initial application to join ASEAN in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022. Timor-Leste’s ascension marks the first expansion of ASEAN since Cambodia joined in 1999 and has been broadly lauded as the crowning moment of Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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Yogyakarta, 9 September 2024 – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, with support from the ASEAN Secretariat, successfully organized the ASEAN-Plus Three International Seminar on East Asian Studies at ASEAN-Plus Three Countries Universities and the ASEAN-Plus Three Student Camp from September 9–11, 2024, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

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[Yogyakarta, July 9th, 2024] – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM), Indonesia held a roundtable discussion on “the Interplay of Smart Cities, Social Transformation, and Identity Politics in Southeast Asia”.

The swift advancement of technology and its incorporation into urban settings have converted cities into smart cities, targeting improved efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. At the same time, Southeast Asia is undergoing substantial social changes driven by global shifts, cross-border movements, and an increasing emphasis on regional identity, especially within the context of ASEAN’s vision of “One Vision, One Identity, One Community.” This theme seeks to delve into the intricate interactions between these factors, offering a thorough understanding of how smart cities, social transformation, and identity politics converge and influence the future of Southeast Asia.

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[Yogyakarta, July 1st, 2024] – The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM), Indonesia held the opening of the “Smart City, Digital Transformation and Society in Southeast Asia” Summer Course Program 2024. The event is supported by the Direktorat Kemitraan dan Relasi Global (DKRG) UGM.

This year Summer Course Program is a premier educational platform designed to foster knowledge exchange and promote deeper understanding of the multidisciplinary collaboration to address the region’s unique challenges and opportunities, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. The school brings together prominent lecturers and researchers from around the globe, providing a unique opportunity for participants to engage with experts in the field and gain valuable insights into the region’s challenges and opportunities.

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The Directorate of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Cooperation, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the University of Gadjah Mada, hosted a Discussion Forum titled “Diskusi Jaring Masukan Visi ASEAN Pilar Sosial Budaya Pasca 2025: Tantangan dan Way Forward” on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Hotel Royal Ambarrukmo in Yogyakarta. The Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS) Universitas Gadjah Mada participated in this event, with Mr. Muhadi Sugiono, Head of Research, Journals, and Cooperation Division at CESASS, moderating the discussion.

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CESASS has maintained cooperation with the department of Southeast Asian Languanges and Cultures, National Chengchi University, Taiwan by strengthening its commitment for more collaboration of mutual interest by MoU signing on December 15, 2023 between CESASS and the department of Southeast Asian Languages and Cultures (SEALC). CESASS representative Drs. Muhadi Sugiono, M.A. was present on behalf of CESASS director, Prof. Dr. Rini Rachmawati. Prior to this MoU signing, SEALC has initiated to host Dr. Phil. Vissia Ita Yulianto as an exchanged Associate Professor in department (2022-2024). Apart from this, 24 students of SEALC have visited CESASS for a summer camp in 2023.

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Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies (CESASS), Universitas Gadjah Mada presents CESASS Talk Series #3 “Bridging the Divide: Exploring the Nexus of Human Trafficking, Border Studies, and the Globalization of Southeast Asia”

🗓️Date: Thursday, November 2nd 2023
⏰Time: 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM (Jakarta Time)

Join us online with the link below.
Zoom Meeting ID: 937 9568 9825
Passcode: CTS3
Link: ugm.id/ZoomCTS3

🎤Speaker:
1. Associate Prof. Dr. Mohd Na’eim Bin Ajis (Institute for Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, Universiti Utara Malaysia)
2. Prof. Dr. Purwo Santoso, M.A. (Department of Politics and Governance, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada)

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