Yogyakarta, September 17, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) held its 56th CESASS Talk co-organized with the  Department of International Relations, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Featuring Prof. Elo Süld, Head of the Centre for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Tartu, the talk explored bilateral relations between Indonesia and Estonia and their connection to the broader relationship between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  read more

Yogyakarta, August 13, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) welcomed Prof. Ekmel Geçer from Marmara University, Turkiye. Prior to his visit to CESASS, he had delivered a lecture at the Faculty of Psychology UGM, where he engaged with students and academics on matters of shared academic and regional interest.

Reflecting on his first visit to Indonesia, Prof. Geçer expressed his appreciation for the country’s remarkable potential. He noted that, as the world’s largest archipelagic nation, endowed with abundant natural resources and a member of the G20, Indonesia possesses significant strategic, economic, and human potential. read more

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, January 28, 2026 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) organized a multidisciplinary discussion involving scholars from the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, reaffirming the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in responding to contemporary social and technological challenges.

The discussion highlighted the growing interconnection between technology and society, emphasizing that technological innovation both shapes and is shaped by social, political, and cultural contexts. Addressing complex regional and global issues therefore requires collaborative approaches that integrate technical expertise with social and political analysis. read more

Yogyakarta, November 14, 2025 — Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM), welcomed representatives from the Australian Consortium for In-Country Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) for a coordination meeting to review the ongoing internship program hosted under the CESASS Internship Program.

This semester, three ACICIS students are undertaking their internship at CESASS through the Flexible Language Immersion Program (FLIP). As the internship reached its halfway point, the meeting served as an opportunity for both institutions to review the students’ activities, evaluate their progress, identify challenges, and discuss areas for improvement. read more

Yogyakarta, July 10, 2025 — Smart City, Digital Transformation, and Society in Southeast Asia Summer Course Program 2025, organized by the Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM), was officially concluded. 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

On 4 July 2025, Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) hosted Franklin Obeng-Odoom as a guest lecturer in the 2025 Summer Course on Smart City. Prof. Obeng-Odoom is an internationally recognized political economist whose research focuses on urban development, political economy, inequality, and global social justice, with significant contributions to debates on land, housing, and urban transformation. In his session titled Social-Political Aspects of Smart City, Digital Transformation, and Society in Southeast Asia, he provided critical insights into the governance dimensions of smart city initiatives and their broader implications for society in the region. read more

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – 10th 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, hosted the second day of the event with an excursion aimed at introducing participants, including students and experts, to Yogyakarta’s World Heritage sites. The day’s itinerary featured a walk along the Philosophical Axis, which stretches from the Golong-Gilig Monument (Tugu) to the 0km monument. read more

Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) was honored to host Minako Sakai for an academic visit and scholarly discussion. Prof. Sakai is a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of New South Wales and a leading scholar in Southeast Asian studies, particularly known for her research on Islam, gender relations, family law, and social change in Indonesia. With extensive fieldwork experience and numerous publications on Muslim communities and women’s roles in contemporary Indonesia, she has made significant contributions to the understanding of religion and society in the region. The visit offered a valuable platform to exchange research insights, discuss potential collaborations, and further strengthen international academic networks between CESASS UGM and global partners. read more

On 13 August 2024, Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada welcomed exchange students from the Netherlands and Germany who are currently studying Geography. The visit introduced the students to PSSAT’s research focus on Southeast Asian social dynamics and interdisciplinary approaches to regional studies. The session provided an interactive forum for discussion, allowing participants to exchange perspectives on geographical and socio-cultural issues while fostering international academic engagement. read more