Riska Dwi Agustin

Inclusivity is one of the core values in the educational process within the IRS UGM Study Program. This principle opens pathways for developing collaboration between academic institutions and community groups in an effort to produce knowledge in interreligious studies, grounded in the experiences and narratives of diverse communities. Based on this commitment, the IRS UGM involved several members of its academic community (students and staff) to participate in “the Disability Awareness for Building an Inclusive Campus” training organized by the UGM Graduate School on April 16, 2026. One of the participants, Riska Dwi Agustin (an IRS UGM student), shared her experience of attending the training. read more

Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang

Associate Professor Dr. Dicky Sofjan, a lecturer from Inter-Religious Studies (IRS) Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), opened a critical discussion on the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran during the PhiloTalk Lecture Series organized by the Faculty of Philosophy UGM on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Known for his expertise in religion and politics in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Dr. Sofjan brings extensive academic experience, including research and study in Iran. read more

Anthon Jason

Have you ever considered that the daily bureaucratic routines we endure, such as fingerprint attendance at the office or Monday flag ceremonies, may have their roots in spiritual practices from thousands of years ago? This is one of the striking ideas presented by Professor Al Makin at the Wednesday Forum on 8 April 2026. Drawing on 25 years of experience teaching philosophy, the professor took the audience on a journey across time and space to unpack a crucial question: Does Indonesia have its own philosophical tradition, and has its location in the so-called Ring of Fire helped shape the way we think? It was the key question raised at the beginning of the forum by the moderator that day. read more

This interview features Dr. Ebrima Sarr, an international student from Gambia (class of 2012) and alumnus of the IRS UGM, who serves as Senior Manager at the Australian African Foundation for Retention and Opportunity (AAFRO). The interview, conducted between Dr. Sarr and Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang from IRS UGM, reflects on his journey, personal and professional growth, and the impact of interreligious studies on engagement and social cohesion. He completed his studies with a dissertation titled “The Phenomenon of Slawatan: Contemporary Islamic Ritual Perform by Habib Syekh and Four Organizations [2012–2015].” read more

This article is fully translated from the original news published by Universitas Gadjah Mada Official Website

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again recorded an impressive achievement in the QS World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject 2026. In the field of Theology, Divinity, and Religious Studies, UGM successfully reached 45th place globally, improving from the previous year when it was ranked in the 51–100 range worldwide. This accomplishment also places UGM as the number one university in Indonesia in this field, followed by Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, which are ranked in the 101–150 range globally. read more

Hendrikus Paulus Kaunang

The Inter-Religious Studies (IRS) Study Program consistently strives to enhance the quality of education, research, and community engagement in order to produce graduates who are excellent and contributive to the development of knowledge. To achieve this goal, the IRS UGM regularly evaluates its curriculum and undertakes curriculum renewal every five years in response to evolving academic and societal developments. The IRS UGM plans to implement a new curriculum in the 2026/2027 academic year. As part of the preparation for its implementation, a curriculum workshop was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. read more

Fransiska Yohana Sri Winarsih

Modernity is largely defined by an anthropocentric approach—a worldview where humans are separate from and superior to nature. In this framework, land is a “lifeless object” to be exploited for gross domestic product (GDP) and individual gain. Anisa Eka Putri Kusmayani’s research into the Baduy community of Banten Province provides a radical departure from this. The Baduy, divided into the Inner (Kanekes) and Outer communities, live by a philosophy of “entanglement.” For them, well-being is not found in the accumulation of capital but in the harmony between the human, the spiritual, and the environmental. read more