Krisna Tama, one of the Master’s students from the Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, presented his research at the 5th Faculty of Education Annual Conference. Hosted by Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on April 1–2, 2026, the conference carried the theme “Transforming Education for Future Generations: Advancing Global Justice and Innovation.”
The conference was a prestigious international gathering that attracted academic interest from across the globe. According to the Dean of the Faculty of Education at UIII, the committee received 129 abstracts and 17 full papers from seven countries, including Afghanistan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore, and the United States. After a rigorous blind peer-review process, 62 final papers from Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia were selected for presentation. The conference also featured world-class keynote speakers from renowned institutions, including Union College (USA), the University of Edinburgh (UK), the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia (Thailand), and the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
Krisna Tama participated virtually in Panel Session 2F, which focused on “Innovative Learning Systems, Digital Transformation, Transformative Thinking, and Growth Mindset in Education.” He presented a compelling paper titled “Improvisation and Emotional Education Among Batak Toba Men in Lapo Tuak.”
Based on ethnographic research in Lapo Tuak Anju Malau, Matio, Toba, North Sumatra, Krisna’s work challenges conventional perceptions. He highlighted that Lapo Tuak is not merely a traditional tavern but serves as a third space or liminal stage for Toba Batak men to temporarily suspend the pressures of social structures, customary laws, and labor.
Through the lens of Performance Studies, Krisna argued that Lapo Tuak functions as an arena for Emotional Education through a Pedagogy of Masculinity. In this space, social hierarchies are set aside, allowing for the creation of egalitarian bonds (communitas). Here, men negotiate vulnerability and the demands of masculinity through unscripted cultural improvisations.
“Communal practices such as singing together, sharing humor, and venting, mediated by tuak, act as a psychological safety valve against economic and domestic pressures,” the study explains. Through these improvisations, personal suffering and sadness are transformed into structured narratives and a collective aesthetic experience.
This research offers a vital contribution to educational policy and social intervention. Krisna’s findings underscore the importance of recognizing working-class communal spaces as essential partners in mental health and gender-sensitive social interventions. It proves that emotional education does not only happen in classrooms; it happens over wooden tables, amidst cigarette smoke and the strumming of a guitar.
Krisna Tama’s participation in this international panel is expected to inspire other members of the academic community to continue producing innovative, critical research with a meaningful impact on society. Additionally, Krisna’s participation also serves as a way to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the following areas:
- SDG 4 (Quality Education), which emphasizes the importance of emotional education beyond formal classroom settings.
- SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), highlighting the role of communal spaces in supporting mental health.
- SDG 5 (Gender Equality), through gender-sensitive social intervention approaches and an understanding of masculinity.
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), recognizing the importance of third spaces in society to maintain social cohesion. (KT)
