
On Monday, June 2, 2025, the Doctoral Program in Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies (PSPSR), Graduate School UGM organized a discussion held in Room 407 of the Graduate School building. This activity was part of a broader initiative to strengthen the academic atmosphere by promoting cross-cultural interaction and fostering international collaboration. The event featured Dr. Christopher J. Miller, a scholar and musician from Cornell University, United States, as the speaker. His interests and activities revolve around two points of focus: experimental music, and the music of Indonesia, especially Central Javanese gamelan. His presence brought an important international dimension to the development of scholarly discourse in the field of arts, particularly in music.
The discussion began at 10:00 AM and concluded at 1:00 PM. It was attended by doctoral students from the PSPSR program with enthusiastic participation. The attendees were Agustinus Sani Aryanto, Agustinus Paulus Umbu Tali, Supriando, and Laila Okta Triani. The discussion covered a range of topics, including participant introductions, reflections on academic journeys and the stages of doctoral study, as well as in-depth exploration of each student’s dissertation research concepts and directions.
Dr. Chris provided critical, reflective, and constructive responses to the presentations, encouraging students to adopt more open and innovative approaches in their research on music studies. The discussion unfolded in an interactive, open, and dialogic atmosphere, creating a collaborative learning space and enriching interdisciplinary perspectives.
This activity exemplifies PSPSR’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the enhancement of higher education quality, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by facilitating international academic cooperation and knowledge exchange. (LO)